GE Transportation
GE Transportation is a division of Wabtec. It was known as GE Rail and owned by General Electric until sold to Wabtec on February 25, 2019. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. The company was founded in 1907. It is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while its main manufacturing facility is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine manufacturing takes place in Grove City, Pennsylvania.[2] In May 2011, the company announced plans to build a second locomotive factory in Fort Worth, Texas, which opened in January 2013.
 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation Energy Mining |
| Founded | 1907 (113 years ago) |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Rafael Santana (President and CEO)[1] |
| Products | Evolution Series Locomotive Dash Series Locomotive L250 Marine Engine 360 AC Drive Systems 752 DC Drilling Motor Wind Turbine Drive Systems V228 Series engine Durathon UPS |
| Revenue | US$5.88 Billion (2013) |
| Parent | Wabtec Corporation |
| Divisions | Rail Marine Mining Drilling Wind Stationary Power Energy Storage |
| Subsidiaries | Wabtec Transportation Systems, LLC |
| Website | https://www.wabtec.com/ |
Rail products
GE Transportation is the largest producer of diesel-electric locomotives for both freight and passenger applications in North America, believed to hold up to a 70% market share.[3] It also produces related products, such as railroad signaling equipment, and parts for locomotives and railroad cars, as well as providing repair services for GE and other locomotives.
Current locomotives in major production include the GE Evolution Series; for a complete listing, see the list of GE locomotives. In the spring of 2007, GE Transportation Systems rolled out a prototype hybrid diesel-electric locomotive to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. In September 2010, GE Transportation announced plans to commercialise a hybrid design by 2014–15.[4]
On July 27, 2017, GE Transportation announced that all production of locomotives would move from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Fort Worth, Texas, by the end of 2018.[5] However, following the merger with Wabtec, the Erie plant remained open as operations from the former MotivePower plant in Boise, Idaho were consolidated at Erie. [6][7]
Mergers and acquisitions
On November 12, 2017 GE announced they would sell or spinoff the Transportation Division.[8]
In addition to the railroad industry, GE Transportation also serves the following industries: Marine, Mining, Stationary Power, Drilling, and Drivetrain Technologies (wind gear boxes).
On May 21, 2018, GE and Wabtec announced that GE Transportation, valued at $11.1 billion, would be divested from GE and subsequently merged with Wabtec in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction by early 2019.[9] Upon completion on February 25, 2019, the merged company was 50.8% owned by Wabtec shareholders, with GE shareholders owning 24.3% and GE itself owning 24.9%; GE also received $2.9 billion in cash.[9][10]
Propulsion products
In addition to railroad locomotives and equipment, GE Transportation Systems also produces large electric motors and propulsion systems for the mining, oil drilling, and wind turbine industries. GE also provides medium-sized, medium-speed diesel engines for several smaller vessels, mostly tugboats and other similarly-sized vessels. These marine engines are marinized versions of their locomotive engines.
Battery products
GE’s battery business serves the rail, marine, telecommunications and energy sectors, including new smart grid technology.[11][12]
GE's Durathon battery production takes place at their facility in Schenectady, New York.
A battery locomotive is in development in 2020.[13]
References
- John Dineen Named President and CEO of GE Healthcare; Lorenzo Simonelli to Lead GE Transportation : Press Releases : News : GE Archived 2013-01-24 at Archive.today
- "'High probability' for layoffs in Grove City, GE official says". Sharon Herald. 31 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- Middleton, William; Smerk, George; Diehl, Roberta, eds. (2007). Encyclopedia of North American Railroads. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34916-3.
- "GE hybrid locomotive ready for the market in 2014–15 – International Railway Journal". 2010-09-23. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- "GE Transportation to end locomotive production in Erie". Railway Gazette. July 27, 2017.
- Wabtec to close MotivePower plant Railway Gazette International September 21, 2019
- "Wabtec to Close Locomotive Manufacturing Company in Boise, Consolidate Operations into Erie Site". www.erienewsnow.com. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
- Robert Channick (November 13, 2017). "GE looks to sell or spin off Chicago-based transportation division". Chicago Tribune.
- "GE to merge transportation unit with Wabtec in $11.1 billion deal". Reuters. May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- Wabtec and GE Transportation complete merger Railway Gazette International February 25, 2019
- Allen, Pam (2009-07-27). "GE plans $100M battery plant for Schenectady".
- "BNSF and Wabtec prepare to test battery-electric locomotive". Railway Gazette International, July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
