COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 334412

Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing

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

22companies1953–2000founding years18still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedThe Marmon Group, Inc.FoundedThe Marmon Group, Inc.
1953
FoundedDover CorporationFoundedDover Corporation
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedParlex Corporation
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.
FoundedNam Tai Electronics, Inc.FoundedNam Tai Electronics, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedSolectron CorporationFoundedSolectron Corporation
1977
FoundedPlexus Corporation
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
FoundedBairnco CorporationFoundedBairnco CorporationFoundedBenchmark Electronics, Inc.FoundedBenchmark Electronics, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedSTMicroelectronics NV
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.
FoundedViasystems Group, Inc.FoundedViasystems Group, Inc.
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedAgere Systems Inc.
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

The Marmon Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The Marmon Group, Inc., one of the largest privately owned organizations in the United States, is in essence a holding…
The Marmon Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The Marmon Group, Inc., one of the largest privately owned organizations in the United States, is in essence a holding…
Dover Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
Dover Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturing holding company composed of about 50 subsidiaries with…
Dover Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
Dover Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturing holding company composed of about 50 subsidiaries with…
Parlex Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Parlex Corporation is a world leader in the flexible circuitry and laminated cable assemblies used throughout the…
Parlex Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Parlex Corporation is a world leader in the flexible circuitry and laminated cable assemblies used throughout the…
Nam Tai Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975 · Hong Kong
From its early days as a simple calculator manufacturer, Nam Tai Electronics, Inc.
Nam Tai Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975 · Hong Kong
From its early days as a simple calculator manufacturer, Nam Tai Electronics, Inc.
Solectron Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1977
Solectron Corporation operates as the world's largest electronics manufacturing services company.
Solectron Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1977
Solectron Corporation operates as the world's largest electronics manufacturing services company.
Plexus Corporation →
Active · founded 1979
Plexus Corporation refers to itself as a 'product realization service,' that is, it helps corporations design and…
Plexus Corporation →
Active · founded 1979
Plexus Corporation refers to itself as a 'product realization service,' that is, it helps corporations design and…
Bairnco Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Bairnco Corporation is a multinational company with subsidiaries operating in two business segments: engineered…
Bairnco Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Bairnco Corporation is a multinational company with subsidiaries operating in two business segments: engineered…
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Benchmark Electronics, Inc., based in Angleton, Texas, provides electronic manufacturing services to original equipment…
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Benchmark Electronics, Inc., based in Angleton, Texas, provides electronic manufacturing services to original equipment…
STMicroelectronics NV →
Active · founded 1987 · Switzerland
STMicroelectronics NV is one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturing companies.
STMicroelectronics NV →
Active · founded 1987 · Switzerland
STMicroelectronics NV is one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturing companies.
Viasystems Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Viasystems Group, Inc.
Viasystems Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1996
Viasystems Group, Inc.
Agere Systems Inc. →
Defunct · founded 2000
Agere Systems Inc.
Agere Systems Inc. →
Defunct · founded 2000
Agere Systems Inc.
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