APC 1998 Annual Report Download - page 24

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 24 of the 1998 APC annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 45

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45

Investing in innovation
With more than 3,000 engineers and technicians
at development centers in twenty countries,
Schneider Electric has the skills to create
a global lineup and adapt it to local markets.
Almost 400 people in our research laboratories
are working on anticipation programs to meet
tomorrow’s needs in cooperation with outside
laboratories and partners, so that Schneider
retains control over the technologies that
drive its product performance.
We devoted FF 2.6 billion to R&D in 1998,
with a focus on new technologies and on ease
of installation and use so that we can deliver
even more value to users, integrators,
and distributors. At Schneider Electric, we
know that R&D and innovation play a crucial
role in our competitiveness.
In 1998, we launched 13 new product ranges
in electrical distribution and industrial
control and automation.
Anticipating technological
breakthroughs
New polymers, superconducting materials and
contact materials all open the door to technological
breakthroughs. We conduct feasibility studies with
outside laboratories to pave the way for industrial use
of new products and processes.
Industrial architectures and automation systems are
being profoundly modified by high-performance
electronics, the emergence of global communication
network standards and widespread use of the
Internet. These changes offer important opportunities
for us to enhance our products and services.
The value of innovation
Merlin Gerin Digipact,
for managing electricity
in commercial and residential
buildings. Dedicated to electrical
distribution control, Digipact
addresses such user priorities as
energy consumption management,
cost savings, and uninterrupted
service.
Launch: June 1998.
The new Merlin Gerin NG 125
range of circuit breakers and
switches for electrical distribution
combines safety, uninterrupted
service, ease of operation,
and compact size.
Launch: November 1998.
Telemecanique Tego Dial, the
installation solution for human-
machine interface. Tego Dial
combines all the standard functions
in a personalized configuration
for machine-integrated operator
terminals.
Launch: February 1999.
Telemecanique Tego Power,
the installation solution for motor
starters. With its CAD software
and standard modular components,
Tego Power makes implementation
easy and flexible.
Launch: May 1999.