Crompton Greaves Ltd. traces its beginnings to 1878 when Col. R.E.B. Crompton founded Crompton & Co.Building on that legacy and commitment, the company quickly diversified from electrical engineering and lighting installations to hydro-electric power generation, thermal power generation, rail projects, tramway motors, ceiling fans, automatic printing press and locomotives.

In 1927, the company merged with F & A Parkinson to form Crompton Parkinson & Co. which appointed Greaves Cotton & Co. as its concessionaire in India.

In 1947, Greaves Cotton & Co. was taken over by Lala Karamchand Thapar, en eminent Indian industrialist. In 1966, Crompton Greaves Ltd. was born out of the merger.