Westinghouse Electric Co.'s history in the Pittsburgh region dates back to the 1880s. Here's a glance at its past:
1886
Westinghouse Electric Co. is founded in Pittsburgh by inventor George Westinghouse. The company also creates the first alternating-current transformer, a key advance in the history of electricity. It has about 200 workers.
1889
Westinghouse technology electrifies Great Barrington, Mass.
1895
Westinghouse starts work on a major plant in East Pittsburgh.
1904
More than 9,000 employees work at Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.’s biggest plant; an additional 3,000 work elsewhere.
1906
Westinghouse’s research and development division is started.
1914
George Westinghouse dies at 67.
1920
The first commercial radio station, KDKA, goes on the air. It’s owned by Westinghouse, which will go on to have a major presence in the radio and TV industries. It will take ownership of station WBZ in Boston the following year.
1922
The company starts Westinghouse Electric Supply Co., a distributor of electrical parts.
1928
The first TV camera tube is developed by the company, which also that year starts an elevator manufacturing business.
1957
Westinghouse designs the first commercial nuclear power plant, the Beaver County Nuclear Station, which remains in operation today.
1980
Employment by the company in the Pittsburgh region increases to 28,000.
1980s
Company sells several operating units.
1990
Westinghouse Air Brake, which was formed by George Westinghouse in 1869, is acquired by its management team and becomes Wabco and later, after going public, Wabtec Corp. (NYSE: WAB). Local employment drops to 18,000 as the company records a billion-dollar loss.
1994
Westinghouse Electric Supply Co., the electrical parts distributor owned by Westinghouse, is purchased by management and becomes Wesco International (NYSE: WCC), which exists today as a separate publicly traded company.
The company's Cleveland-based electrical operations are sold to Eaton Corp.; Westinghouse acquires Norden Corp., a manufacturer of radar.
1995
Westinghouse Electric becomes CBS Corp. after merging with the fabled TV company. It stops being traded as a public company after 111 years with the ticker symbol WX.
1996
More industrial businesses are sold off by the combined Westinghouse.
1997
Westinghouse buys Infinity Broadcasting Corp. for $4.9 billion, changes its name to CBS and moves its headquarters from Pittsburgh to New York City.
1998
Sells off its nuclear business.
1999
Viacom acquires CBS Corp.
2006
Japanese electronics manufacturer Toshiba Corp. acquires Westinghouse for $5.4 billion.
2007
Westinghouse, which has headquarters in Monroeville, announces it has picked Cranberry as its new home base.
2009
Westinghouse adds more space to its Cranberry headquarters complex.
2010
Shigenori Shiga named chairman of Westinghouse Electric, replacing Steve Tritch.
2012
Westinghouse CEO Jim Ferland resigns two days after officially taking over for the retiring Aris Candris to become CEO at competitor Babcock & Wilcox Co.
Danny Roderick is named president and CEO of Westinghouse Electric, replacing CEO Shigenori Shiga, who had the interim title.
Westinghouse and Georgia Power file lawsuits against each other over power plants under construction in Georgia.
2013
Toshiba Corp. buys Shaw Group's 20 percent stake in Westinghouse.
Westinghouse lays off 665 employees worldwide.
Duke Energy cancels construction of nuclear power units in Florida using Westinghouse’s AP1000 design.
PPG Industries takes over office space in Cranberry that had been occupied by Westinghouse.
Toshiba reportedly considers selling part of its stake in Westinghouse.
2014
Duke Energy files a lawsuit against Westinghouse over the cancellation of nuclear power plant projects in Florida.
China is accused of stealing trade secrets from several Pittsburgh-area companies, including Westinghouse.
2015
Westinghouse agrees to buy CB&I Stone & Webster, the nuclear business of CB&I.
2016
Westinghouse completes transaction to acquire CB&I Stone & Webster construction business.
Toshiba announces a $2.3 billion write-down on the value of Westinghouse.
Westinghouse’s AP1000 project in China is reported to be ahead of schedule.
Westinghouse names José Emeterio Gutiérrez interim president and CEO, replacing Danny Roderick, who has become president and CEO of Toshiba’s Energy Systems and Solutions Co.
Westinghouse is sued over nuclear deal with CB&I Stone & Webster.
Westinghouse Electric announces it will buy Nuclear Logistics from AZZ Inc.; in January, it announces that it won’t buy it after all and instead will partner with AZZ.
2017
Westinghouse announces it won’t be buying Nuclear Logistics.
Toshiba Chairman Shigenori Shiga resigns.
Japanese officials urge Toshiba to consider bankruptcy for Westinghouse. Toshiba is reportedly considering selling off Westinghouse as the reported loss grows to more than $6 billion.
Westinghouse files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after running up about $9 billion in liabilities for Toshiba.