Per Kure (company)
Encyclopedia
A/S Per Kure, variously also known as A/S Per Kure Norsk Motor- og Dynamofabrikk and ASEA–Per Kure, was a manufacturer first of electric heaters and later of transformer
s. Founded by Per Kure
in 1897, it was for most of its history based at Hasle
in Oslo
, Norway
. The company was dissolved during the creation of Asea Brown Boveri
in 1988.
, Germany. He established the company that bore his name on 28 September. The company started working with installation of electrical apparatuses, including lights and motors. Originally located in the street Kristian Augusts gate, the company moved to Universitetsgata 24 in 1905. The company was importer of Elektra, a Swiss brand of electrical heaters, and from 1911, the company received a license to produce the products for Norway and Sweden.
In 1912, the company started selling products from Nya Förenade Elektriska Aktiebolaget of Sweden in Norway. After it had merged to create Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA), Per Kure took over ASEA's Norwegian division, Norsk Motor- og Dynamofabrik, and the new company was renamed A/S Per Kure Norsk Motor- og Dynamofabrik. The merged company produced transformers, which were largely sold for production of hydroelectricity
in Norway. In 1937, all of the company's manufacturing was localized at Hasle. Per Kure remained CEO until 1938, by which time the company had 500 employees. Per Kure built transformers two classes of Norwegian electric locomotive
s, El 5
and El 9
.
In 1944, during the Second World War, the Norwegian resistance movement
was active with sabotage against companies which were supplying the German armed forces. Workers at Per Kure had joined the communist resistance group Osvald
. Because of the Allied bombing of Germany
, Per Kure was thought to become part of a decentralized production facility for assembly of aircraft engines, and Osvald considered the plant a legitimate target. On 30 May 1944, the entire plant at Hasle was blown up and several transformers severely damaged. The action was not coordinated with central parts of the resistance, such as Milorg
, which had a more passive strategy.
In 1945, Per Kure died, and ASEA bought the company and renamed ASEA–Per Kure. In 1967, the production of Elektra products was sold. The company remained until 1988, when ASEA merged to become ABB. In 1988, ASEA–Per Kure was dissolved and the following year, production of transformers at Hasle ceased.
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
s. Founded by Per Kure
Per Kure
Per Kure was an electrical engineer and businessman. He established the company Per Kure in 1897 as a retailer of electric ovens. From 1911, the company started manufacturing such products...
in 1897, it was for most of its history based at Hasle
Hasle
-Switzerland:*Hasle, Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne*Hasle bei Burgdorf in the canton of Bern...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The company was dissolved during the creation of Asea Brown Boveri
Asea Brown Boveri
ABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and best known for its robotics. ABB operates mainly in the power and automation technology areas. It ranked 143rd in Forbes Ranking ....
in 1988.
History
Per Kure, born in 1872, returned to Norway in 1897 after receiving an education in electronics in MittweidaMittweida
Mittweida is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, in the Mittelsachsen district. It is situated on the Zschopau River, 18 km north of Chemnitz, and 54 km west of Dresden....
, Germany. He established the company that bore his name on 28 September. The company started working with installation of electrical apparatuses, including lights and motors. Originally located in the street Kristian Augusts gate, the company moved to Universitetsgata 24 in 1905. The company was importer of Elektra, a Swiss brand of electrical heaters, and from 1911, the company received a license to produce the products for Norway and Sweden.
In 1912, the company started selling products from Nya Förenade Elektriska Aktiebolaget of Sweden in Norway. After it had merged to create Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA), Per Kure took over ASEA's Norwegian division, Norsk Motor- og Dynamofabrik, and the new company was renamed A/S Per Kure Norsk Motor- og Dynamofabrik. The merged company produced transformers, which were largely sold for production of hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
in Norway. In 1937, all of the company's manufacturing was localized at Hasle. Per Kure remained CEO until 1938, by which time the company had 500 employees. Per Kure built transformers two classes of Norwegian electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s, El 5
NSB El 5
NSB El 5 was an electric locomotive built by AEG, Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri, Siemens, Hamar Jernstøperi and Thune between 1927 to 1936, with a total of 12 units being delivered to Norges Statsbaner. They were capable of 1,044 kW and top speed of 70 km/h. Number 2039 is preserved by the...
and El 9
NSB El 9
NSB El 9 is a retired class of three electric locomotives built by Thune for the Norwegian State Railways , with electrical equipment from Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri and Per Kure. The locomotives were delivered in 1947 after a three-year delay caused by wartime sabotage in response to the of...
.
In 1944, during the Second World War, the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
was active with sabotage against companies which were supplying the German armed forces. Workers at Per Kure had joined the communist resistance group Osvald
Osvald Group
The Osvald Group was a Norwegian sabotage organisation during the Second World War, and led by Asbjørn Sunde, who used Osvald as one of his cover names. The organisation was originally a branch of the Wollweber League, a subsidiary to the Soviet secret police organization NKVD which dissolved when...
. Because of the Allied bombing of Germany
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
, Per Kure was thought to become part of a decentralized production facility for assembly of aircraft engines, and Osvald considered the plant a legitimate target. On 30 May 1944, the entire plant at Hasle was blown up and several transformers severely damaged. The action was not coordinated with central parts of the resistance, such as Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
, which had a more passive strategy.
In 1945, Per Kure died, and ASEA bought the company and renamed ASEA–Per Kure. In 1967, the production of Elektra products was sold. The company remained until 1988, when ASEA merged to become ABB. In 1988, ASEA–Per Kure was dissolved and the following year, production of transformers at Hasle ceased.