It’s surprising how many companies have been launched on the basis of an overheard conversation.

One such company is Exotic Metals Forming, now a division of Parker Hannifin Corp. In 1963, engineer Don Lindsey was visiting Boeing’s assembly plant in Everett, WA, when he overheard a conversation in the lobby regarding the failure of titanium sheet metal flanges on the company’s new 727 jetliner, which had just entered production.