Converteam
Encyclopedia
Converteam was an electrical engineering company based in France, and a former division of Alstom
. It is now part of General Electric
) forming CEGELEC
(part of GEC Alsthom), in the same year, a subsidiary of the German Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG
) had merged with the American Westinghouse Drive Systems. In 1995, these two groupings merged to form CEGELEC Industrial Systems Group. In 1999, it changed its name to Alstom Power Conversion, then on 10 November 2005, it became a separate company from Alstom.
On 29 March 2011 it was announced that a 90% stake in Converteam was to be bought by GE Energy for $3.2 billion. This deal was completed on the 2nd September 2011
The company also operates the 'Engineering Development Center' in India, and has subsidiaries in BRIC countries: Converteam Brazil and Converteam China
and synchronous
) and generators
. These are often found in fossil fuel power stations. Along with this the company provides Vessel Automation System, Dynamic Positioning system for Ships. The products are known for high operational efficiency and logivity. The company not only provides the products but the consultancy services and installation.
Electric ship propulsion
It produced the induction motors for HMS Daring
(commissioned July 2009) controlled by variable-frequency drives, and its 20MW generators . This technology has also been installed on LNG carrier
s, as well as the French Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. This technology will be used for the Royal Navy
's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and the other Type 45 destroyer
s. The company is also developing a Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers.
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
. It is now part of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
History
In 1989 parts of the British General Electric Company plc merged with parts of Compagnie Générale d'Electricité (now Alcatel-LucentAlcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent is a global telecommunications corporation, headquartered in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France. It provides telecommunications solutions to service providers, enterprises, and governments around the world, enabling these customers to deliver voice, data, and video services...
) forming CEGELEC
Cegelec
Cegelec is a European company providing technological services to companies and public authorities. It has a workforce of 25,000 and has a presence in 30 countries. It has been a subsidiary of Vinci since 2010....
(part of GEC Alsthom), in the same year, a subsidiary of the German Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
) had merged with the American Westinghouse Drive Systems. In 1995, these two groupings merged to form CEGELEC Industrial Systems Group. In 1999, it changed its name to Alstom Power Conversion, then on 10 November 2005, it became a separate company from Alstom.
On 29 March 2011 it was announced that a 90% stake in Converteam was to be bought by GE Energy for $3.2 billion. This deal was completed on the 2nd September 2011
Company structure and operations
It has four divisions:- Converteam SAS in France
- Converteam GmbH in Germany (based in Berlin)
- Converteam UK Ltd in the United Kingdom (based in RugbyRugby, WarwickshireRugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
) - Converteam Inc. in the USA (based in Pittsburgh)
The company also operates the 'Engineering Development Center' in India, and has subsidiaries in BRIC countries: Converteam Brazil and Converteam China
Products
The product range is comprehensive. Drives for Low Voltage as well as Medium Voltage applications are available with complete industry specific customised solution. It makes electrical motors (inductionInduction motor
An induction or asynchronous motor is a type of AC motor where power is supplied to the rotor by means of electromagnetic induction. These motors are widely used in industrial drives, particularly polyphase induction motors, because they are robust and have no brushes...
and synchronous
Synchronous motor
A synchronous electric motor is an AC motor distinguished by a rotor spinning with coils passing magnets at the same rate as the power supply frequency and resulting rotating magnetic field which drives it....
) and generators
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
. These are often found in fossil fuel power stations. Along with this the company provides Vessel Automation System, Dynamic Positioning system for Ships. The products are known for high operational efficiency and logivity. The company not only provides the products but the consultancy services and installation.
Electric ship propulsion
It produced the induction motors for HMS Daring
HMS Daring (D32)
HMS Daring is the lead ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer in the Royal Navy and the seventh ship to hold that name.She was launched in 2006 on the Clyde and conducted contractor's sea trials during 2007 and 2008...
(commissioned July 2009) controlled by variable-frequency drives, and its 20MW generators . This technology has also been installed on LNG carrier
LNG carrier
An LNG carrier is a tank ship designed for transporting liquefied natural gas . As the LNG market grows rapidly, the fleet of LNG carriers continues to experience tremendous growth.-History:...
s, as well as the French Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. This technology will be used for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and the other Type 45 destroyer
Type 45 destroyer
The United Kingdom's Type 45 destroyer is an air defence destroyer programme of the Royal Navy which will replace its Type 42 destroyers. The first ship in the class, HMS Daring, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009. The ships are now built by BAE Systems Surface Ships...
s. The company is also developing a Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers.