COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3511

Turbines & Turbine Generator Sets

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

18companies1867–1988founding years16still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedJ.M. Voith AGFoundedJ.M. Voith AG
1867
FoundedHowmet Corp.FoundedHowmet Corp.
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.
FoundedAllison Gas Turbine DivisionFoundedAllison Gas Turbine Division
1915
FoundedAlliedSignal Inc.FoundedAlliedSignal Inc.
1920
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedKubota CorporationFoundedKubota Corporation
1930
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.
FoundedThermo Electron CorporationFoundedThermo Electron Corporation
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBFC Construction CorporationFoundedBFC Construction 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.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedJason IncorporatedFoundedJason Incorporated
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.FoundedABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
1988
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

J.M. Voith AG →
Active · founded 1867 · Germany
J.M.
J.M. Voith AG →
Active · founded 1867 · Germany
J.M.
Howmet Corp. →
Active · founded 1903
Howmet Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pechiney International, produces high-technology components used in…
Howmet Corp. →
Active · founded 1903
Howmet Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pechiney International, produces high-technology components used in…
Allison Gas Turbine Division →
Active · founded 1915
The Allison Gas Turbine Division of the General Motors Corporation is one of the largest manufacturers of aircraft…
Allison Gas Turbine Division →
Active · founded 1915
The Allison Gas Turbine Division of the General Motors Corporation is one of the largest manufacturers of aircraft…
AlliedSignal Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1920
AlliedSignal Inc., formed from the acquisition of Signal Companies, Inc.
AlliedSignal Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1920
AlliedSignal Inc., formed from the acquisition of Signal Companies, Inc.
Kubota Corporation →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Kubota Corporation prides itself on being flexible and adjusting as necessary to compete under changing economic…
Kubota Corporation →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Kubota Corporation prides itself on being flexible and adjusting as necessary to compete under changing economic…
Thermo Electron Corporation →
Active · founded 1956
Thermo Electron Corporation is a leading innovator in the practical application of heat science and energy conversion…
Thermo Electron Corporation →
Active · founded 1956
Thermo Electron Corporation is a leading innovator in the practical application of heat science and energy conversion…
BFC Construction Corporation →
Active · founded 1969 · Canada
BFC Construction Corporation is one of Canada's largest construction companies.
BFC Construction Corporation →
Active · founded 1969 · Canada
BFC Construction Corporation is one of Canada's largest construction companies.
Jason Incorporated →
Active · founded 1985
Jason Incorporated is a miniconglomerate, active in three distinct business segments--motor vehicle products, power…
Jason Incorporated →
Active · founded 1985
Jason Incorporated is a miniconglomerate, active in three distinct business segments--motor vehicle products, power…
ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · Switzerland
Formerly fierce competitors in the heavy-electrical and power-generation fields, Sweden's ASEA AB (which changed its…
ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · Switzerland
Formerly fierce competitors in the heavy-electrical and power-generation fields, Sweden's ASEA AB (which changed its…
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