CONTRACTORS
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Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellachaft (AEG)
Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellachaft (‘General Electricity Company’) was a German manufacturer of electrical equipment, established on 13 March 1883 by Emil Rathenau. Initially called Deutsche Edison-Gesellschaft für angewandte Elektricität (‘German Edison Company for Applied Electricity’), it was later renamed to AEG in May 1887.
The start of Emil Rathenau’s ventures can be traced back to 1865 when he established a small machine factory, which manufactured portable steam engines. Due to the high profits his business was reaping, Rathenau’s co-owner and the banks wanted to change the company into a joint stock company but due to Rathenau’s reluctance to act, the company entered into liquidation in 1873.
In 1881, Rathenau acquired Thomas Edison’s electric light bulb patents, at the International Exposition of Electricity in Paris. Two years later, he partnered up with his competitor, Werner von Siemens in order to create a monopoly on electricity, with the backing of a number of banks and individuals. AEG initially focused on electrical lighting (light bulbs, motors and generators) and would branch out a short time later to start manufacturing AC electric transmissions, the primary method of transporting electricity from power plants to the end-user. This would enable the company to introduce electrical lights to cafes, restaurants and theatres by using the small power stations they constructed.
Towards the end of the 19th century, AEG had constructed 248 small power stations and were now powering tramways and household devices. They also began manufacturing portable drilling machines.
With the company expanding in the first 20th century, they would go on to produce steam turbines, motor vehicles, switches, fuses, resistors, transformers, cabling, electrical railway equipment, compressor-driven refrigerators, temperature controlled irons and they even invented the hair dryer in 1900.
The 1930 edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica lists AEG as being the biggest electrical manufacturing company in Germany.
During WW2, AEG joined a number of large companies to work with the Nazi Party, including Thyssen and Krupp (who we know today as ThyssenKrupp for their elevators and involvement in some 11 different industries) and benefited from forced labourers and concentration camp prisoners, working under inhuman conditions.
AEG filed for insolvency in 1982 and would later merge with Daimler-Benz three years later before a final acquisition by the Electrolux Group in 1994, who continue to honour Rathenau’s legacy today.
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Contracts
December 1913 – AEG submit the lowest tender for the supply of high tension switch gear, low tension switch gear, auxiliary plant cables, racks, connections and lighting for the power station and are subsequently awarded the contract.
June 1914 - The contract with AEG to supply equipment and plant is automatically cancelled as a result of the outbreak of war with Germany. AEG had also been contracted to supply the Midland Junction with four 1,000kva or eight 500kva static transformers, as they were the lowest tender submitted but nothing has been received since they were awarded the tender in July last year and the contract is also subsequently cancelled.​
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Babcock, Wilcox & Company
Founded by Stephen Wilcox (who patented an improved water-tube boiler in 1856) and George Babcock (a skilled engineer and businessman) in 1867, the two decided to join forces to “design and market a boiler that increased heating surfaces for better efficiency and was both effective and safe”. Their invention marks the beginning of reliable steam-generated power, as well as setting the standard.
The public became captivated with their boiler inventions in the years to come, with Thomas Edison even ordering a boiler in 1878 to power his machine shop and laboratory in New Jersey. Four years later, Edison would establish the Pearl Street Station in New York City, the world’s first power station, operating four of their boilers to generate electricity.
Two years after they expanded by becoming incorporated in Britain, Stephen Wilcox dies in November 1893, with George Babcock 19 days later. Their legacy continued with the development and manufacturing of marine boilers, pulverised coal power plants, heat exchangers and ash handling systems, to name just a few.
The use of asbestos in some of their high-temperature equipment, like the insulation in boilers, led to more than a decade of asbestos-related lawsuits, starting in 1970. It eventually resulted in the company filing for bankruptcy in 2000, in order to protect themselves against thousands of asbestos lawsuits. As a condition of emerging from bankruptcy in 2006, they were required to create a trust fund to compensate victims. The company now operates as Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises in energy and environment technologies.
Contracts
June 1913 – A contract is entered into with Babcock and Wilcox Ltd for the construction of the East Perth Power Station, comprising of the steel and iron framework. They will also supply the six water tube boilers, economisers, coal-breaking plant, ash and coal handing plant, as well as the 40t electric travelling crane for a total cost of £124,424.
March 12, 1925 – Two marine type water tube boilers, economisers, mechanical draught plant, coal and ash conveying and measuring plant, steam pipes, feed pumps, evaporators and heaters - £91,430
– Extensions to the power house - £19,700
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Brown, Boveri & Cie
Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) was a Swiss engineering company formed in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri. They started out in the rail industry, manufacturing electric motors for locomotives and power-generating equipment. With their clear vision for transporting electrical currents over long distance, they would go on to pioneer a number of electrical technologies, including gas turbines.
Collaboration with Willians & Robinson began early into Brown, Boveri & Cie’s electrical power and traction development work. A notable example is the world's first gas-turbine locomotive, built by Brown Boveri for the Swiss Federal Railways. This locomotive's power was developed with a Willans & Robinson 6-cylinder 1350 HP steam engine.
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In 1998, BBC merged with the Swedish company ASEA to form ABB.
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Contracts
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Willans & Robinson
Willans & Robinson were a British manufacturing company founded in 1870 by Peter William Willans and Mark Robinson. They initially began manufacturing high-speed reciprocating steam engines, which were found to be well-suited for electricity generation and at their peak, their engines supplied a big portion of Britain’s electricity generation capacity. Willans & Robinson later expanded into steam turbines, diesel motors and generators.
During World War 1, it was necessary to sell control of the business to Dick, Kerr & Co.
English Electric Company was formed in 1918 and within the first year, they acquired Willans & Robinson. They were able to retain their manufacturing identity and some independent shareholders until they went into liquidation in 1935.
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Contracts
June 13, 1914 - Willians and Robinson Ltd are awarded the tender for the supply of three 3,000kW three-phase turbo alternators, complete with exciter, unit transformers, pumps, three surface condensing plants, auxiliary pumping plant for dealing with bilge and light pressure services and motors for driving the apparatus.
