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Woodward, Inc. is an Americandesigner,manufacturer, and service provider ofcontrol systems and control system components (e.g. pumps, controls, motors, actuators, air valves, position sensors, fuel nozzles, and electronics) for aircraft,aircraftengines, industrial engines andturbines, power generation and mobile industrial equipment. The company also provides military devices and other equipment for defense.[1]
 | |
| Formerly | The Woodward Governor Company |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| Nasdaq: WWD (WGOV prior to 2011) S&P 400 Component | |
| ISIN | US9807451037 |
| Industry | Aerospace, Industrial[2] |
| Founded | Rockford, Illinois, United States (1870 (1870))[3] |
| Founder | Amos Woodward[3] |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Number of locations | 42 plants and offices in 13 countries[3] (2021) |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
| Products | Control systems and components |
| Revenue | |
| Total assets | |
| Total equity | |
Number of employees | ~7,200(FY MAY 2021) |
| Website | www |
40°33′13.45″N105°3′39.82″W / 40.5537361°N 105.0610611°W /40.5537361; -105.0610611
Woodward, Inc. was founded as The Woodward Governor Company by Amos Woodward in 1870.[5] Initially, the company made speed controls for waterwheels (first patent No. 103,813) and eventually moved into mechanical controls forhydro turbines.[6] In the 1920s and 1930s, Woodward began designing controls fordiesel and other reciprocating engines and for industrial turbines. Also in the 1930s, Woodward developed a governor for variable-pitch aircraftpropellers.[7] Woodward parts were notably used in theGE engine on theUnited States military's first turbine-powered aircraft. Starting in the 1950s, Woodward began designing electronic controls, firstanalog and thendigital units.
The company was founded inRockford, Illinois, in 1870 with Amos W. Woodward's invention of a non compensating mechanical waterwheel governor (U.S. patent No. 103,813).[5][8] Thirty years later, his son Elmer patented the first successful mechanical compensating governor for hydraulic turbines (U.S. patent No. 583,527).[9] In 1933, the company expanded its product line to include diesel engine controls (U.S. patent No. 2,039,507)[10] and aircraft propeller governors (British patent No. 470,284).[11] Woodward governors followed the rapid advancement of diesel engine applications for railroads, maritime and electrical generation in many fields. The advent of gas turbine engines for aircraft and industrial uses offered still more opportunities for Woodward designed fuel controls. And, of course, the science of electronics has added impetus to this industry.
Elmer E. Woodward conceived, designed, and developed the first successful propeller control in 1933.[11] This model PW-34 propeller governor is on display at theUdvar-Hazy annex of theSmithsonianNational Air and Space Museum.[12]The unofficial history website is www.oldwoodward.com
As of 2007, Woodward Governor Company became a billion-dollar company with establishments worldwide, including Japan, China, and Europe.[citation needed]
On January 26, 2011, the company announced that shareholders had approved the name change toWoodward, Inc.[13]
A growing number of general aviation and commuter aircraft rely on Woodward designed propeller and overspeed governors for turboshaft and turboprop engines. As of September 2016[update], approximately 34% of the company's sales were to the defense market, including parts for theV-22 Osprey ($645,000 revenue per aircraft) and theF/A-18 ($335,000 revenue per aircraft).[14] Some of the engines controlled by Woodward include those from Honeywell (TPE331), General Electric (CT7/T700), and Pratt & Whitney Canada (PT6A series).
In April 2018, Woodward Inc. purchased L'Orange GmbH for $859 million. This supplier of fuel-injection components for stationary, marine, offshore, and industrial engines was part ofRolls-Royce's power-systems business in Germany, the US and China.[15] On January 12, 2020, the company announced an intent to merge withHexcel, according to theWall Street Journal. On April 20, it was announced the merger was called off, as a result of the health crisis caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[16] The COVID19 crisis also led to a sharp drop in revenues for Woodward, Inc.[17]
In February 2024, a protest outside facilities inNiles, Illinois resulted in arrests of 7 men and 26 women. Protesters said that Woodward is complicit in theGaza war and called for an end to contracts withBoeing andIsrael.[18] A previous protest in support of the Palestinian cause brought about 300 people to the facility inFort Collins, Colorado, in November 2023.[19]
