This photo, circa 1947, is one of the first Powell manufacturing facilities in Houston, Texas. Early products were primarily sheet metal work such as wire ways, but they soon began making panelboards and switchboards for the rapidly growing oil industry.
Powell was the first assembler in the United States to supply medium voltage metal-clad switchgear by purchasing the circuit breaker and cell assembly as an OEM component. The first switchgear utilized ITE circuit breakers followed quickly by GE.
One of the first Powell Power Control Rooms on-site, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, approximately 1965. The first units were site erected and had concrete floors, but soon the complete integrated package was being constructed in Houston and shipped world-wide.
With the development of vacuum technology, Powell became a full line manufacturer with the introduction of PowlVac® metal-clad switchgear in 1983.
Powell was the first to design, test and offer to the market arc-resistant metal-clad switchgear. This development, introduced in 1994, improved operator safety and reduced downtime in the event of an arc fault.