COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 334510

Laser Equipment, Electromedical, Manufacturing

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

48companies1892–1998founding years48still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedGeneral Electric Company
1892
FoundedEastman Kodak Company
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedFresenius AG
1912
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedC.R. Bard, Inc.
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedKonica Corporation
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedMedtronic, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAgfa Gevaert Group N.V.FoundedDatascope CorporationFoundedGambro AB
1964
FoundedCoherent, Inc.FoundedSiemens AG
1966
FoundedStarkey Laboratories, Inc.
1967
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.
FoundedColorado MEDtech, Inc.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
FoundedAcuson Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedVISX, Incorporated
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedCOBE Cardiovascular, Inc.
1990
FoundedSonic Innovations Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedGuidant Corporation
1994
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

General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
Eastman Kodak Company →
Active · founded 1901
A multinational corporation whose name and film products are familiar to photographers around the world, Eastman Kodak…
Eastman Kodak Company →
Active · founded 1901
A multinational corporation whose name and film products are familiar to photographers around the world, Eastman Kodak…
Fresenius AG →
Active · founded 1912 · Germany
Fresenius AG is a global, diversified manufacturer of health care products and provider of health care services with…
Fresenius AG →
Active · founded 1912 · Germany
Fresenius AG is a global, diversified manufacturer of health care products and provider of health care services with…
Terumo Corporation →
Active · founded 1921 · Japan
Based in Tokyo, Terumo Corporation is Japan's largest manufacturer of medical supplies.
Terumo Corporation →
Active · founded 1921 · Japan
Based in Tokyo, Terumo Corporation is Japan's largest manufacturer of medical supplies.
C.R. Bard, Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
C.R.
C.R. Bard, Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
C.R.
Konica Corporation →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Konica Corporation produces a wide range of products, mainly within the imaging sphere.
Konica Corporation →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Konica Corporation produces a wide range of products, mainly within the imaging sphere.
Medtronic, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Medtronic, Inc.
Medtronic, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Medtronic, Inc.
Spacelabs Medical, Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Spacelabs Medical, Inc., wholly owned by OSI Systems, Inc., is a leading global provider of patient monitoring systems…
Spacelabs Medical, Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Spacelabs Medical, Inc., wholly owned by OSI Systems, Inc., is a leading global provider of patient monitoring systems…
Agfa Gevaert Group N.V. →
Active · founded 1964 · Belgium
One of the world's most renowned names in photographic films and equipment, Belgium-based Agfa Gevaert Group N.V.
Agfa Gevaert Group N.V. →
Active · founded 1964 · Belgium
One of the world's most renowned names in photographic films and equipment, Belgium-based Agfa Gevaert Group N.V.
Datascope Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Datascope Corporation is a leading maker of medical devices for cardiac patients.
Datascope Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Datascope Corporation is a leading maker of medical devices for cardiac patients.
Gambro AB →
Active · founded 1964 · Sweden
Sweden's Gambro AB specializes in renal care products, services, and equipment.
Gambro AB →
Active · founded 1964 · Sweden
Sweden's Gambro AB specializes in renal care products, services, and equipment.
Invivo Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Invivo Corporation touts itself as the leading producer of vital signs monitoring devices used during magnetic…
Invivo Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Invivo Corporation touts itself as the leading producer of vital signs monitoring devices used during magnetic…
Coherent, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Coherent, Inc.
Coherent, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Coherent, Inc.
Siemens AG →
Active · founded 1966 · Germany
Founded to manufacture and install telegraphic systems, Germany-based Siemens AG has prospered and grown over 155 years…
Siemens AG →
Active · founded 1966 · Germany
Founded to manufacture and install telegraphic systems, Germany-based Siemens AG has prospered and grown over 155 years…
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
Candela Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Candela Corporation, located in Wayland, Massachusetts, designs, manufactures, and markets laser systems for use in a…
Candela Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Candela Corporation, located in Wayland, Massachusetts, designs, manufactures, and markets laser systems for use in a…
Colorado MEDtech, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Colorado MEDtech, Inc.
Colorado MEDtech, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Colorado MEDtech, Inc.
Acuson Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Acuson Corporation is one of the top manufacturers of ultrasound imaging equipment for medical diagnosis.
Acuson Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Acuson Corporation is one of the top manufacturers of ultrasound imaging equipment for medical diagnosis.
VISX, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
VISX, Incorporated is the leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of laser vision correction systems.
VISX, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
VISX, Incorporated is the leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of laser vision correction systems.
Sabratek Corporation →
Active · founded 1989
Sabratek Corporation designs and manufactures therapeutic and diagnostic medical systems and products for the…
Sabratek Corporation →
Active · founded 1989
Sabratek Corporation designs and manufactures therapeutic and diagnostic medical systems and products for the…
COBE Cardiovascular, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
COBE Cardiovascular, Inc.
COBE Cardiovascular, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
COBE Cardiovascular, Inc.
Sonic Innovations Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Sonic Innovations Inc.
Sonic Innovations Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Sonic Innovations Inc.
Guidant Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Guidant Corporation is a leading designer and developer of cardiovascular medical products, marketing a variety of…
Guidant Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Guidant Corporation is a leading designer and developer of cardiovascular medical products, marketing a variety of…
SonoSite, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
SonoSite, Inc.
SonoSite, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
SonoSite, Inc.
Build It Today

Starting a laser equipment, electromedical, manufacturing company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.