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Our 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.

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  • 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.

    Highlights

    • 1941 − 1Ø Hydraulic Recloser w/Dual Timing
    • 1946 − 3Ø Hydraulic Recloser

  • 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.

    Highlights

    • 1920 − Porcelain-Housed Fuse Cutouts
    • 1920 − Drop-Out Fuse Cutout
    • 1920 − Expulsion Gap Arrester
    • 1932 − Valve-Type Arrester
    • 1933 − Circuit Reclosing Disconnecting Fuse Cutout
    • 1934 − Glass-Housed Arrester
    • 1938 − Ground Lead Disconnect Arrester
    • 1949 − Capacitor Units w/Stainless Steel Tanks

  • 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.

    Highlights

    • 1949 − Sectionalizer
    • 1956 − 3Ø Recloser w/Ground Trip

  • 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.

    Highlights

    • 1958 − Distribution Arresters Through 72 kV
    • 1959 − Step Voltage Regulator with Direct Drive Tap Changer
    • 1961 − Solid State Electronic Recloser Control
    • 1963 − Full Range Current Limiting Fuse (NX )
    • 1963 − Motor Operated Recloser
    • 1968 − 1Ø Vacuum Recloser
    • 1971 − All Film Dielectric Capacitor
    • 1975 − Environmentally Responsible Capacitor Dielectric Fluid (Edisol )
    • 1978 − Smart Switch for Distribution Automation
    • 1979 − Shielded UD Arrester
    • 1980 − MOV Overhead Arrester
    • 1984 − Microprocessor Control for Voltage Regulators
    • 1984 − Microprocessor-Based Recloser Control

  • 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.

    Highlights

    • 1957 − Externally Operated Tap Changer Switches
    • 1958 − Pad-mounted Transformers
    • 1958 − Externally Operated Dual Voltage Switches and Dual Voltage Transformers
    • 1960 − Bay-O-Net Fuse Assembly and Isolation Fuse Links
    • 1964 − Loadbreak Elbow Terminators System
    • 1972 − Transformer Primary Switch
    • 1973 − Full Range Current Limiting Fuse (ELX)
    • 1973 − Current Limiting Bushing
    • 1974 − Under-Oil Full Range (ELS) and Back-Up (ELSP) Current-Limiting Fuses
    • 1974 − Four Position Loadbreak Switch
    • 1975 − R-Temp Fluid
    • 1978 − Fully Rated 35 kV Large Interface Loadbreak Elbow Connection System
    • 1979 − Solid State Varistor Technology (M.O.V.E. and Parking Stand Arresters)
    • 1984 − MagneX Interrupter (Primary Breaker for Transformers)
    • 1988 − VFI Pad-mounted Switchgear

  • 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.

    Highlights

    • 1926 − Split-Bolt Connector
    • 1934 − Snub-R-Grips, Service Drop Wire Grips
    • 1937 − Trip-O-Link , Two-Shot Reclosing Switch
    • 1938 − Trip Saver Repeating Surge Protector
    • 1939 − Fit-All Interchangeable Fuse Links
    • 1947 − Type X Fuse Links
    • 1952 − Copper H-Frame Connectors
    • 1954 − Aluminum H-Frame Connectors
    • 1954 − WH-1 Self-Contained Hydraulic Compression Tool
    • 1965 − Primary Enclosure
    • 1966 − Airseal & Aqua Seal
    • 1966 − Ultra-Range Squeezons
    • 1969 − VACpac Vacuum Switchgear
    • 1970 − Uni-Kearn Arc-Extinction Material for Loadbreak Inserts
    • 1973 − Cam-El Clamp Stick
    • 1978 − Direct Bury Primary Switching Pedestals
    • 1995 − Lineminder Automated Switches

  • 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.

  • Cannon Technologies

    Cannon Technologies was founded in 1987 to deliver load management and automated distribution solutions to electric utilities, with a focus on engineering automation technologies for monitoring and metering, and energy management. Through the Yukon: Advanced Energy Services software, utilities of all sizes are provided a scalable platform for remotely reading meters, controlling peak load, managing power, and monitoring substation and distribution system assets. Cannon Technologies became part of Cooper Power Systems in 2006.

    Highlights

  • Cybectec

    Founded in 1980, Cybectec provides solutions that meet utilities´ most demanding real-time and reliability requirements in a number of areas, including electrical power substation automation, integration, communication and instrumentation. Its Substation and Enterprise Solutions help utilities integrate substation controls into a cohesive automation system, providing complete, enterprise-wide access to substation data in a highly secure environment. Cybectec´s flagship product, the Substation Modernization Platform Gateway (SMP) is a best-in-class communications device that concentrates and processes data in utility substations. Cybectec became part of Cooper Power Systems in 2007.

    Highlights

    • 1993 – SMP Gateway (first generation)
    • 2002 – Visual T&D
    • 2003 – IMS

  • CYME International

    CYME International, founded in 1986, provides high quality power engineering software solutions to the electrical industry worldwide. The company is recognized internationally as a world-class software provider, with applications used in thousands of transmission, distribution and industrial projects in more than 100 countries, and enjoys an established reputation for customer responsiveness and technical expertise. CYME International became part of Cooper Power Systems in 2008.

    Highlights

  • Cooper Power Systems

    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.

    Cooper Power Systems Innovations

    • 1985 − V-PRO Overcurrent Protection Software
    • 1985 − V-HARM Harmonics Software
    • 1986 − Extended Foil/Solderless Capacitor
    • 1987 − Rotatable Feedthru Bushing Insert
    • 1987 − Mini-ELSP Fuse
    • 1987 − 600 A Deadbreak “Threadless” Stick Operable System (PUSH-OP )
    • 1988 − Capacitor w/Unified, Definite Tank Rupture Curve
    • 1988 − 600 A Deadbreak Shotgun Stick Operable Systems (Bol-T and T-OP)
    • 1988 − Resettable Vacuum Fault Interrupter
    • 1988 − Tri Clamp Low Voltage Bushing
    • 1988 − T-OP II 600A Disconnect System
    • 1988 − Form 4A Microprocessor-Based Recloser Control
    • 1989 − DISTRELY Reliability Software
    • 1989 − Envirotemp 200 Synthetic Ester
    • 1989 − VariGAP Overhead Arrester
    • 1990 − CL-4C Voltage Regulator Control
    • 1990 − Form 4C Microprocessor-Based Recloser Control
    • 1992 − VariGAP (MOV gapped) Elbow and Parking Stand Arresters
    • 1992 − Thermoplastic Bushing Well
    • 1992 − Electronically-Controlled Vacuum 1Ø Recloser
    • 1993 − Solid Insulation Capacitor Switch
    • 1994 − Removable Stud Bushing Well
    • 1994 − Edison - Pro Relay
    • 1994 − CL-5A Voltage Regulator Control
    • 1995 − 1Ø and 3Ø VFI Transformers
    • 1996 − Envirotemp FR3 Dielectric Fluid
    • 1996 − ELF Dropout Current-Limiting Fuse
    • 1996 − Pad-Mounted Voltage Regulator
    • 1996 − Hi-Current Bay-O-Net Fuse
    • 1997 − Tandem ELF Fuse
    • 1997 − U-OP 600A Disconnect System
    • 1997 − Form 5 Microprocessor-Based Recloser Control
    • 1998 – NOVA Three-Phase Recloser
    • 1998 – Envirotran Transformers
    • 1998 – POSI-BREAK Elbow
    • 1999 – S.T.A.R. Pathfinder Electrostatic Reset Fault Indicator
    • 2000 – Triple-Single NOVA Recloser
    • 2000 – NOVA1 Single-Phase Vacuum Recloser
    • 2000 – Form 6 Recloser Control
    • 2002 – VFI Pad-mounted Switchgear with Visible-Break Accessory
    • 2004 – Modular Integrated Transportable Substations (MITS)
    • 2004 − CL-6A Voltage Regulator Control
    • 2005 – Edison Modular Fuse
    • 2006 – Automated M-Force Switch
    • 2007 – SMP IO
    • 2008 – UltraSIL Polymer-Housed Evolution Surge Arrester
    • 2010 – Form 4D Recloser Control
    • 2010 – Yukon Feeder Automation
    • 2010 – Fused Loadbreak Elbow Connector