Part 6/12:
Westinghouse Electric emerged post-World War II, driven largely by the proportionate demand for nuclear technology in national defense initiatives. Pioneering water-cooled reactor technology, Westinghouse quickly became a standard in nuclear power generation. However, shifting attitudes and mounting safety concerns following nuclear incidents in the late 20th century, particularly the Three Mile Island disaster in 1979, cast a shadow on the industry.
By the 2000s, as demand for nuclear energy surged and interest renewed globally, the acquisition of Westinghouse seemed a strategic move to tap into a recovering market. Yet Toshiba’s optimism would soon crumble under the weight of operational challenges and mounting global competition.