COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3842

Orthopedic, Prosthetic, and Surgical Appliances & Supplies

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

20companies1853–1983founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBausch & Lomb Inc.
1853
FoundedAmerican Safety Razor Company
1875
FoundedDentsply International Inc.
1899
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAmerican Cyanamid
1907
FoundedPuritan-Bennett Corporation
1913
FoundedSmiths Industries PLC
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedJacuzzi Inc.
1915
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedBaxter International Inc.FoundedTillotson Corp.
1931
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedKyocera Corporation
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedSybron International Corp.
1968
FoundedMentor Corporation
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedSt. Jude Medical, Inc.
1976
FoundedBallard Medical Products
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedAllied Healthcare Products, Inc.
1980
FoundedBiomet, Inc.FoundedMaxxim Medical Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedCNS, Inc.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
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.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

Bausch & Lomb Inc. →
Active · founded 1853
Bausch & Lomb Inc.
American Safety Razor Company →
Active · founded 1875
American Safety Razor Company (ASR) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of brand-name and private-label personal…
Dentsply International Inc. →
Active · founded 1899
Dentsply International Inc.
American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
Puritan-Bennett Corporation →
Active · founded 1913
The Puritan-Bennett Corporation, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, with research and manufacturing facilities in…
Smiths Industries PLC →
Active · founded 1914 · England
Smiths Industries PLC is a diversified multinational corporation with core businesses in aerospace electronics; medical…
Jacuzzi Inc. →
Active · founded 1915
A wholly owned subsidiary of U.S.
Baxter International Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
Baxter International Inc.
Tillotson Corp. →
Active · founded 1931
Tillotson Corp.
Smith & Nephew plc →
Active · founded 1937 · England
Smith & Nephew plc is the fifth-largest health care products supplier in a worldwide market worth £5 billion.
Kyocera Corporation →
Active · founded 1959 · Japan
Kyocera Corporation, founded in 1959, was one of the first companies to produce fine ceramic components.
Sybron International Corp. →
Active · founded 1968
Sybron International Corp.
Mentor Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
A fast-growing company, Mentor Corporation produces breast implants, tissue implants, facial implants, and penile…
St. Jude Medical, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
St.
Ballard Medical Products →
Active · founded 1978
Ballard Medical Products designs, produces, and distributes disposable medical items used in critical care and surgical…
Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
Biomet, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Biomet, Inc.
Maxxim Medical Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Maxxim Medical Inc.
CNS, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Formed as a medical equipment company, CNS, Inc.
Sunrise Medical Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Sunrise Medical Inc.
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