It Started with Steam

For over 2,000 years, mankind has recognized the power of steam. In the 18th and 19th centuries, engines powered by steam gave rise to the Industrial Revolution and transformed society. Steam continues to power the world today. More than half of the world’s electricity is generated with steam. Industries of every kind rely upon steam for critical processes. And as questions grow regarding the price and supply of hydrocarbons, the role of steam in the global economy may again expand.

The water tube boiler (1856) was a major innovation in terms of boiler efficiency, pressure, and safety. But boiler tubes often became fouled by minerals in the feed water. In 1895, William Swan Elliott patented a revolutionary boiler tube cleaner and formed a company to sell his invention. In 1910, Elliott Company was incorporated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1914, Elliott moved to its present location in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. Mr. Elliott quickly grew the company through acquisitions related to steam technology - heaters, lubricating systems, extractors, and separators. 

Elliott acquired the Kerr Turbine Company of Wellsville, New York, in 1923, transitioning from a supplier of auxiliary equipment to a manufacturer of steam turbine drivers. Later acquisitions added air and gas compressors to Elliott's product portfolio, and the turbine lineup grew to range from single valve YR turbines up to 100,000 HP. As a division of Carrier Corporation (1957 - 1981), Elliott became a world leader in compression technology, supplying equipment throughout the world to industries such as oil and gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), ethylene, and many others. During this same period, Elliott laid the groundwork for its global network of service shops and field service teams that today deliver comprehensive service for rotating equipment from any manufacturer.

Elliott Today

A new Elliott company, Elliott Turbomachinery Company, Inc. was created in 1981 after Carrier's acquisition by United Technologies Corporation. Following a management buyout from United Technologies, in 2000 Elliott became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ebara Corporation, headquartered in Hanada, Japan. The relationship with Ebara began in 1968 when Ebara licensed the technology from Carrier to build Elliott turbines and later, compressors. In 1975, Ebara opened a new factory in Sodegaura, Japan, to build turbomachinery using Elliott's designs. Today, Elliott is again named Elliott Company, and the integrated operations of the Elliott Group provide customers throughout the world with reliable, efficient rotating equipment and service.