Westinghouse Electric (1998)
Encyclopedia
Westinghouse Licensing, doing business as Westinghouse Electric Corporation (or WEC), is a Delaware General Corporation Law organized subsidiary that was founded by CBS Corporation
(the renamed "Original Westinghouse" and predecessor of the current CBS Corporation
) in managing the intellectual property
assets relating to the Westinghouse trademarks.
Westinghouse Licensing has its headquarters in New York City
inside the headquarters of its parent, CBS Corporation; its predecessor was located in Monroeville, Pennsylvania
.
founded that company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
After the Original Westinghouse
acquired CBS Inc.
in 1995 from Laurence Tisch
, it was about ready to transform itself from an industrial company into a media giant. Starting in 1996, it did just that, selling off many of its non-media assets that came with them.
In 1997, Westinghouse acquired Infinity Broadcasting and was reorganized as the first CBS Corporation, taking on the name of the broadcasting network. This, however, ended the reign of the name that had been associated with America for 111 years.
In 1998, CBS Corporation established a brand licensing subsidiary for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation name; the original Westinghouse name had recognition in the consumer marketplace and so had a value apart from any actual manufacturing company under that name.
In 1999, CBS Corporation sold all of its nuclear businesses to BNFL
. Soon after, BNFL gained license rights on the Westinghouse trademarks and they used those to reorganize their acquired assets as Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
. That company was later sold to the Toshiba Group
in 2007.
In 2000, CBS Corporation was absorbed into Viacom, thus shutting down all what's left of the "Original Westinghouse" for good. The Westinghouse licensing division was included in the merger, and Viacom had now gotten control of the Westinghouse trademarks. However, in 2005, Viacom changed its name to CBS Corporation, and spun-off a new company under the Viacom
name. The current CBS Corporation continues to operate the Westinghouse Licensing Corporation today.
for use on a multitude of products, some (though not all) of which were in similar categories to those sold by the historic version of the company. Though these products advertise the Westinghouse name, they are neither manufactured by the historic Westinghouse company nor are the quality standards necessarily actively maintained by Westinghouse.
names:
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
(the renamed "Original Westinghouse" and predecessor of the current CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
) in managing the intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
assets relating to the Westinghouse trademarks.
Westinghouse Licensing has its headquarters in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
inside the headquarters of its parent, CBS Corporation; its predecessor was located in Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Monroeville is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located about east of the city of Pittsburgh, Monroeville is a bustling suburb with mixed residential and commercial developments...
.
History
All traces of the Westinghouse name go back to the original company's roots starting in 1886 when George WestinghouseGeorge Westinghouse
George Westinghouse, Jr was an American entrepreneur and engineer who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer of the electrical industry. Westinghouse was one of Thomas Edison's main rivals in the early implementation of the American electricity system...
founded that company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
After the Original Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
acquired CBS Inc.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1995 from Laurence Tisch
Laurence Tisch
Laurence Alan "Larry" Tisch was an American businessman, Wall Street investor and self-made billionaire. He was the CEO of CBS television network from 1986 to 1995...
, it was about ready to transform itself from an industrial company into a media giant. Starting in 1996, it did just that, selling off many of its non-media assets that came with them.
In 1997, Westinghouse acquired Infinity Broadcasting and was reorganized as the first CBS Corporation, taking on the name of the broadcasting network. This, however, ended the reign of the name that had been associated with America for 111 years.
In 1998, CBS Corporation established a brand licensing subsidiary for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation name; the original Westinghouse name had recognition in the consumer marketplace and so had a value apart from any actual manufacturing company under that name.
In 1999, CBS Corporation sold all of its nuclear businesses to BNFL
BNFL
British Nuclear Fuels Limited was a nuclear energy and fuels company owned by the UK Government. It was a former manufacturer and transporter of nuclear fuel , ran reactors, generated and sold electricity, reprocessed and managed spent fuel , and decommissioned nuclear plants and other similar...
. Soon after, BNFL gained license rights on the Westinghouse trademarks and they used those to reorganize their acquired assets as Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
Westinghouse Electric Company
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
. That company was later sold to the Toshiba Group
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
in 2007.
In 2000, CBS Corporation was absorbed into Viacom, thus shutting down all what's left of the "Original Westinghouse" for good. The Westinghouse licensing division was included in the merger, and Viacom had now gotten control of the Westinghouse trademarks. However, in 2005, Viacom changed its name to CBS Corporation, and spun-off a new company under the Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
name. The current CBS Corporation continues to operate the Westinghouse Licensing Corporation today.
Licensing of the Westinghouse brand
Since 1998, Westinghouse Licensing Corporation has licensed the famous brandBrand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
for use on a multitude of products, some (though not all) of which were in similar categories to those sold by the historic version of the company. Though these products advertise the Westinghouse name, they are neither manufactured by the historic Westinghouse company nor are the quality standards necessarily actively maintained by Westinghouse.
Active licensees of WEC
These are the following active Westinghouse licensees that carry out their duties in manufacturing products under the Westinghouse and White-WestinghouseWhite-Westinghouse
White-Westinghouse is an American home appliance brand currently used under license by trademark owner CBS Corporation. It was created in 1975 when White Consolidated Industries bought the Westinghouse Electric Corporation's appliance unit...
names:
- Westinghouse Electric Company LLCWestinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
, providing nuclear energy worldwide. - TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company (previously Westinghouse Heavy Industry Motor Division, HIMD), maintains original Westinghouse large electric motor designs and manufactures new motors & generators from 1/4 hp to 100,000 hp.
- Westinghouse Digital LLCWestinghouse Digital LLCWestinghouse Digital LLC is a US company that markets LCD televisions and other flat-panel display products located in Orange, California.It is one of the licensees of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation.-History:...
, selling LCD and LED televisions - Westinghouse Lighting Corporation (formerly Angelo Brothers), selling light bulbs, ceiling fans, and lighting fixtures
- Salton, Inc., selling vacuum cleaners
- Linear LLC d/b/a Westinghouse-home.com, selling garage-door openers and wireless intercoms
- The NCC, selling Westinghouse-branded electrical accessories, flashlights, timers and remotes.
- NordyneNORDYNENORDYNE is a manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment headquartered in O'Fallon, MO. NORDYNE has manufacturing facilities in the Midwest, producing central HVAC equipment for both residential and light commercial markets and sells product globally through indepdendent wholesalers. NORDYNE is...
, d/b/a Westinghouse Heating and Cooling, selling HVACHVACHVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
systems - Westinghouse Solar, Inc., selling solar panels
- ElectroluxElectroluxThe Electrolux Group is a Swedish appliance maker.As of 2010 the 2nd largest home appliance manufacturer in the world after Whirlpool, its products sell under a variety of brand names including its own and are primarily major appliances and vacuum cleaners...
Group, selling White-Westinghouse branded refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers in Australia.
See also
- Westinghouse Electric (1886)Westinghouse Electric (1886)Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
- Westinghouse Electric Company (1999)Westinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
- White-WestinghouseWhite-WestinghouseWhite-Westinghouse is an American home appliance brand currently used under license by trademark owner CBS Corporation. It was created in 1975 when White Consolidated Industries bought the Westinghouse Electric Corporation's appliance unit...