G&W Electric Co. is celebrating 100 years of service in the electric power industry.

The company was founded in 1905 when Harry Gear and Paul Williams, two Commonwealth Edison engineers, had a better idea for connecting underground to overhead cables. The result was the first detachable-style porcelain pothead, now referred to as a cable termination. Many new innovations followed as the company built its reputation on engineering expertise in providing quality products customized to customer specifications.

G&W started in a small machine shop on Jackson Boulevard in Chicago. The company moved several times within the Chicago area as the business grew. Today, G&W headquarters occupies a 162,000-sq-ft, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Blue Island, Illinois, a southwest Chicago suburb. It also has a manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. The company, which is both ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 certified, services a worldwide customer base through an extensive domestic and international sales organization.

G&W offers a variety of products. The original detachable pothead line has grown into a complete line of cable terminations and joints from 5 kV through 800 kV. Load and fault interrupting switchgear is available with either SF₆ gas or solid dielectric insulation for underground and overhead distribution. Solid dielectric and magnetic actuator technology has led to a flexible line of reclosers that can work with a variety of controls. Current-limiting protectors also are available through 38 kV, 5000 A continuous and 120 kA interrupting.

According to G&W President John H. Mueller, “We are extremely proud to be among the select few in our industry to achieve such a rare milestone. G&W has always been very fortunate to employ people with extraordinary talent, commitment and vision. Our products are designed, built and tested to the highest industry standards. Our longevity in the industry is a testament to the quality of our products. But a quality product is not enough. We realize what it takes to be a leader in the industry. We believe this strong foundation and our continued commitment towards customer satisfaction will assure our growth in the future. I personally want to thank all our customers and industry associates for their business and support over the years.”