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General Electric facts for kids

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General Electric Company
Public
Traded as
  • NYSE: GE
  • S&P 100 component
  • S&P 500 component
ISIN US3696041033
Industry Conglomerate
Founded April 15, 1892; 133 years ago (1892-04-15), in Schenectady, New York through the merger of Edison General Electric Co. by Thomson-Houston Electric
Founder
Headquarters Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Area served
 Global
Key people
 H. Lawrence Culp Jr.
(Chairman & CEO)
Products
Revenue Decrease US$ 95.214 billion (2019)
Operating income
 Increase US$ 1.271 billion (2019)
Increase US$ −5.439 billion (2019)
Total assets Decrease US$ 266.048 billion (2019)
Total equity Decrease US$ 29.861 billion (2019)
Number of employees
 205,000 (2020)
Divisions
  • GE Additive
  • GE Aviation
  • GE Capital
  • GE Digital
  • GE Global Research
  • GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
  • GE Healthcare
  • GE Power
  • GE Renewable Energy
  • GE Ventures

General Electric (often called GE) is a very large company from the United States. It was started in 1892 by famous inventor Thomas Edison. GE was formed when several companies that made electrical products joined together.

Over the years, GE grew a lot. In the middle of the 20th century, it became a major maker of turbojet engines for airplanes. Today, GE makes many different things, from parts for power plants to medical equipment. In 2008, it was one of the biggest companies in the world. In May 2020, GE sold its business that made light bulbs.

The Start of General Electric

General Electric began on April 15, 1892. It was created when two big electrical companies merged. These were Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company.

Thomas Edison's Role

Thomas Edison was a brilliant inventor. His company, Edison General Electric, was known for making light bulbs and other electrical items. He played a key part in the early days of electricity.

Joining Forces

The merger brought together Edison's inventions with Thomson-Houston's business skills. This made a powerful new company. It was ready to bring electricity to homes and businesses everywhere.

What GE Makes Today

General Electric is a "conglomerate." This means it's a company that owns many different businesses. These businesses work in many different areas.

Powering the World

GE is a leader in making equipment for power plants. They build things like wind turbines and parts for nuclear power plants. This helps create electricity for homes and cities.

Aviation and Healthcare

GE Aviation makes Aircraft engines for planes. So, many airplanes you see flying might have GE engines. GE Healthcare makes important medical devices. These include machines used in hospitals to help doctors see inside the body.

Other Innovations

GE also works with software and digital technology. They are always looking for new ways to use technology to solve problems. They even make electric motors and other electrical parts.

Global Reach and Impact

General Electric is a global company. This means it has offices and factories all over the world. It serves customers in many different countries.

A Big Employer

GE has a huge number of employees. In 2020, about 205,000 people worked for GE. These employees work in many different jobs, from engineers to factory workers.

Changing Focus

Over its long history, GE has changed what it focuses on. For example, they used to make many home appliances. Now, they focus more on big industrial products like jet engines and power equipment. Selling their light bulb business in 2020 was another big change.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: General Electric para niños

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