Emerson Electric Co. is an Americanmultinational corporation headquartered inSt. Louis, Missouri.[2][3][4] TheFortune 500 company delivers a range of engineering services, manufactures industrial automation equipment, climate control systems, and precision measurement instruments, and provides software engineering for industrial, commercial, and consumer markets.[5][6][7]
DuringWorld War II, under the leadership ofStuart Symington,[12] Emerson became the world's largest manufacturer of airplane armament.[13] Emerson ranked 52nd among United States corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts.[14]
In 1962, it acquired the United States Electrical Manufacturing Company as the U.S. Electrical Motors Division, including the brand U.S. Motors.[15] In 1968, it acquired theInSinkErator company.[16]
On December 15, 1999, Emerson Electric acquired Jordan Industries Inc.'s telecommunications equipment division for a total of $440 million, expanding it's interest into the telecommunications industry.[17]
In 2010, Emerson sold its U.S. Motors brand toNidec Corporation, divesting from the electric motors industry.[15]
On December 1, 2016,Platinum Equity acquired Emerson’s Network Power division for more than $4 billion, rebranding the business asVertiv.[18]
In July 2018, Emerson completed the acquisition ofTextron Tools and Test Businesses for a total of $810 million, which included brands such asGreenlee, Klauke, HD Electric, and Sherman + Reilly. This acquisition further expanded Emerson’s offerings in the professional tools and test equipment market.[19]
On April 1, 2020, Emerson acquired American Governor Company, a provider of technologies used to controlhydroelectric turbines.[20]
In October 2022, Emerson reached a deal to sell a controlling interest in its climate technologies business to private equity firmBlackstone Inc. for $14 billion, including debt.[21] The remaining shares were purchased byBlackstone Inc. for $3.5 billion in June 2024.
Following a nearly year-long negotiation, in April 2023, Emerson finalized an agreement to acquireNational Instruments for $8.2 billion. This acquisition was designed to enhance Emerson’s automation technology capabilities, adding advancedtesting and measurement technologies.[22][23]
Key leadership in the mid-20th century includes W.R. Persons, who focused on diversification and expansion from 1954 to 1973,[24] followed byCharles Knight, under whom Emerson pursued aggressive acquisitions and global growth between 1973 and 2000.David Farr, who was CEO from 2000 to 2021, continued to expand the company's reach into international markets and advanced technology sectors.[25]Jim Turley is the chairman,[26] and Lal Karsanbhai is CEO.[27]
Emerson provides advancedprocess automation, control systems, and software to industries such as oil and gas, power generation, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment.
Emerson Electric also plays a significant role in theaerospace anddefense industry, producing high-performanceavionics equipment.[28][29] The AN/APQ series ofradar systems, which provide advanced targeting and navigation capabilities formilitary aircraft, are key products in this segment. Notable products include:
On December 22, 2014, Emerson announced the acquisition of Scotland-based Cascade Technologies Ltd., expanding their gas-analysis portfolio with laser-based measurement analyzers and systems for enhanced industrial emissions monitoring, production efficiencies, and regulatory compliance.[30] Other main Emerson acquisitions and brands include:
On October 2, 2006, Emerson filed suit in federal court againstNBC regarding a scene that appeared in the pilot episode of the network's TV seriesHeroes. The scene depictedClaire Bennet reaching into an active garbage disposal, severely injuring her hand. Emerson's suit claims the scene "casts the disposer in an unsavory light, irreparably tarnishing the product" by suggesting that serious injuries will result "in the event consumers were to accidentally insert their hand into one."[39]
Emerson asked for a ruling barring future broadcasts of the pilot and to block NBC from using any Emerson trademarks in the future.
On February 23, 2007, the case was dropped. NBC Universal and Emerson Electric settled the lawsuit outside of court.[40]
US$18.02 billion (2025)
US$41.96 billion (2025)
