Generating trust with clean, efficient power generation
OUR HISTORY
Centrax was founded in 1946 by the late Richard H H Barr OBE and Geoffrey R White. The pair created the company after working with the celebrated RAF officer and engineer Sir Frank Whittle in the pioneering team who developed the jet engine.
In the early years Centrax manufactured its own industrial gas turbine, the CS-600. But in 1979 the company signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to package the 501 gas turbine, which is ideally suited to CHP applications, and allowed Centrax to expand its market capabilities.
When Siemens Energy bought out the Rolls-Royce energy division in 2014, they maintained the existing relationship with Centrax – an arrangement which sees us continue to supply the 501, now A05, alongside the Siemens Energy SGT-300 and SGT-400 gas turbines.
As the premium packager for Siemens Energy gas turbines, Centrax has successfully installed and maintained generator packages across the UK, and in many countries throughout Europe and beyond.
The land where Centrax stands - March 1955.
Charlie Barr in front of Centrax 400kW unit.
This image was taken in the mid 1960’s and shows factory staff working on the Gustavsberg steam boliers which
Centrax packaged in addition to manufacturing engines. The boilers were mainly sold to hospitals and schools in
Europe.
Mobile units circa late 60s early 70s
The Centrax drawing office during the early 1960’s where the engines and packages were developed.
1946
Centrax founded by the late Richard H H Barr OBE and Geoffrey R White in Brentford, Middlesex, England.
1955
Relocation to Newton Abbot.
1962
The Gas Turbine Division is formed to design, manufacture and market the CS-600 engine which initially had a power output of 400 kW, but later uprated to 500 kW. Many machines sold as lorry-mounted mobiles for planned maintenance at public utility installations both in the UK and continental Europe.
1968
Five CS-600’s installed on a drilling rig – the first gas turbines in the North Sea. Also a CS-600 generator package fitted to first Royal Navy all-gas turbine warship. First commercial Centrax CS-600 CHP installation installed in Tampa Florida.
1969
Centrax wins a Queen’s Award to Industry.
The 1970’s saw the arrival of the Type 74 package. This generator set, which used a Centrax CX600-3 engine, was assembled at the Newton Abbot site and sold throughout Europe. It was capable of producing between 600-700 kW of electricity and used mainly for standby power.
In 1979 Centrax signed the 501-KB engine distributer agreement with Detroit Diesel Allison. The aeroderivative engine became a game changer in Centrax’s product development which led us to the cogeneration market. This image, taken in the early 1980’s, shows the 7 mobile units that used the 501 engine bought by IBM as standby for their sites in Europe
The 1970’s saw the arrival of the Type 74 package. This generator set, which used a Centrax CX600-3 engine, was assembled at the Newton Abbot site and sold throughout Europe. It was capable of producing between 600-700 KW of electricity and used mainly for standby power.
1973
First Centrax CS-600 CHP installation in Essex, UK.
1974
First close-coupled CS-600 generator package released for production, the forerunner of the very successful close-coupled 501 and 571 packages which formed the basis of all Centrax packages from that time.
1979
Agreement signed with the Allison Engine Company to package industrial gas turbines into generator sets.
1980
First order to package seven mobile 501-K-powered generator sets for IBM, France.
1981
First 501-KB generator set sold for CHP application at a paper mill in the Netherlands.
In 1981 Centrax sold its first industrial generator set, that incorporated the 501 engine, to power a British Gas site in Merthyr Tydfil. Later that year it was used in its first cogeneration installation and has remained a key product in Centrax’s portfolio ever since.
Early 1980s - Wave generator
1982
First 501-KB5 units sold with an order for three for a paper mill in Roermond, the Netherlands. The packages continue to run today.
1984
Commence manufacture and supply of complete turbine modules for the Allison 571-K engines.
First CX570 units sold for an offshore project at the Ekofisk oil field, Norway.
Also, first CHP installation in UK for Smurfit Kappa’s SSK site in Birmingham.
1986
First turnkey project in UK at landfill site near Birmingham.
1987
First units sold in Germany, to KHD for Stuttgart University for a district heating project.
1988
First CHP installation in Spain to Europac, and first units sold in India with order for 5 units to ONGC for 3 sites in Assam at Geleky Rudrasagar and Lakwa.
First CX501-KB5 units sold for an offshore project in the North Sea (Amoco).
The first newly introduced KB7 engine is sold to Tierra Atomizada in Spain.
1989
First CMC signed by Papelera Castilla, Spain.
1990
First CHP installation in France and first turnkey project for Cascades Blendecques paper mill.
Also, first Cheng Cycle 501-KH for a district heating installation at Osimo, Italy.
1991
First CX501-KB5 units sold for an offshore project in the North Sea (Amoco).
1993
The first newly introduced KB7 engine is sold to Tierra Atomizada, Spain.
Opening of the service depot in Spain.
1994
Centrax invests in a test and engine overhaul facility at the Newton Abbot site.
1995
The Allison Engine Company is bought by Rolls-Royce.
1996
Opening of service depots in the Netherlands and France.
1997
First unit sold in Africa to Montalev in Gabon.
Opening of service depots in Germany and Italy.
2000
First unit sold in Poland to Ostrów.
2004
Frost & Sullivan award for Best Customer Service in European Power Generation.
2009 - Centrax expanded its product line to include the then Rolls-Royce Trent engine. Hungarian power plant, BVMT in Ajka, bought the first units and this image shows the Centrax Gas Turbines team in front of the first package just before it left the Newton Abbot site.
BRAL – Algeria
2009
First Industrial Trent 60 is shipped and first 501-KB7 units sold in Bermuda.
2010
Centrax wins a Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Export Achievement.
2011
Agreement reached with Siemens to package their 300 and 400 gas turbines in Centrax generator packages for the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. First two Trent 60s successfully commissioned at Ajka in Hungary.
2012
First CX400 generator set built by Centrax sold to Engie, a French energy management company, for a district heating project – delivered in time for the following winter’s heating season.
After signing an agreement in 2011 with Siemens to package their 300 and 400 engines, Centrax sells
its first CX400 generator set to heat the French city of Versailles.
Present Day
2014
Rolls-Royce sells its Energy gas turbine and compressor business to Siemens Energy.
2015
Centrax becomes the preferred route to market for the Siemens Energy SGT-300 and SGT-400 gas turbines for industrial power generation in 31 European countries.
1 million hours reached on four CX501-KB5 units at Smurfit Kappa Roermond Papier, the Netherlands.
2016
First CX300 sold.
2021
In Memory of Richard Henry Howard Barr OBE 1920 – 2021
RHH Barr Obituary