Growth and innovation

The 1950s were a time of tremendous growth for both HP and the city of Palo Alto. The city’s population more than doubled during the decade, and the fruit orchards that characterized the town in the past were cleared to make way for highways, businesses and schools. Palo Alto was on its way to becoming the high-tech center it is today.

HP’s first acquisition, F. L. Moseley Company, a producer of high-quality graphic recorders, establishes the foundation of HP’s printing business.

HP goes global, establishing a marketing organization in Geneva and a manufacturing plant in Boeblingen, Germany.

HP is first listed on the New York Stock Exchange on March 17.

Through an acquisition of Sanborn Company, HP enters the medical field. Medical equipment will become a significant source of revenue for HP before being spun off in 2000.

HP enters the Fortune 500 list at #460.

Bill Hewlett becomes CEO and runs HP in Dave’s absence.

HP becomes a global company. Non-U.S. revenues exceed U.S. revenues for the first time—and remain that way to this day.

In the 1970s, journalists began using the term "Silicon Valley" to describe the countless electronics firms proliferating in Santa Clara County. Silicon Valley became a distinct community, with Palo Alto—and HP—at its center.

China Hewlett-Packard (CHP), the first high-tech joint venture in China, is established.

Bill Hewlett retires as vice chairman of the HP board and is named director emeritus.

Dave Packard retires as chairman of the board. Lew Platt is elected to replace him.

HP announces the spinoff of Agilent Technologies, consisting of HP’s former measurement, components, chemical analysis and medical businesses. Agilent’s IPO is the largest in Silicon Valley history to date. The divesture is completed in 2000.

Bill Hewlett dies at age 87. HP employees, business leaders and friends around the world mourn the loss of a man described as one of the true pioneers and giants of the electronics industry.

HP creates HP Services to provide consulting, outsourcing, support and solutions deployment.

HP Labs leads the company into the digital publishing business by establishing a technical relationship with IndigoN.V., which HP acquires. Indigo presses offer technology called liquid electrophotography (LEP), which combines digital laser imaging, ultra-small ink particles and a liquid transport system to produce prints comparable to offset quality.

HP ships its 10 millionth HP ProLiant server in June. The first x86 processor-based ProLiant servers were shipped in 1993 by Compaq (later acquired by HP). HP held the No. 1 ranking for worldwide x86 server shipments for 35 consecutive quarters to this date (nearly 9 years).

HP acquires 3Com Corporation, a leading provider of networking switching, routing and security solutions. HP's strategy builds on the convergence of servers, storage, networking, management, facilities and services.

HP acquires ArcSight, a security and compliance management company.

HP acquires 3PAR, a leading storage provider.

On September 22, HP's board of directors appoints Meg Whitman as president and chief executive officer.

Hewlett-Packard Company announces plans to separate into two new publicly traded Fortune 50 companies. Hewlett Packard Enterprise will be comprised of HP's enterprise technology infrastructure, software and services businesses, while HP Inc. will contain HP's personal systems and printing businesses and will retain the current logo.