Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget

ASEA logo used prior to the merger with Brown Boveri

Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (English translation: General Swedish Electric Company;^[1] Swedish abbreviation: ASEA) was a Swedish industry company. In 1988 it merged with the Swiss company Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) to form ASEA Brown Boveri. ASEA still exists, but only as a holding company owning 50% of the ABB Group.

History

ASEA logo used from the late nineteenth century until 1933

ASEA H.Q. in Västerås

ASEA was founded 1883 by Ludvig Fredholm in Stockholm as manufacturer of electrical light and generators. By a merging with Wenström's & Granström's Electrical Power Company (Wenströms & Granströms Elektriska Kraftbolag) the name was changed to Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, literally the "General Swedish Electrical Limited Company", or a ASEA for short.

• 1889 - the partner Jonas Wenström creates 3-phased generators, motors and transformers.
• 1933 - The company removes the swastika from the logotype, due to the symbol's association with Nazi Germany.
• 1953 - ASEA creates the first industrial diamonds.
• 1954 - HVDC Gotland project, first static high-voltage DC system
• 1960s - ASEA builds 9 of 12 nuclear plants in Sweden.
• 1974 - Industrial robots are introduced by ASEA
• 1987 - Acquires Finnish Oy Strömberg Ab
• 1988 - Merges with BBC Brown Boveri

See also

• ABB Group
• ASEA IRB - robot
• Sigfrid Edström
• Uno Lamm

References

Further reading

• Jan Glete, Asea under hundra år: 1883-1983: en studie i ett storföretags organisatoriska, tekniska och ekonomiska utveckling. (Västerås, 1987). (Swedish)