File:19880816-TRIPOLIS-GANZ-A6463.jpg | thumb | Metric gauge Ganz-Mávag trainset of Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) at Tripolis, Greece

The Ganz (Ganz vállalatok, "Ganz companies") electric works in Budapest is probably best known for the manufacture of tramcars, but was also a pioneer in the application of three-phase alternating current to electric railways. Ganz also made / makes: ships (Ganz Danubius), bridge steel structures (Ganz Acélszerkezet), high voltage equipment (Ganz Transelektro). Notable engineers employed by Ganz in the field were Kálmán Kandó and Ottó Bláthy. The company is named after Ábrahám Ganz.

Ganz History

Before 1919, the company built dreadnought type battleship and submarines, power plants, too.

thumb|right|Early 20th century alternator made in Budapest, Hungary, in the power generating hall of a hydroelectric station

thumb|Hungarian built dreadnought class battleship SMS Szent Istvan at Pula (military dock)

The company was founded by Abraham Ganz in 1844.

At the end of the 19th century, the development and production of the Ganz and Partner Iron Mill and Machine Factory (hereinafter referred to as Ganz Works) had tremendous expansion of alternating-current energy transfer.

The company's general manager recognizing significance of electronic engineering András Mechwart (1853-1942) founded the Department of Electronic Engineering headed by Károly Zipernowsky (1860-1939). Engineers Miksa Déri (1854-1938) and Ottó Bláthy (1860-1939) also worked at the department producing direct-current machines and arc lamps.

In cooperation, Zipernovsky, Déri and Bláthy constructed and patented the transformer (see Picture 2). It is noteworthy, that the name "transformer" was created by Ottó Titusz Bláthy.

Besides gear ratio based on ratio of number of turns, in the patents of transformer (protected by two patents) the inventors generated two basic principles: they demanded the parallel connection of consumers and feeds on primary and secondary sides of the transformer that was not used generally until 1885. Additionally, they described the closed armature as essential constructional part of the transformer. Both factors assisted the stabilization of tension and introduction of standard voltage. Emphasizing the necessity of parallel connection made construction of energy systems possible and their economic investments.

It is noteworthy that the Ganz Works built the first transformers using iron cover of enameled mild iron wire, and started to use laminated core of today at the end of 1885.