GE Digital Company Overview and History

GE Digital has a rich history that spans over a century. The company was formed in 1892 as a small electrical repair shop in Schenectady, New York.

GE Digital's roots in technology date back to 1903 when it developed its first electric locomotive. This marked the beginning of the company's journey in harnessing technology to transform industries.

GE Digital's parent company, General Electric, was founded by Thomas Edison in 1892. Edison's vision of using technology to improve people's lives laid the foundation for GE Digital's mission.

GE Digital has undergone significant transformations over the years, but its commitment to innovation remains unwavering.

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GE Digital has a rich history that spans several decades. In 1980, the company introduced the first Ethernet-enabled protection relay, a device that detects faults in systems.

This innovation marked the beginning of GE Digital's journey in automation software. GE and FANUC entered into a joint venture in 1986 to create GE Fanuc Automation Corporation, which manufactured programmable logic controllers, a fundamental building block of the Industrial Internet of Things.

One notable achievement was the launch of the first HMI/SCADA on a 32-bit system, CIMPLICITY, in 1995. This system was a significant milestone in the development of automation software.

In 1996, Saturn Corp implemented CIMPLICITY MMI, MES, and SCADA solution, demonstrating the effectiveness of the system in real-world applications. The implementation of CIMPLICITY by Saturn Corp was even mentioned in Bill Gates' book "Business @ the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy" in 1999.

GE Digital continued to expand its offerings with the establishment of GE Measurement and Control in 2001. This new entity created various types of sensors, instruments, and control systems for industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, and power generation.

Over the years, GE Digital made strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities. In 2002, it acquired Intellution (iFIX products), and in 2003, it acquired Mountain Systems (Historian and Plant Apps products). These acquisitions helped GE Digital strengthen its position in the automation software market.

In 2007, GE Fanuc Automation Corporation was renamed GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, marking a new chapter in the company's history.

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The Predix Era marked a significant shift in GE Digital's strategy, as the company launched its suite of applications to the global market in 2016. This move aimed to provide industrial customers and partners with cutting-edge solutions.

GE Digital's acquisition of ServiceMax in January 2017 was a major milestone, extending Predix and analytics across field service processes. This strategic move aimed to enhance the efficiency of operations.

In 2016, GE Digital also acquired Meridium, a software company based in Roanoke, VA, that specialized in predicting machinery failure and improving operational efficiency. This acquisition further solidified GE Digital's position in the industrial software market.

Here are the key acquisitions and milestones during the Predix Era:

In 2018, GE announced it would sell a majority stake of ServiceMax, a move that marked a significant shift in the company's focus.

GE's plans for a standalone business were also revealed in 2018. The company intended to establish a new, $1.2 billion independent company focused on building a comprehensive Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) software portfolio.

This new company would comprise GE Digital, GE Power Digital, and GE Grid Solutions. The move signaled a major change in GE's strategy, one that would allow it to concentrate on its core strengths.

The new company would be a major player in the IIoT market, with a significant portfolio of software solutions.

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GE Digital has made significant strides in creating digital twins, which are virtual replicas of industrial assets. In March 2020, their Core Digital Twin Blueprint library exceeded 300 types of industrial assets.

GE Digital's technology has been used to manage 8000 customer assets remotely via its Industrial Managed Services center. This has been a game-changer for companies looking to streamline their operations and improve efficiency.

The company's digital twin solutions have been implemented in various industries, including automotive manufacturing. For example, Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd. uses GE Digital's Proficy MES in their engine manufacturing facility in Changshu, China.

This facility connects more than 100,000 integration points on a real-time basis across 500 machines on the shop floor. The result is improved equipment utilization, reduced costs, and increased productivity.

GE Digital's digital twin solutions have also been used to manage large-scale energy systems. In April 2020, India's power grid withstood a 31-gigawatt drop and recovery thanks to meticulous planning by India's Power System Operation Corporation and supported by GE Digital's Grid Software team.

The company's technology has also been used to improve manufacturing processes in the automotive industry. Shanghai Automobile Gear Works, a subsidiary of SAIC Motor Corporation, has transformed their manufacturing processes by using GE Digital's Proficy Plant Applications.

This has led to a 20% improvement in equipment utilization, a 40% reduction in inspection costs, and a 30% reduction in inventory. The company has also seen an 80% reduction in required storage space.

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At GE Digital, the focus is clear: delivering software that accelerates a new era of energy. GE Digital helps create reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for all by improving the energy ecosystem to be more intelligent and efficient.

GE Digital's software reduces emissions & waste today through efficiency insights, making a tangible impact on the environment. Their software also accelerates the transition to zero- and low-carbon energy resources, driving a cleaner future.

At GE Digital, we're focused on delivering software that accelerates a new era of energy.

We're using data to transform how our customers solve their toughest challenges, making the energy ecosystem more intelligent and efficient.

Our goal is to create reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for all, and we're working towards that by improving the energy ecosystem.

We deliver software that reduces emissions and waste today through efficiency insights, making a positive impact on the environment.

We're also helping to orchestrate a secure, clean energy grid, which is essential for a sustainable future.

By accelerating the transition to zero- and low-carbon energy resources, we're contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet.

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GE Digital has helped Wacker Chemical Corporation, a global manufacturer of specialty chemicals, extend the maintenance of their pressure vessels from every two years to a maximum of every 10 years. This has saved Wacker millions of dollars annually.

Wacker produces up to 20,000 tons of polycristaline silicon each year in Charleston, Tennessee, which is a critical component for the solar photovoltaic and wider electronics sector.

GE Digital's internal development efforts date back to 2011, when the company established a software Center of Excellence focused on developing industrial software.

This marked the beginning of a significant shift in GE's approach to software development, allowing them to create innovative solutions for their businesses.

In 2011, GE also laid the groundwork for future growth by establishing a software Center of Excellence, which would become a hub for industrial software development.

The following year, GE made a notable advancement in industrial software development with the launch of Predix, a platform designed to help GE businesses transform their operations.

Predix, launched in 2013, is a platform for IIoT applications that enables GE businesses to leverage industrial software and improve their operations.

Here's a brief overview of GE's internal development milestones:

GE Digital's Digital Twin Blueprints have made a significant impact on industrial operations. In March 2020, the company announced that its Core Digital Twin Blueprint library had exceeded 300 types of industrial assets.

GE Digital's Digital Twin Blueprints have been used to manage 8000 customer assets remotely via its Industrial Managed Services center. This is a testament to the company's ability to provide real-time data and insights to its customers.

The Digital Twin Blueprints have also been used in various industrial settings, such as in the engine manufacturing facility of Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd. (CJLR), where it connects more than 100,000 integration points on a real-time basis across 500 machines on the shop floor.

The following is a breakdown of the types of industrial assets managed by GE Digital's Digital Twin Blueprints:

These numbers demonstrate the scalability and effectiveness of GE Digital's Digital Twin Blueprints in various industrial settings.