Emerson Electric

About Emerson Electric

If you look around at the complex industrial world—the power plants, the chemical facilities, the factories making everything from cars to pharmaceuticals—you’ll find the invisible hand of automation making it all work. That’s where Emerson lives. It’s a global technology and software company that provides the essential systems and instruments that keep these critical industries running safely and efficiently. The story starts in St. Louis, Missouri, back in 1890. A former Union army officer and judge named John Wesley Emerson saw a business opportunity in the novel technology of electricity. He provided the financial backing for two inventive, Scotland-born brothers, Charles and Alexander Meston, to start a company manufacturing electric motors based on their own patent. Their first big hit wasn't a factory motor, but something for the home and office: the electric fan. In 1892, the company became the first to sell electric fans in North America, and within a few years, ceiling fans made up half their business. This early success was built on a reputation for quality products. For much of the 20th century, Emerson grew by diversifying and acquiring other companies. A major pivot began in the mid-1950s under president W.R. "Buck" Persons, who led the acquisition of 36 companies, transforming Emerson into a diversified manufacturer. This strategy continued under CEO Charles F. Knight, who acquired key businesses like Rosemount for process control and Copeland for compressors. Today, Emerson has sharpened its focus dramatically. After more than a century as an industrial conglomerate, the company has recently made bold moves, selling off well-known divisions like InSinkErator and its Climate Technologies business. It has reinvested heavily in its core mission: industrial automation. This includes major acquisitions like National Instruments for $8.2 billion to bolster its capabilities in automated test and measurement systems. Now, Emerson is a more focused company, betting its future on providing the software and intelligent devices that power modern industry.