WABCO
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WABCO is a supplier of braking and other control systems for automotive and railways industries. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for trucks and buses were invented by WABCO.
WABCO is a daughter company of American Standard Companies.
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[edit] History
George Westinghouse, according to legend, was traveling by train from Troy, New York to Schenectady, New York one day in 1867 when his travel plans were derailed—literally. Two freight trains had collided on the tracks ahead. Back then, train travel was a perilous venture. There was no way to stop a speeding train other than to have a crew member run from car to car manually pulling a hand brake.
Westinghouse pondered the problem and came up with a solution. Westinghouse invented a new kind of brake that used compressed air to slow a train, and in 1869 he started his Westinghouse Air Brake Company (WABCO) to sell his brake to locomotive companies.
On March 13, 1914, an editorial in The New York Times declared that George Westinghouse's railroad air brake had saved more lives than had been lost in all wars combined.
In 1968, WABCO was bought by American Standard Companies.
[edit] Break up of American Standard
On February 1, 2007, American Standard Cos. announced it would break up its three divisions. The company will sell off its kitchen and bath division and spin off WABCO, American Standard's vehicle controls division, while retaining The Trane Company. American Standard is expected to rebrand itself as The Trane Company. It is believed that American Standard wants to drop its kitchen and bath division due to under performance.
