SA Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi (abbrev. ACEC) was a manufacturer of a wide range of electrical products[1] and latterly manufactured the electrical parts for Belgian locomotives and multiple units constructed by BN.
ACEC's history began in 1885 when Julien Dulait founded the Société anonyme Électricité et Hydraulique à Charleroi. In its early years it manufactured dynamos, lifts, lighting equipment, electric traction motors for trams and drilling equipment.[2] By the early twentieth century the company was in difficulties and in 1904[3] it was taken over by baron Édouard Empain, becoming l'Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi (ACEC).[4] Empain was involved in various infrastructure developments in Egypt and used ACEC to supply electricity systems to Egypt [5] ACEC, along with Empain's other electrical industry interests, became part of the holding company Electrorail, founded in 1930 following Empain's death.[4] In 1947 ACEC merged with les Constructions Electriques de Belgique of Herstal becoming ACEC Herstal. In 1970 it became a member of the Westinghouse group[1]. ACEC was dismantled and its various operations sold off in 1989 and ceased to exist in 1992.[6]