COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 334418

Printed Circuit/Electronics Assembly Manufacturing

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

32companies1910–1994founding years30still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedInternational Business Machines CorporationFoundedInternational Business Machines Corporation
1910
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRaytheon Company
1922
FoundedMotorola, Inc.
1928
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.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedOmron Corporation
1948
FoundedKimball International, Inc.
1950
FoundedLaBarge Inc.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTyco International Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedJabil Circuit, Inc.
1966
FoundedFlextronics International Ltd.FoundedFlextronics International Ltd.FoundedZebra Technologies Corporation
1969
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.
FoundedU.S. Robotics Corporation
1976
FoundedZoom Technologies, Inc.
1977
Founded3Com CorporationFoundedPlexus Corporation
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.
FoundedCisco Systems, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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.
FoundedMerix 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

International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
Raytheon Company →
Active · founded 1922
Raytheon Company is the third largest defense contractor in the United States, trailing only the Boeing Company and…
Raytheon Company →
Active · founded 1922
Raytheon Company is the third largest defense contractor in the United States, trailing only the Boeing Company and…
Motorola, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
Electronic communications pioneer Motorola, Inc.
Motorola, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
Electronic communications pioneer Motorola, Inc.
Omron Corporation →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Omron Corporation is a world leader in the field of automation.
Omron Corporation →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Omron Corporation is a world leader in the field of automation.
Kimball International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Once a leading piano manufacturer, Kimball International, Inc.
Kimball International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Once a leading piano manufacturer, Kimball International, Inc.
LaBarge Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
LaBarge Inc.
LaBarge Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
LaBarge Inc.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
Jabil Circuit, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Jabil Circuit, Inc.
Jabil Circuit, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Jabil Circuit, Inc.
Flextronics International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Singapore 408723
Flextronics International Ltd.
Flextronics International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Singapore 408723
Flextronics International Ltd.
Zebra Technologies Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
The mysterious series of lines and numbers called bar coding has provided a thumbprint of products since the 1970s,…
Zebra Technologies Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
The mysterious series of lines and numbers called bar coding has provided a thumbprint of products since the 1970s,…
U.S. Robotics Corporation →
Active · founded 1976
U.S.
U.S. Robotics Corporation →
Active · founded 1976
U.S.
Zoom Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Zoom Technologies, Inc.
Zoom Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Zoom Technologies, Inc.
3Com Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1979
3Com Corporation is the world's number two provider of computer networking products, systems, and services, trailing…
3Com Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1979
3Com Corporation is the world's number two provider of computer networking products, systems, and services, trailing…
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…
Cisco Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Merix Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Merix Corporation is a leading manufacturer of advanced printed circuit boards that are used in sophisticated…
Merix Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Merix Corporation is a leading manufacturer of advanced printed circuit boards that are used in sophisticated…
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