History
The Electric Century
Even a true visionary like
Thomas A. Edison could not
have imagined the level of
sophistication that would be required
of equipment used for the transmission
and distribution of electric power
a little more than a century after its
invention. Nor could he have anticipated
all of the complex issues facing the
electrical industry as it moves into the
twenty-first century.
With the only research and development
lab in the industry still named
after this prodigious inventor, The
Thomas A. Edison Technical Center,
Cooper Power Systems is proud to
trace its heritage back to this industry
pioneer. Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated,
one of Thomas Edison’s
original companies, combined with
McGraw Electric Company in 1957 to
form McGraw-Edison. In 1985, McGraw-Edison
became part of Cooper Power
Systems.
Since its formation in 1985, Cooper
Power Systems has continued the commitment
of its forebears to innovation.
The Thomas A. Edison Technical
Center embodies Edison’s philosophy
of finding a better way.
Cooper Power Systems’ roots, like
any family tree, come from multiple
sources: Kyle, Line Material, McGraw-Edison,
RTE and Kearney. Each
company played a key role in the
development of modern distribution
systems. Many of the common pieces
of equipment and practices in use
today were developed by these
companies. Here is a brief overview
of Cooper Power Systems’ heritage.
Kyle Corporation
Kyle Corporation started as
Electrical Connectors and Manufacturing
Company in 1933. In the early
1940’s, Kyle marketed a number of
innovative circuit reclosers under the
Kyle brand. The brand would become
the industry leader in reclosers,
sectionalizers and switchgear. In
1947 Kyle merged with Line Material
Company.
Line Material Company
The Line Material Company,
founded in 1911, grew to be a major
force in the electrical manufacturing
industry as manufacturers of fuses,
switches, line hardware, arresters,
transformers and more. Line Material
became part of McGraw Electric in
1949.
McGraw Electric
McGraw Electric goes back to
the turn of the 20th Century. The
Company started in 1900 as an electrical
contractor, wiring houses and
connecting doorbells. It expanded
into electrical products manufacturing
with several acquisitions over the
years. In 1952 it merged with
Pennsylvania Transformer Company.
McGraw-Edison
Formed in 1957 with the acquisition
of Thomas A. Edison Incorporated
by McGraw Electric, its history goes
back to Thomas Edison and the first
electric power distribution system he
developed in the late 19th Century.
McGraw-Edison Power Systems joined
Cooper in 1985.
RTE
Founded in 1947 under the name
of Rural Transformer and Equipment
Company, RTE developed many
advances that significantly changed
industry practices in underground
distribution. It became part of Cooper
in 1988.
When RTE received a patent on
the 15 kV loadbreak elbow design in
1966, its potential growth was probably
unrealized at the time. It is estimated
that there are well over 10,000,000
such elbows in service today. As a
leading innovator in the industry, RTE
continued to introduce new products
for underground distribution systems.
RTE was the first to develop non-gassing
current-limiting fusing. In 1994,
Cooper Power Systems acquired
Combined Technologies Inc. to
expand their product offerings in
current-limiting fuses.
Kearney
Kearney engineers developed
connectors, hardware and tools that
made overhead line construction and
maintenance easier, safer and more
dependable. Family held and formed by
James R. Kearney in 1926, it became a
part of Cooper Power Systems in 1997.
Electromanufacturas, S.A. de C.V.
Founded in 1963 in Guadalajara,
Mexico, Electromanufacturas, S.A.
de C.V. (EMSA) manufactures pole-mounted,
pad-mounted and substation
transformers and was ISO 9001 certified
by UL in 1997. EMSA became a part
of Cooper Power Systems in 1999.
Through all of its acquisitions,
Cooper Power Systems has grown to
become the leading manufacturer of
one of the most complete lines of
electrical distribution equipment in the
world. The Company has stayed on the
leading edge of product innovations:
high performance transformers filled
with the most advanced fluid in the
industry; distribution switchgear that
energizes capacitors while preventing
severe transient voltages; unique high-voltage
cable disconnect systems;
components offering the best lightning
surge protection.
Cooper Power Systems is
committed to continued product
development and innovation that will
solve customer problems, reduce total
owning costs, and promote better
power quality, reliability, safety,
performance and environmental
stewardship. Following Edison’s
mandate - there’s a way to do it
better - Cooper is committed to finding
it. This is part of our company’s
history, and will guide
our future
growth.
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