GEC ALSTHOM Paxman Diesels
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Diesel engine manufacturing |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Founder | James Noah Paxman, Henry Davey, Charles Davey |
| Defunct | 2021 |
| Fate | Integrated into MAN Energy Solutions |
| Headquarters | Colchester , United Kingdom |
| Products | Diesel engines |
Number of employees | 2000+ |
| Parent | MAN Energy Solutions |
Paxman was a distinguished British manufacturer of diesel engines, established in 1865 by James Noah Paxman alongside Henry and Charles Davey. Currently integrated into MAN Energy Solutions, the firm once operated from a 23-acre facility employing upwards of 2,000 personnel. Early diesel engines from Paxman incorporated "Comet" indirect injection cylinder heads, engineered by Sir Harry Ricardo, and marketed under the name Paxman Ricardo.
Davey Paxman
The company was initially founded as Davey, Paxman & Davey, Engineers, later renamed Davey, Paxman & Co. before incorporation in 1898. In 1920, it became part of the Agricultural & General Engineers (AGE) conglomerate. After AGE's failure in 1932, the company re-established itself as Davey Paxman & Co (Colchester) Ltd.
Originally, the firm's focus was on general engineering and ironworks, manufacturing steam engines, boilers, agricultural implements, and mill gearing. By the early 1870s, it had begun supplying machinery to the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa.
Ruston-Paxman
In 1940, Ruston & Hornsby gained a controlling stake, creating the Ruston-Paxman Group. Throughout World War II, Paxman provided diesel engines for naval vessels such as the British U-class submarine and British V-class submarine.
The engine controls segment became a subsidiary named Ardleigh Engineering (later known as Regulateurs Europa) in 1954. In 1962, Paxman expanded this division by acquiring Curtiss-Wright Corporation’s engine controls unit and integrating it under Regulateurs Europa.
English Electric and GEC
The Ruston-Paxman Group was acquired by English Electric in 1966, merging its diesel engine operations into English Electric Diesel Engines Ltd. Paxman was designated as the "Paxman Engine Division." Following English Electric’s acquisition by GEC in 1968, the division was renamed GEC Diesels Limited in 1972. Subsequently, in 1975, Paxman Diesels Limited was formed as a subsidiary entity.
Alstom
In 1988, GEC combined its diesel businesses—Paxman, Ruston, and Mirrlees Blackstone—with Alsthom (a branch of Compagnie Générale d'Electricité) to establish GEC-Alsthom. At this time, Paxman was rebranded as GEC ALSTOM Paxman Diesels Ltd. Following Alstom’s public offering in 1997, the diesel engine operations were consolidated into Alstom Engines Ltd (AEL).
MAN B&W Diesel
In 2000, MAN B&W Diesel acquired Alstom Engines Ltd, renaming it MAN B&W Diesel Ltd. The Regulateurs Europa controls business was divested to Heinzmann in 2005. In November 2020, MAN announced the closure of the Colchester manufacturing site; ongoing support for remaining Paxman products is now provided by MAN Energy Solutions at its facility in Hazel Grove, previously the site of the Mirrlees Blackstone factory.
Paxman
Pre-1934 models:
- VZ engine, utilized in LMS 7054
Post-1934 models (indirect injection):
- RP series, implemented across several British Rail classes such as 10100, 10800, 11001, D2/1, and Class 07; also employed by Western Australian Government Railways Y class and New South Wales Government Railways 41 class
- Hi-Dyne, a modified RPHXL variant featuring controlled turbocharging to maintain constant power output at varying speeds
Post-1952 models (direct injection):
- YH series, used in British Rail Class 15 and British Rail Class 16
- ZH series, fitted to British Rail Class 17
- YJ Ventura, powering vessels such as the Type 42 destroyer and British Rail Classes 14, 29, and 74
- Y3J (later RP200) Valenta, installed in ships including the Type 22 frigate, Type 23 frigate, , submarines like the Upholder/Victoria-class submarine, as well as British Rail Class 43 (HST) and New South Wales XPT trains
- VP185, employed in British Rail Class 43 (HST) and New South Wales XPT services
Ruston-Paxman
Among the prominent diesel engines produced by Ruston-Paxman is the RK3, which found application in the British Rail Class 56 and British Rail Class 58 locomotives.
External links
- Engine manufacturers of the United Kingdom
- Locomotive engine manufacturers
- Diesel locomotive engines
- Companies based in Colchester
- Diesel engines by maker
- Diesel engine manufacturers
- MAN SE
- Manufacturing companies established in 1865
- Manufacturing companies disestablished in 2021
- 1865 establishments in England
- 2021 disestablishments in England
- Alstom