COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3441

Tower Sections

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

16companies1882–1981founding years14still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedUnited Dominion Industries LimitedFoundedUnited Dominion Industries Limited
1882
FoundedCarpenter Technology CorporationFoundedCarpenter Technology Corporation
1889
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.
FoundedROHN Industries, Inc.FoundedROHN Industries, Inc.
1918
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedTrinity Industries, IncorporatedFoundedTrinity Industries, Incorporated
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.
FoundedNucor CorporationFoundedNucor Corporation
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedValmont Industries, Inc.FoundedValmont Industries, Inc.
1967
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.
FoundedSchuff Steel CompanyFoundedSchuff Steel Company
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedCockerill Sambre GroupFoundedCockerill Sambre Group
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.
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

United Dominion Industries Limited →
Active · founded 1882
United Dominion Industries Limited once provided extensive manufacturing, engineering, and construction services to…
United Dominion Industries Limited →
Active · founded 1882
United Dominion Industries Limited once provided extensive manufacturing, engineering, and construction services to…
Carpenter Technology Corporation →
Active · founded 1889
Carpenter Technology Corporation produces and distributes specialty steel and structural ceramics worldwide for…
Carpenter Technology Corporation →
Active · founded 1889
Carpenter Technology Corporation produces and distributes specialty steel and structural ceramics worldwide for…
ROHN Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1918
ROHN Industries, Inc.
ROHN Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1918
ROHN Industries, Inc.
Trinity Industries, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1933
Trinity Industries, Incorporated, is a diversified manufacturer of heavy metal products.
Trinity Industries, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1933
Trinity Industries, Incorporated, is a diversified manufacturer of heavy metal products.
Nucor Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
Nucor Corporation is the second-largest steel manufacturer in the United States.
Nucor Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
Nucor Corporation is the second-largest steel manufacturer in the United States.
Valmont Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Valmont Industries, Inc.
Valmont Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Valmont Industries, Inc.
Schuff Steel Company →
Active · founded 1976
Schuff Steel Company is one of the largest construction companies in the southwestern United States.
Schuff Steel Company →
Active · founded 1976
Schuff Steel Company is one of the largest construction companies in the southwestern United States.
Cockerill Sambre Group →
Defunct · founded 1981 · Belgium
One of the largest industrial groups in Belgium, the Cockerill Sambre Group is a medium-sized integrated steelmaking…
Cockerill Sambre Group →
Defunct · founded 1981 · Belgium
One of the largest industrial groups in Belgium, the Cockerill Sambre Group is a medium-sized integrated steelmaking…
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