# Burmeister & Wain

> Danish shipbuilding company and engine manufacturer

**Wikidata**: [Q1016699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1016699)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmeister_&_Wain)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/burmeister-wain

## Summary
Burmeister & Wain was a Danish shipbuilding company and engine manufacturer headquartered in Copenhagen. Founded in 1843, the enterprise operated as an aktieselskab until its dissolution in 1980, after which it was replaced by MAN Diesel SE. The company is recognized as a significant business entity and shipyard, producing notable vessels such as HNoMS Valkyrien and MS Cometa.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Founded in 1843.
- **Dissolution:** The company was dissolved in 1980.
- **Headquarters:** Located in Copenhagen, Denmark (coordinates: 55.692111111111, 12.611).
- **Industry:** Operated within the shipbuilding sector.
- **Legal Form:** Structured as an aktieselskab.
- **Founders:** Founded by Hans Heinrich Baumgarten; also owned by Carl Christian Burmeister and William Wain.
- **Successor:** Replaced by MAN Diesel SE.
- **Classification:** An instance of a business, enterprise, and shipyard.
- **Products:** Manufactured engines and ships, including HNoMS Valkyrien, MS Cometa, MS Crux, and MS Rigel.
- **Identifiers:**
    - VIAF ID: 132531548
    - Freebase ID: /m/0g5976_
    - Library of Congress Authority ID: n81050689
    - National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987012182274705171
    - Wellcome Collection Concept ID: ffp6a474
    - NE.se ID: burmeister-wain
- **Digital Presence:**
    - Wikipedia sitelinks: 14 (languages: da, de, en, et, fi, fr, it, nl, nn, no, ru, sl, sv, zh).
    - Google Play Store ID: Burmeister_&_Wain.
- **Recognition:** Listed on the Wikipedia:WikiProject 1000 important articles about Denmark.
- **Aliases:** Burmeister and Wain, B&W, 三井造船, ブルマイスター＆ヴァイン, バーマイスター・アンド・ウェイン, バーマイスター・アンド・ ウェイン, バーマイスター&ウェイン, バーマイスター＆ウェイン.

## FAQs
**When was Burmeister & Wain active?**
The company was established in 1843 and operated until its dissolution in 1980.

**Where was the company based?**
Burmeister & Wain was headquartered in Copenhagen, the capital and largest city of Denmark.

**What types of products did the company manufacture?**
The firm specialized in shipbuilding and engine manufacturing, producing specific vessels such as HNoMS Valkyrien, MS Cometa, MS Crux, and MS Rigel.

**Who founded the company?**
Hans Heinrich Baumgarten is cited as the founder, with ownership also attributed to Carl Christian Burmeister and William Wain.

**What happened to the company after 1980?**
Following its dissolution in 1980, the company was succeeded by and replaced by MAN Diesel SE.

## Why It Matters
Burmeister & Wain represents a significant chapter in Danish industrial history, serving as a major shipyard and engine manufacturer for nearly 140 years. As a business enterprise, it contributed to the economic landscape of Denmark by mobilizing human capital and property to generate profit within the shipbuilding sector. Its inclusion in the "WikiProject 1000 important articles about Denmark" highlights its enduring relevance and cultural importance. The company's legacy is preserved through its successor, MAN Diesel SE, and the documentation of its output in encyclopedias and military records, such as the Sytin Military Encyclopedia.

## Notable For
- **Industrial Longevity:** Operating from 1843 to 1980, spanning nearly a century and a half of activity.
- **Specific Vessels:** Constructing notable ships including HNoMS Valkyrien (ID 282), MS Cometa (ID 312), MS Crux (ID 325), and MS Rigel (ID 326).
- **Corporate Succession:** Being directly replaced by MAN Diesel SE, a major player in the diesel engine market.
- **Cultural Recognition:** Being selected for the "Wikipedia:WikiProject 1000 important articles about Denmark" focus list.
- **Multilingual Presence:** Having a documented presence in 14 different languages on Wikipedia, reflecting its international recognition.

## Body

### History and Founding
Burmeister & Wain was established in 1843, marking the beginning of a long-standing operation in the Danish industrial sector. The company was founded by Hans Heinrich Baumgarten, with ownership shared by key figures including Carl Christian Burmeister and William Wain. The enterprise functioned as a juridical person and economic entity, operating with the primary goal of generating profit. Its operational lifespan concluded in 1980, at which point the company was dissolved.

### Corporate Structure and Location
The business was legally classified as an aktieselskab and served as a prime example of a "brick and mortar" organization within the shipbuilding industry. Its headquarters were situated in Copenhagen, Denmark, specifically at coordinates 55.692111111111 latitude and 12.611 longitude. As a business, it was composed of an enterprise, economic activity, and human capital, fitting the broader definition of an organization undertaking commercial and industrial activities.

### Products and Output
Burmeister & Wain's primary industry was shipbuilding, where it functioned as both a shipyard and an engine manufacturer. The company's production output included general engines and ships, as well as specific documented vessels:
*   **HNoMS Valkyrien** (Identifier: 282)
*   **MS Cometa** (Identifier: 312)
*   **MS Crux** (Identifier: 325)
*   **MS Rigel** (Identifier: 326)

### Succession and Legacy
Following its dissolution in 1980, the company's operations and assets were succeeded by MAN Diesel SE. This transition ensured the continuation of the technical and industrial capabilities developed by Burmeister & Wain. The company is also described by the Sytin Military Encyclopedia, further cementing its place in historical records.

### Knowledge Graph and Identifiers
The entity is extensively cataloged across global knowledge systems and libraries, reflecting its status as a notable business.
*   **Library Systems:** It holds the Library of Congress Authority ID `n81050689` and is categorized under the National Library of Israel with ID `987012182274705171`.
*   **Semantic Web:** It is identified in the Freebase database as `/m/0g5976_` and in the VIAF system as `132531548`.
*   **Specialized Archives:** The Wellcome Collection lists it under concept ID `ffp6a474`, and the Swedish National Encyclopedia (NE.se) references it as `burmeister-wain`.

### Digital Presence and Media
Burmeister & Wain maintains a significant digital footprint across various platforms and encyclopedic resources.
*   **Wikipedia:** The topic features 14 sitelinks across languages including Danish (da), German (de), English (en), Estonian (et), Finnish (fi), French (fr), Italian (it), Dutch (nl), Norwegian Nynorsk (nn), Norwegian (no), Russian (ru), Slovenian (sl), Swedish (sv), and Chinese (zh).
*   **Wikimedia Commons:** A dedicated category, "Category:Burmeister & Wain," exists for media assets, including a primary image hosted at `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Burmeister_&_Wain.jpg`.
*   **Mobile Platforms:** The entity is listed on the Google Play Store with the ID `Burmeister_&_Wain`.
*   **WikiProjects:** It is included in the focus list of "Wikipedia:WikiProject 1000 important articles about Denmark."

### Aliases and Nomenclature
The company is recognized by a variety of international aliases and translations, reflecting its global reach:
*   **English:** Burmeister and Wain, B&W
*   **Japanese:** 三井造船, ブルマイスター＆ヴァイン, バーマイスター・アンド・ウェイン, バーマイスター・アンド・ ウェイン, バーマイスター&ウェイン, バーマイスター＆ウェイン

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Google Knowledge Graph
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File