COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 325212

Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing

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

24companies1863–1999founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedYule Catto & Company plcFoundedYule Catto & Company plc
1863
FoundedDegussa-Hüls AG
1873
FoundedWatts of Lydney Group Ltd.FoundedWatts of Lydney Group Ltd.
1880
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.
FoundedWacker-Chemie GmbH
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedBridgestone CorporationFoundedBridgestone Corporation
1931
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedUbe Industries, Ltd.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedPetrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.FoundedPetrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedRoyal Ten Cate N.V.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBritish Vita plcFoundedBritish Vita plc
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.
FoundedSaudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
1976
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.
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.
FoundedRhodia SAFoundedRhodia SA
1998
FoundedCrompton Corporation
1999
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

Yule Catto & Company plc →
Active · founded 1863 · United Kingdom
Yule Catto & Company plc is one of Europe's leading specialty chemicals groups.
Yule Catto & Company plc →
Active · founded 1863 · United Kingdom
Yule Catto & Company plc is one of Europe's leading specialty chemicals groups.
Degussa-Hüls AG →
Active · founded 1873 · Germany
Degussa-Hüls AG is a specialty chemicals company based in Germany.
Degussa-Hüls AG →
Active · founded 1873 · Germany
Degussa-Hüls AG is a specialty chemicals company based in Germany.
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1880 · United Kingdom
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd.
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd. →
Active · founded 1880 · United Kingdom
Watts of Lydney Group Ltd.
Wacker-Chemie GmbH →
Active · founded 1914 · Germany
Wacker-Chemie GmbH is a worldwide leader in the manufacture of specialty chemicals.
Wacker-Chemie GmbH →
Active · founded 1914 · Germany
Wacker-Chemie GmbH is a worldwide leader in the manufacture of specialty chemicals.
Bridgestone Corporation →
Active · founded 1931 · Japan
Bridgestone Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer of tires, and the company is number three in the North…
Bridgestone Corporation →
Active · founded 1931 · Japan
Bridgestone Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer of tires, and the company is number three in the North…
Ube Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Ube Industries, Ltd.
Ube Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Ube Industries, Ltd.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Royal Ten Cate N.V. →
Active · founded 1957 · The Netherlands
Royal (Koninklijke in Dutch) Ten Cate N.V.
Royal Ten Cate N.V. →
Active · founded 1957 · The Netherlands
Royal (Koninklijke in Dutch) Ten Cate N.V.
British Vita plc →
Active · founded 1966 · United Kingdom
British Vita plc manufactures and processes a wide assortment of polymers, including cellular foams, synthetic fiber…
British Vita plc →
Active · founded 1966 · United Kingdom
British Vita plc manufactures and processes a wide assortment of polymers, including cellular foams, synthetic fiber…
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) →
Active · founded 1976 · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, or SABIC, is one of the world's leading petrochemicals companies.
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) →
Active · founded 1976 · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, or SABIC, is one of the world's leading petrochemicals companies.
Rhodia SA →
Active · founded 1998 · France
One of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies, Rhodia SA--the former chemicals and fibers & polymers units…
Rhodia SA →
Active · founded 1998 · France
One of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies, Rhodia SA--the former chemicals and fibers & polymers units…
Crompton Corporation →
Active · founded 1999
Crompton Corporation is a specialty chemical manufacturer whose main operations involve the creation of additives,…
Crompton Corporation →
Active · founded 1999
Crompton Corporation is a specialty chemical manufacturer whose main operations involve the creation of additives,…
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