Trystan Casey
Westinghouse Electric Company is an American nuclear power company that was formed in 1999 from the nuclear power division of the original Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The original company was founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse, who also invented the air brake, and was a driving force behind electrical engineering progress in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Westinghouse Electric Corporation was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment and machinery and products used to generate, transmit, distribute, and control electricity. The company also expanded into household electrical products, including radios, televisions, and other audio/video equipment, as well as appliances such as hair dryers, electric irons, and refrigerators. Westinghouse Electric Corporation experienced financial setbacks in the 1990s and was renamed CBS Corporation in 1997. The current Westinghouse Electric Company is majority-owned by Brookfield Renewable Partners and offers nuclear products and services to utilities internationally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1886 |
| Founder | George Westinghouse |
| Headquarters | Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania |
| Specialization | Nuclear power, electrical equipment |
| Historical achievements | First commercial pressurized water reactor, first AC power system |
| Recent developments | Sold to Brookfield Business Partners, majority-owned by Brookfield Renewable Partners |
| Current focus | Development of new nuclear technologies |
| Historical issues | Pollution, unlicensed workers, faulty blueprints |
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What You'll Learn
- Westinghouse Electric Company is an American nuclear power company
- Westinghouse engineers and scientists were granted over 28,000 US patents
- Westinghouse was fined $5.5 million for polluting groundwater in Adams County
- Westinghouse purchased CBS Inc. in 1994 for $5.4 billion
- Westinghouse was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment
Westinghouse Electric Company is an American nuclear power company
Westinghouse played a significant role in the progress of electrical engineering during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company was a pioneer in the development of alternating current technology, which changed the way electricity was distributed. In 1886, George Westinghouse, along with William Stanley and Franklin Pope, installed the first AC power system in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. This led to the creation of the first commercial system to generate AC current at the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant in 1890.
During the 20th century, Westinghouse expanded into various areas of electrical production and use, including household electrical products, radio and television receivers, broadcasting, nuclear power, transportation, and finance. Westinghouse was also a major supplier to the electric utility industry, providing machinery and products for generating, transmitting, distributing, and controlling electricity.
In the decades after World War II, Westinghouse became a leading manufacturer of commercial nuclear reactors. In 1957, they constructed the first civilian nuclear power plant in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. Westinghouse continues to be a leader in nuclear technology, with its main product being the AP1000, a modern pressurized water reactor with passive safety features and modular construction.
However, Westinghouse has also faced challenges throughout its history. In 1990, the company experienced significant financial losses due to high-risk loans. In the late 2010s, Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy due to cost overruns at nuclear plant expansion projects. Despite these setbacks, Westinghouse Electric Company remains a significant player in the nuclear power industry, providing nuclear products and services to utilities worldwide.
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Westinghouse engineers and scientists were granted over 28,000 US patents
Westinghouse Electric Company, founded by George Westinghouse in 1886, is an American nuclear power company that offers nuclear products and services to utilities internationally. The company has had a long history of innovation in the field of electrical engineering, with its engineers and scientists granted over 28,000 US patents during the 20th century, making it the third most-patented company. This innovative spirit began with George Westinghouse himself, who invented the air brake and other devices, and was a driving force behind the adoption of alternating current (AC) for power distribution, overcoming health and safety concerns.
Westinghouse's engineers and scientists have made significant contributions across various industries, as evidenced by the diverse range of patents they have been granted. The company was an early manufacturer of household electrical products, including radios, televisions, and other audio/video equipment, as well as small and large electric appliances. Westinghouse's expertise in electrical production and use led to their involvement in power generation and nuclear energy. They constructed the first civilian nuclear power plant in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, in 1957, and continue to be a leader in the field, offering products and services related to nuclear fuel, service, maintenance, instrumentation, and reactor design.
The company's expansion into new areas of electrical technology, such as the Westinghouse Atom Smasher in 1937, demonstrated its commitment to innovation. During the 20th century, Westinghouse engineers and scientists continuously pushed the boundaries of what was possible, as evidenced by their numerous patents. This culture of innovation extended beyond nuclear power and appliances. Westinghouse also contributed to military technology, producing radar and other electronic systems for aircraft, submarines, and munitions until the 1990s when they sold their defense electronics division.
Additionally, Westinghouse played a significant role in broadcasting, acquiring television and radio stations across the United States. Their investments in this area, including the purchase of CBS Inc. and Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, cost the company over $15 billion. To recoup these costs, Westinghouse sold off various divisions, including defense electronics, metering and load control, residential security, and office furniture. Despite financial setbacks and changes in ownership over the years, Westinghouse's legacy of innovation in electrical engineering and nuclear power continues to this day, with the company striving to address the challenges of a changing climate through the development of new nuclear technologies.
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Westinghouse was fined $5.5 million for polluting groundwater in Adams County
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, now CBS Corporation, was fined $5.5 million in 1996 for polluting groundwater in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The Westinghouse Elevator Company plant north of Gettysburg, which was operational from 1968 to 1989, contaminated over 100 wells and other water sources with degreasers and other toxic chemicals. The pollution was discovered in 1983, and the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) filed a complaint in 1988.
The original fine was reduced by $2 million to $3.3 million in 2011, eleven years after it was first issued. The state Environmental Hearing Board made this decision despite the DEP initially seeking nearly $10 million in penalties when the complaint was filed. David Armstrong, a Pittsburgh attorney representing Westinghouse, argued that a pond on the property before the facility was built was used as a dump and may have caused the contamination. He also pointed out 13 other potential sources of contamination in the area.
Westinghouse took steps to control the spread of contaminants and installed public water lines for more than 100 homes near the plant. However, state officials stated that the damage to groundwater was "extraordinarily severe" and could take at least 20 years to repair. The contamination resulted in a “Do Not Eat” advisory for fish around the Westinghouse site, and future liability for cleanup was directed to CBS following the dissolution of Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1999.
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse, was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment and a major supplier to the electric utility industry. Over time, the company expanded into consumer electronics, broadcasting, and nuclear power. Westinghouse experienced financial setbacks in the 1990s and underwent a series of divestitures and mergers, eventually becoming the original CBS Corporation in 1997.
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Westinghouse purchased CBS Inc. in 1994 for $5.4 billion
Westinghouse Electric Corporation was founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse, the inventor of the air brake, among other devices. Westinghouse was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment, including machinery and products used to generate, transmit, distribute, and control electricity. Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company changed its name to Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945.
In the 20th century, Westinghouse expanded into consumer electronics and home appliances, including radios, televisions, and other audio/video equipment. Westinghouse was also a major player in the field of nuclear power, starting with the Westinghouse Atom Smasher in 1937.
In 1994, Westinghouse purchased CBS Inc. for $5.4 billion in an attempt to revitalise the company by focusing on the broadcasting industry. This acquisition created the nation's largest owner of television and radio stations, reaching a third of all US homes. Westinghouse also owned the third-ranked broadcast network.
Following the purchase of CBS, Westinghouse sold off many of its other operations, including its defense electronics division, metering and load control division, residential security division, and office furniture company. The company also made further acquisitions in broadcasting, including Infinity Broadcasting, TNN, CMT, and American Radio Systems. These investments cost the company over $15 billion.
In 1997, Westinghouse Electric Corporation changed its name to CBS Corporation. In 1999, CBS Corporation sold Westinghouse Electric Company, its nuclear business, to British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), and in 2005, BNFL sold the company to Toshiba.
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Westinghouse was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment
Westinghouse Electric Company, founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse, was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment. Westinghouse was a pioneer in electrical engineering, making significant contributions to the progress of the industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company played a pivotal role in the War of Currents, championing the use of alternating current (AC) over direct current, despite initial concerns about its safety.
George Westinghouse, an inventor himself, collaborated with Nikola Tesla, acquiring the rights to many of his patents. Together with William Stanley and Franklin Pope, they improved upon Lucien Gaulard's transformer design, leading to the installation of the first AC power system in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1886. This marked the beginning of Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945.
Westinghouse became a major supplier to the electric utility industry, manufacturing machinery and products for generating, transmitting, distributing, and controlling electricity. They expanded their offerings to include household electrical products, such as radios, televisions, and other audio/video equipment, as well as small and large electric appliances. However, they consistently trailed behind their rival, General Electric, in the sales of home appliances.
In the decades following World War II, Westinghouse diversified its business, becoming a prominent manufacturer of commercial nuclear reactors. They constructed the first civilian nuclear power plant in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, in 1957, and continued to innovate in the nuclear power industry.
Westinghouse experienced financial setbacks in the 1990s, leading to the sale of various divisions, including defense electronics, metering and load control, residential security, and office furniture. Despite these challenges, Westinghouse has left an indelible mark on the electrical industry, with its technology still being used in nearly half of the world's nuclear reactors today.
Frequently asked questions
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is an American nuclear power company that offers nuclear products and services to utilities internationally.
Westinghouse Electric Company was founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse, an inventor who also commercialised the use of alternating current.
Westinghouse Electric Company was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment and machinery. It was one of the first companies to make household electrical products such as radios, televisions, and other audio/video equipment. The company also manufactured military equipment, including radar and other electronic systems for military aircraft, submarines, and munitions. Westinghouse Electric Company also led the way in nuclear power, building the world's first commercial pressurised water reactor in 1957.
Westinghouse Electric Company was sold to Siemens and British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The company was then purchased by Toshiba in 2006, and later sold to Brookfield Business Partners in 2017.
Westinghouse Electric Company was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
