COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 8742

Manufacturing Management, Physical Distribution, & Site Location Consulting

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

32companies1886–1992founding years30still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedBOC Group plcFoundedBOC Group plc
1886
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.
FoundedHarcourt General, Inc.
1919
FoundedAlexander & Alexander Services Inc.
1922
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedEmery Worldwide Airlines, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHarding Lawson Associates Group, Inc.
1959
FoundedInternational Management Group
1960
FoundedBooz Allen & Hamilton Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedCTG, Inc.
1966
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.
FoundedInformation Resources, Inc.FoundedInformation Resources, Inc.
1977
FoundedThe Learning Company Inc.
1978
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.
FoundedJardine Matheson Holdings LimitedFoundedThe Turner Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedThe Score Board, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedRust International Inc.
1988
FoundedGage Marketing Group
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedThermo Fibertek, Inc.
1992
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

BOC Group plc →
Active · founded 1886 · England
BOC Group plc is one of the world's largest producers of industrial gases essential to almost every manufacturing…
BOC Group plc →
Active · founded 1886 · England
BOC Group plc is one of the world's largest producers of industrial gases essential to almost every manufacturing…
Harcourt General, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1919
Through its core publishing arm, Harcourt General, Inc.
Harcourt General, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1919
Through its core publishing arm, Harcourt General, Inc.
Alexander & Alexander Services Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Alexander & Alexander Services Inc.
Alexander & Alexander Services Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Alexander & Alexander Services Inc.
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., commonly known as Emery Worldwide, is an integrated air freight carrier that provides…
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., commonly known as Emery Worldwide, is an integrated air freight carrier that provides…
Harding Lawson Associates Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
A rising force in the engineering consulting industry, Harding Lawson Associates Group, Inc.
Harding Lawson Associates Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
A rising force in the engineering consulting industry, Harding Lawson Associates Group, Inc.
International Management Group →
Active · founded 1960
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, International Management Group is the world's largest and most influential sports…
International Management Group →
Active · founded 1960
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, International Management Group is the world's largest and most influential sports…
Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc., a pioneer in the development of the consulting industry, is recognized as an international…
Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc., a pioneer in the development of the consulting industry, is recognized as an international…
CTG, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Computer Task Group Inc.
CTG, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Computer Task Group Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Information Resources, Inc.
The Learning Company Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
The Learning Company Inc.
The Learning Company Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
The Learning Company Inc.
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
The Turner Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Founded in 1902 by Henry C.
The Turner Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Founded in 1902 by Henry C.
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
Rust International Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
With operations in North and South America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim, Rust International Inc.
Rust International Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
With operations in North and South America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim, Rust International Inc.
Gage Marketing Group →
Active · founded 1991
Gage Marketing Group, a widely diversified marketing business, has provided services to roughly 75 percent of the…
Gage Marketing Group →
Active · founded 1991
Gage Marketing Group, a widely diversified marketing business, has provided services to roughly 75 percent of the…
Thermo Fibertek, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Thermo Fibertek, Inc.
Thermo Fibertek, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Thermo Fibertek, Inc.
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