COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 327211

Flat Glass Manufacturing

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

18companies1623–1940founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedPochet SAFoundedPochet SA
1623
FoundedCompagnie de Saint-GobainFoundedCompagnie de Saint-Gobain
1665
FoundedYule Catto & Company plcFoundedYule Catto & Company plc
1863
FoundedCarl-Zeiss-StiftungFoundedCarl-Zeiss-Stiftung
1889
FoundedPilkington plcFoundedPilkington plc
1894
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAsahi Glass Company, Ltd.FoundedAsahi Glass Company, Ltd.
1907
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedVitro Corporativo S.A. de C.V.FoundedVitro Corporativo S.A. de C.V.
1909
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedDonnelly CorporationFoundedDonnelly Corporation
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedIndustrie Zignago Santa Margherita S.p.A.FoundedIndustrie Zignago Santa Margherita S.p.A.
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
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.
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

Pochet SA →
Active · founded 1623 · France
With an activity dating back to the 17th century, Pochet SA has remained a force in France's glass-making industry by…
Pochet SA →
Active · founded 1623 · France
With an activity dating back to the 17th century, Pochet SA has remained a force in France's glass-making industry by…
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain →
Active · founded 1665 · France
Founded in 1665 as the royal glassmakers to Louis XIV, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain is a multinational group of over 1,000…
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain →
Active · founded 1665 · France
Founded in 1665 as the royal glassmakers to Louis XIV, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain is a multinational group of over 1,000…
Yule Catto & Company plc →
Active · founded 1863 · United Kingdom
Yule Catto & Company plc is one of Europe's leading specialty chemicals groups.
Yule Catto & Company plc →
Active · founded 1863 · United Kingdom
Yule Catto & Company plc is one of Europe's leading specialty chemicals groups.
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung →
Active · founded 1889 · Germany
The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, a 'juridical person' under German civil law, is the sole owner of two industrial enterprises,…
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung →
Active · founded 1889 · Germany
The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, a 'juridical person' under German civil law, is the sole owner of two industrial enterprises,…
Pilkington plc →
Active · founded 1894 · United Kingdom
Pilkington plc is one of the largest glassmakers in the world, specializing in the flat glass and safety glass sectors.
Pilkington plc →
Active · founded 1894 · United Kingdom
Pilkington plc is one of the largest glassmakers in the world, specializing in the flat glass and safety glass sectors.
Asahi Glass Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1907 · Japan
Asahi Glass Company, Ltd.
Asahi Glass Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1907 · Japan
Asahi Glass Company, Ltd.
Vitro Corporativo S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1909 · Mexico
Vitro Corporativo S.A.
Vitro Corporativo S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1909 · Mexico
Vitro Corporativo S.A.
Donnelly Corporation →
Active · founded 1936
Donnelly Corporation is a supplier of automotive components, ranking as the largest manufacturer of automotive mirrors…
Donnelly Corporation →
Active · founded 1936
Donnelly Corporation is a supplier of automotive components, ranking as the largest manufacturer of automotive mirrors…
Industrie Zignago Santa Margherita S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1940 · Italy
Mini-conglomerate Industrie Zignago Santa Margherita S.p.A.
Industrie Zignago Santa Margherita S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1940 · Italy
Mini-conglomerate Industrie Zignago Santa Margherita S.p.A.
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