APC 2002 Annual Report Download - page 11

the networked, web-enabled architectures that we offer to all
our markets. With this acquisition, we have gained a foothold
in a new fast-growing market segment and improved our
access to OEMs, notably in Japan.
Combine a global vision and local deployment. As we
pursue a comprehensive strategy of achieving rapid growth
and developing our lineup, we also intend to strengthen our
local skills in sales, marketing and management. This way,
local teams can make the necessary decisions to select the
best partners and enter into important contracts in keeping
with the Company’s profitability targets, while ensuring
customer satisfaction and product and service safety. Although
products for the international market represent some 40% of
our sales, we will continue to differentiate the rest of our lineup
to meet local specifications and standards.
Improve our competitiveness. One of the objectives
of our NEW2004 program is to enhance competitiveness
by shortening time to market, globalizing sourcing and
improving quality.
Strengthen our products’ image. We are committed to
strengthening the image and brand awareness of our products
to differentiate ourselves even more clearly from our rivals.
5 - Products, equipment and services
Our lineup of products and equipment covers all stages of
electrical transmission and distribution, as well as industrial
control and automation.
The portfolio breaks down into five broad categories:
Catalog products, such as contactors and miniature circuit
breakers, that do not need to be adapted to specific
requirements.
Customized products, such as certain types of switchgear.
These products are assembled from core catalog
components to suit each customer’s needs.
Systems, such as busbar trunking used for electrical
transmission and distribution in ceilings and raised floors.
These systems are built from groups of products offering
similar functions.
Equipment, such as medium voltage substations and
switchboards, that combine a set of related products with
different functions in a single enclosure or casing.
Projects, such as designing and implementing an electrical
distribution network for a commercial or industrial building.
Projects require the deployment of a comprehensive,
customized set of products, systems and/or equipment.
We also offer and develop three types of services:
Traditional services that support our products (warranties,
after-sales service, training, on-line assistance and
maintenance). The scope of these services varies depending
on the market access channel.
More sophisticated services concerning the technical side
of our offer, such as retrofits, capacity extension, upgrading,
etc.
High value-added services to enhance the performance
of industrial installations and power grids.
Electrical distribution
Our electrical products and equipment are generally classified
by voltage. The portfolio currently includes high, medium and
low voltage products and equipment.
Low voltage: Electrical distribution products up to 1 kV for
industrial, commercial and residential buildings.
This sub-category includes wiring products and final low
voltage/ultraterminal equipment such as circuit breakers,
switches and sockets.
Medium voltage: Electrical switchgear and equipment from
1kV to 52 kV. The products in this sub-category are generally
used to transform and manage high voltage electricity from the
distribution grid. The medium voltage power is then sent
directly to end users in industrial buildings and large
commercial installations or transformed into low voltage power
for small commercial buildings and homes.
High voltage: Electrical switchgear and equipment from 52 KV
to 800 kV. The equipment in this sub-category is generally
used by electric companies for power generation, transmission
and distribution. In January 2001, we transferred our high-
voltage business to VA Tech Schneider High Voltage GmbH,
ajoint venture in which we hold a 40% interest.
Industrial control and automation
This category includes industrial control products for controlling
and supplying power to industrial equipment and automation
solutions, notably programmable logic controllers, which are
generally used for end-to-end control of assembly lines.
Business Presentation
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