Anglo Belgian Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) is a Belgian manufacturer of medium speed diesel engines, primarily for the marine market, as well as stationary and locomotive engines.
s towards the enterprise; a ninth investor the company Carels Brothers contributed diesel engine manufacturing licenses in exchange for a 5% return of the company's turnover.
The name of the new company was Anglo Belgian Company, the anglo indicating that some of the investment capital was to come from Britain, however World War I
intervened and no capital was to come from England, but the name was kept. Initial production included engines ranging from 6 to 40 horsepower
.
After the end of the First World War (during which the factory had been occupied and its machines taken to Germany) the company began normal production again. The company survived the Great Depression
due to its customer base supplying engines for the relatively stable fishing and shipping industries. Later in the interwar period the company obtained a license from Paxman Ricardo for the production of 1500rpm engines. During the Second World War production continued at a reduced level; also during this period prototypes for a medium speed 4 stoke single acting engine were produced, codenamed DU (diesel universal).
In the decades after the second world war the DU engine was developed and modified: 5,6 and 8 cylinder versions were produced, turbocharged versions (codenamed DUX) with 50% as much power as the equivalent non turbocharged version were made, as were naturally aspirated versions, including turbocharged and intercooled versions. The company was prosperous up to the 1970s, and its engines used in ships, locomotives (usually shunting type) and for electricity generation.
During the 1970s the company's financial situation became unfavourable, exacerbated by the loss of one major market, the Belgian Congo
had become independent in 1960 and could not afford new engines. In 1973 license for the manufacture of high-speed engines was obtained from SEMT Pielstick
, additionally the company developed an entirely new engine codenamed DZC operating at 1000rpm.
By 1979 the company needed capital, negotiations with private investors failed and the company went bankrupt. The company re-started under new management and with new investors (the companies Pauwels, Batibo, and the Belgian Shipbuilding Corporation as well as with government investment) and was renamed Anglo Belgian Corporation. Problems with production versions of the DZC engine required further investment to fix and the shareholders lost confidence in the company, refusing an increase in capital. As a consequence they passed their shares to Ogepar and Luxembourg based holding company allowing a capital raise of 75,000,000 Belgian franc
s.
The modified DZC engine was a success, as was its association with Ogepar. Despite the collapse of the Belgian shipbuilding industry new markets were found including overseas power plants. In 1997 design of a DZC engine in V formation was begun, and the power range of the DZC series extended to 5000 hp
The engines are found in use on large river barges such as those found on the Rhine, coastal freighters, fishing boats, ferries, tugboats (which typically use 2 engines), and other ships. Other applications include electricity generation, and pumping engines, engines for cranes, and locomotives (including the SNCB Class 77
and Voith Maxima
), as well as dual fuel (gas/oil) DXD and DXZ engines.
History
In 26 October 1912 the Anglo Belgian corporation was founded; the company was to manufacture the new semi-diesel engines. One of the investors was the Onghena company, a manufacturer of gas engines, which would contribute part of their factory space and machinery towards the production of the new machines. Eight investors including Onghena each contributed 500,000 Belgian francBelgian franc
The franc was the currency of Belgium until 2002 when the euro was introduced into circulation. It was subdivided into centimes , 100 centiem or Centime .-History:...
s towards the enterprise; a ninth investor the company Carels Brothers contributed diesel engine manufacturing licenses in exchange for a 5% return of the company's turnover.
The name of the new company was Anglo Belgian Company, the anglo indicating that some of the investment capital was to come from Britain, however World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
intervened and no capital was to come from England, but the name was kept. Initial production included engines ranging from 6 to 40 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
.
After the end of the First World War (during which the factory had been occupied and its machines taken to Germany) the company began normal production again. The company survived the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
due to its customer base supplying engines for the relatively stable fishing and shipping industries. Later in the interwar period the company obtained a license from Paxman Ricardo for the production of 1500rpm engines. During the Second World War production continued at a reduced level; also during this period prototypes for a medium speed 4 stoke single acting engine were produced, codenamed DU (diesel universal).
In the decades after the second world war the DU engine was developed and modified: 5,6 and 8 cylinder versions were produced, turbocharged versions (codenamed DUX) with 50% as much power as the equivalent non turbocharged version were made, as were naturally aspirated versions, including turbocharged and intercooled versions. The company was prosperous up to the 1970s, and its engines used in ships, locomotives (usually shunting type) and for electricity generation.
During the 1970s the company's financial situation became unfavourable, exacerbated by the loss of one major market, the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
had become independent in 1960 and could not afford new engines. In 1973 license for the manufacture of high-speed engines was obtained from SEMT Pielstick
SEMT Pielstick
SEMT Pielstick is a French diesel engine manufacturer based in Villepinte, France and owned by MAN Diesel, a subsidiary of MAN AGSEMT Pielstick was formed in 1988 when the business was acquired from GEC Alsthom by MAN and MTU, originally as a 50/50 partnership...
, additionally the company developed an entirely new engine codenamed DZC operating at 1000rpm.
By 1979 the company needed capital, negotiations with private investors failed and the company went bankrupt. The company re-started under new management and with new investors (the companies Pauwels, Batibo, and the Belgian Shipbuilding Corporation as well as with government investment) and was renamed Anglo Belgian Corporation. Problems with production versions of the DZC engine required further investment to fix and the shareholders lost confidence in the company, refusing an increase in capital. As a consequence they passed their shares to Ogepar and Luxembourg based holding company allowing a capital raise of 75,000,000 Belgian franc
Belgian franc
The franc was the currency of Belgium until 2002 when the euro was introduced into circulation. It was subdivided into centimes , 100 centiem or Centime .-History:...
s.
The modified DZC engine was a success, as was its association with Ogepar. Despite the collapse of the Belgian shipbuilding industry new markets were found including overseas power plants. In 1997 design of a DZC engine in V formation was begun, and the power range of the DZC series extended to 5000 hp
Products
As of 2010 the company produces 3,6 and 8 cylinder DX engines in power ranges from 138 to 883 kW, inline 6 and 8 cylinder DZ engines from 864 to 1768 kW, and 12 and 16 cylinder V engines (V-DZC) of rated power either 2650 kW or 3536 kW.The engines are found in use on large river barges such as those found on the Rhine, coastal freighters, fishing boats, ferries, tugboats (which typically use 2 engines), and other ships. Other applications include electricity generation, and pumping engines, engines for cranes, and locomotives (including the SNCB Class 77
SNCB Class 77
The SNCB Class 77 is a class of 4 axle B'B' diesel hydraulic shunting and freight locomotives manufactured at the beginning of the 2000s by Siemens Schienenfahrzeugtechnik and later by Vossloh at the Maschinenbau Kiel plant in Kiel, Germany for the National Railway Company of Belgium .-Background...
and Voith Maxima
Voith Maxima
The Voith Maxima locomotives are a new family of diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by Voith Turbo Lokomotivtechnik GmbH & Co. KG., a subsidiary of Voith. According to Voith, the Maxima 40CC is the most powerful single-engined diesel-hydraulic locomotive in the world, rated at 3,600 kW...
), as well as dual fuel (gas/oil) DXD and DXZ engines.