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Solar Turbines Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., designs and manufactures industrial gas turbines for on- and off-shore electrical power generation, for marine propulsion and for producing, processing and transporting natural gas and oil. Solar Turbines is one of the world's leading producers of industrial gas turbines up to . There are more than 13,900 Solar Turbines gas turbine systems installed in 98 countries worldwide that have collectively logged more than 1.7 billion hours of use. Founded in San Diego, California, United States in 1927 as Prudden-San Diego Airplane Company, the company initially designed, manufactured and sold airplanes. After the departure of its founder, George H. Prudden, the company changed its name to Solar Aircraft Company in 1929. The Great Depression of 1929 forced Solar Aircraft Company to re-focus its efforts into manufacturing aircraft components for other manufacturers. The company grew considerably during World War II and was forced to diversify into non-aircraft products due to the steep drop in business after the war. Solar Aircraft Company's expertise in hard-to-manufacture parts able to withstand high-temperatures led to contracts to produce jet engine components. Solar Aircraft began to design and manufacture completed turbine engines for the United States military for applications such as auxiliary power units. Solar Aircraft continued to expand its product line and grow its business until it was purchased by International Harvester Company in early 1960, becoming the Solar Division of International Harvester in 1963. In 1973 the Solar Division of International Harvester exited the aerospace industry to focus solely on industrial turbines. In 1975 the development and manufacture of the Solar Division's radial engines was moved into a newly formed Radial Engines Group, renamed the Turbomach Division in 1980. Solar Turbines Incorporated became a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Tractor Co. after Caterpillar purchased the assets of the Solar Division and the Turbomach division from International Harvester on May 31, 1981. In 1985, Caterpillar sold the Turbomach Division to Sundstrand Corporation. ==Prudden-San Diego Airplane Company founded 1927== Solar Turbines traces its roots to the Prudden-San Diego Airplane Company, a partnership founded in 1927 between George Prudden and seven San Diego area businessmen. Due to differences in management philosophy between Prudden and his investors, Prudden left the company in November 1928. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Solar Turbines」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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