Alstom Logo PNG
Building a railroad requires intense focus and a distinctive visual identity. The French company has it all: the Alstom logo symbolizes product reliability, and the product range offers a wide choice. The best design solution balances identity with product range.
Alstom was registered in France on June 22, 1928, after the merger of SACM and Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston, the French arm of Thomson-Houston Electric Company, a predecessor of General Electric. Its original name, Alsthom, combined “Alsace” and “Thomson,” while Belfort became the company’s base.
In 1932, Alsthom bought Constructions Électriques de France, strengthening its electric locomotive and hydraulic equipment business. In 1955, its CC 7100 locomotives set a rail speed record of 331 km/h. In 1969, Compagnie Générale d’Électricité took control, and in 1976, Alsthom merged with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to become Alsthom Atlantique.
The company became central to high-speed rail. In 1978, it delivered the first TGV trainset to SNCF, and in 1981, regular TGV service opened between Paris and Lyon. In 1989, Alsthom formed GEC Alsthom with the power division of Britain’s General Electric Company. The group later built trains for Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel. In 1998, after listing its stock on the Paris, London, and New York stock exchanges, the company dropped the “h” and became Alstom.
The 2000 purchase of ABB’s turbine business resulted in severe losses, and by 2003, Alstom was near collapse. France provided support in 2004, while Bouygues bought the state stake in 2006. In 2007, a TGV POS reached 574.8 km/h. After selling its power and grid units to General Electric in 2015, Alstom focused on rail and began competing with Siemens Mobility and CRRC. In 2021, it completed the purchase of Bombardier Transportation for € 5.8-6.2 billion.
Meaning and History
Since its founding, Alstom has had nine logo variations. With each redesign, it became more modern, adding new details to strengthen the brand’s visual identity and make it more recognizable to potential customers.
What is Alstom?
First, it is one of the world’s leading producers of railway vehicles, with nearly a century of experience and modern technology.
1928 – 1930
The original logo consisted of a wordmark and three horizontal lines: two at the bottom and one at the top. The logo used only black for all elements. A dot separated “Als” and “Thom” in the name, centered in the intercharacter space. A classic sans-serif bold typeface with capital letters was chosen for the lettering.
1930 – 1961
The previous logo lasted only two years, and the first redesign came in 1930. It was about minimizing the image. All three horizontal lines were removed, as was the dot in the name. At the same time, the font remained unchanged, although the letters became wider. The Alsthom logo also became closer to grey.
1961-1976
At this stage, the logo’s key element was not the corporation’s name but the emblem above it. It is a black square with a black letter “A” inside, outlined in white.
1976 – 1980
The lettering was completely removed from the logo. The logo was now based on a stylized arrow and two intertwined “A”s. The elongated diagonal line made the letters feel like a single whole.
1980 – 1985
Interestingly, in the 80s, the company had a slightly different name: Alsthom Atlantique. This is also shown on the logo. Overall, the font was identical to previous versions. The name was displayed in two lines. The only additional element was the two thick horizontal lines below the lettering.
1985 – 1989
In 1985, the company returned to its original name. As a result, the word “Atlantique” was no longer used and was removed from the logo. The font remained identical. The two horizontal lines under “Alsthom” also changed slightly. One of them became much narrower than before.
1989 – 1991
In 1989, the company merged with market leader General Electric. As a result, the company added the acronym “GEC” to the previous version, lengthening the logo and the horizontal lines.
1991 – 1998
The 1991 redesign made the logo look more modern and fresh. The lettering lines became much thinner, creating a friendly, positive vibe. At the same time, more space appeared between the letters. Additionally, a red triangle appeared above the name “Gec Alsthom,” pointing downward.
1998 – today
The last logo redesign to date took place in 1998. It was a verbal inscription with no additional elements. It was written in capital letters without serifs. All letters are well-formed and easy to read. The only exception is the horizontal line in the letter “A,” which is slightly angled. This modern, fresh look attracts users’ attention. The main inscription is made in uppercase blue letters.
At the same time, the letter “O” stands out as the logo’s emblem. The red color is no accident. It symbolizes passion and desire. Overall, this letter resembles a swirl, creating an abstract image that points to the future. Thus, it creates a sense of progress and development.
Sometimes, a company slogan appears beneath the logo: “Mobility by Nature.”
Font and Colors
Before the 1998 redesign, the classic sans-serif font was used. It is a stylish, unique font with a slightly whimsical lettering style, and one letter is stylized as an emblem.
At almost all stages of the company’s development, the color palette was based on black. However, the latest redesign has significantly changed the typography and color palette. Today, it is dark blue, conveying tranquility and a desire to grow.