COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 332312

Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

16companies1896–1973founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedKawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.FoundedKawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
1896
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThomas & Betts CorporationFoundedThomas & Betts Corporation
1917
FoundedAmeron International CorporationFoundedAmeron International Corporation
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedAvondale IndustriesFoundedAvondale Industries
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedUbe Industries, Ltd.FoundedUbe Industries, Ltd.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedAPi Group, Inc.FoundedAPi Group, Inc.
1948
FoundedStandex International CorporationFoundedStandex International Corporation
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedGlobal Industries, Ltd.FoundedGlobal Industries, Ltd.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1896 · Japan
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1896 · Japan
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Thomas & Betts Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
Thomas & Betts Corporation (T&B) is a leading global manufacturer of electrical connectors and components.
Thomas & Betts Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
Thomas & Betts Corporation (T&B) is a leading global manufacturer of electrical connectors and components.
Ameron International Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Ameron International Corporation is a manufacturer of highly engineered products that are sold to customers in the…
Ameron International Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Ameron International Corporation is a manufacturer of highly engineered products that are sold to customers in the…
Avondale Industries →
Active · founded 1938
The primary business of Avondale Industries is the construction, repair, conversion, and 'jumboization' of ships,…
Avondale Industries →
Active · founded 1938
The primary business of Avondale Industries is the construction, repair, conversion, and 'jumboization' of ships,…
Ube Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Ube Industries, Ltd.
Ube Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Ube Industries, Ltd.
APi Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
APi Group, Inc., is a private holding company for about 27 subsidiaries that provide various construction, specialty…
APi Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
APi Group, Inc., is a private holding company for about 27 subsidiaries that provide various construction, specialty…
Standex International Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
Standex International Corporation operates as a global multi-industry conglomerate that manufactures over 48,000…
Standex International Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
Standex International Corporation operates as a global multi-industry conglomerate that manufactures over 48,000…
Global Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1973
Global Industries, Ltd., headquartered in Carlyss, Louisiana, is a major constructor of offshore oil and gas drilling…
Global Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1973
Global Industries, Ltd., headquartered in Carlyss, Louisiana, is a major constructor of offshore oil and gas drilling…
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