COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 333314

Optical Instruments & Lens Manufacturing

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

20companies1846–1985founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedJenoptik AGFoundedJenoptik AG
1846
FoundedCarl-Zeiss-StiftungFoundedCarl-Zeiss-Stiftung
1889
FoundedSwarovski International Holding AGFoundedSwarovski International Holding AG
1895
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.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedSafilo SpAFoundedSafilo SpA
1934
FoundedDonnelly Corporation
1936
FoundedPolaroid CorporationFoundedPolaroid Corporation
1937
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.
FoundedLeupold & Stevens, Inc.FoundedLeupold & Stevens, Inc.
1949
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.
FoundedII-VI IncorporatedFoundedII-VI Incorporated
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedMeade Instruments CorporationFoundedMeade Instruments Corporation
1972
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.
FoundedExcel Technology, Inc.
1985
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

Jenoptik AG →
Active · founded 1846 · Germany
Jenoptik AG is a high-technology company, based in Jena, Germany, that specializes in the fields of systems engineering…
Jenoptik AG →
Active · founded 1846 · Germany
Jenoptik AG is a high-technology company, based in Jena, Germany, that specializes in the fields of systems engineering…
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,…
Swarovski International Holding AG →
Active · founded 1895 · Switzerland
Switzerland-based Swarovski International Holding AG is parent to the Swarovski group of companies based in and around…
Swarovski International Holding AG →
Active · founded 1895 · Switzerland
Switzerland-based Swarovski International Holding AG is parent to the Swarovski group of companies based in and around…
Safilo SpA →
Active · founded 1934 · Italy
Safilo SpA is one of the world's leading manufacturers of eyeglasses and sunglasses, as well as other goods for the…
Safilo SpA →
Active · founded 1934 · Italy
Safilo SpA is one of the world's leading manufacturers of eyeglasses and sunglasses, as well as other goods for the…
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…
Polaroid Corporation →
Active · founded 1937
Polaroid Corporation, founded on Edwin H.
Polaroid Corporation →
Active · founded 1937
Polaroid Corporation, founded on Edwin H.
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Leupold & Stevens, Inc., a fourth generation family-owned company, is one of the oldest and best-known manufacturers of…
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Leupold & Stevens, Inc., a fourth generation family-owned company, is one of the oldest and best-known manufacturers of…
II-VI Incorporated →
Active · founded 1971
II-VI Incorporated develops and manufactures optical and optoelectronic devices used in laser and sensor systems.
II-VI Incorporated →
Active · founded 1971
II-VI Incorporated develops and manufactures optical and optoelectronic devices used in laser and sensor systems.
Meade Instruments Corporation →
Active · founded 1972
Meade Instruments Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of telescopes for serious amateurs and academic…
Meade Instruments Corporation →
Active · founded 1972
Meade Instruments Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of telescopes for serious amateurs and academic…
Excel Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Excel Technology, Inc.
Excel Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Excel Technology, Inc.
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