APC 1998 Annual Report Download - page 36

The infrastructure market
Supplying electric power – automating facilities
Ensuring that facilities are safe, reliable
and always running
Infrastructure projects include airports, road and rail transportation networks,
port facilities, water treatment and distribution systems, and waste conversion
facilities.T hey all give Schneider Electric excellent opportunities to demonstrate
the efficiency of its automation and power distribution solutions.
In these areas, we work with leading international engineering firms,
contracting authorities, prime contractors, OEMs, systems integrators,
electrical contractors, and specialized distributors.T hanks to the wide range
of technical options available with our Merlin Gerin, Modicon, Square D
and Telem ecanique equipment, we can design the right solution to achieve
maximum performance and on-site safety.
In this way, our commitment in the infrastructure market goes well beyond
our project partners, as it directly concerns consumers and users in their
everyday life and travel.
Market sales
Strengths Outlook
Our success in this market is unquestionably due to
the synergy of our products and services, as well as
to our highly flexible approach. Thanks to our global
reach, we can help operators make their projects a
success whether they’re involved in large international
sites or small local jobs.
There are many types of infrastructure--for example,
road networks, rail systems, airports, and harbors--
where productivity and human safety requirements
make it vital to prevent failures. We offer innovative
solutions for this purpose in electrical distribution,
control, automation, and facility supervision.
Our expertise guarantees our customers the strictest
compliance with international standards and local
regulations as concerns passenger safety
and infrastructure availability.
We also provide our partners with a complete range
of customized services such as power grid design
assistance, safety and availability studies,
implementation monitoring, operator training,
remote network administration, on-site technical
support, and more.
The infrastructure market is inherently complex, due
to the large number of industries involved and the
variety of machines used. Today, the large international
engineering firms that are our traditional partners find
themselves sharing the market with equipment
makers and systems integrators.
This phenomenon, which is particularly widespread
in emerging economies, represents an opportunity for
Schneider Electric. Our expertise in projects requiring
solid partnerships is based on long experience and
our comprehensive solutions include a broad range
of services. The already extensive changes seen
in this market in recent years will continue with the
increasing trend toward privatization of contracting
organizations—a trend that will make return
on investment an even more pressing concern.
There are many sources of growth in both
the industrialized and developing economies.
The industrialized world has an ever greater need
for communication infrastructure in addition to water
and waste conversion facilities. Meanwhile,
in the developing world, the need for ports, airports,
roads, and railroads remains immense.
Infrastructure market
sales as a % of total
9%
FF 4.5 billion
€0.7 billion