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2. 2003 highlights
Acquisitions and alliances
June 2003: Schneider Electric becomes
a major player in the global building automation
and control market
In June 2003, Schneider Electric acquired Sweden-
based TAC, a major participant in the global building
automation and control market. Covering control,
automation and supervision of building utilities, this
market represents significant growth potential for
Schneider Electric in light of its size (€ 11 billion),
growth profile (more than 6% annually) and strategic
fit with the Company’s current positions in the build-
ing market.
TAC recorded sales of around € 350 million in 2002
and had 2,100 employees.
August 2003: Schneider Electric signs
an agreement to enhance its presence
in ultra terminal distribution in the Asia-Pacific
region
Schneider Electric and Clipsal Industries (holdings)
Limited signed an agreement to create a 50-50 joint
venture to manufacture and market ultra terminal dis-
tribution products in Asia. The joint venture is expect-
ed to generate sales of around € 100 million. At the
same time, Schneider Electric signed an agreement
with Clipsal Industries and the Gerard family to
acquire Gerard Industries PTY Ltd’s ultra terminal
business in Australia. Gerard Industries recorded
sales of around € 250 million in 2002.
Clipsal is the leading manufacturer of British
Standard ultra terminal equipment and the bench-
mark in several Asia-Pacific markets. Ranked first or
second in 12 countries, the high value-added Clipsal
brand covers traditional ultra terminal products, such
as switches, sockets and miniature circuit breakers;
home automation solutions such as lighting scenar-
ios, audio and video and safety systems; and voice-
data-image transmission systems.
December 2003: Schneider Electric
expands in secured power
Schneider Electric decided to acquire all outstanding
shares in MGE UPS Systems, in which it held a 32.3%
interest at the end of 2002. MGE UPS Systems is a
world leader in uninterrupted power supply systems,
the core of the secured power market.
Worth an estimated € 27 billion, this market is being
driven by growing demand for clean electricity and
tighter control over energy costs. It represents a
strategic growth avenue for Schneider Electric given
its long-term growth outlook (8% per year on aver-
age) and potential for related services.
With 2,900 employees and sales of around € 500
million, MGE UPS Systems is a global leader in high-
availability power solutions. MGE UPS Systems
offers a full lineup of products and services, with a
global network of 37 subsidiaries and operations in
more than 100 countries. It is one of the most prof-
itable companies in its market, with an operating
margin of more than 12%.
Enhancing the lineup
with new product launches
Electrical Distribution
Prisma Plus, the successor to Prisma low voltage
switchboards, was designed with its related
switchgear in mind. The range offers a broad array of
technical solutions, from the simplest to the most
sophisticated, for switchboards rated 125 A to 3,200
A in commercial and industrial buildings.
Other product launches included Easypact, the
world's smallest circuit breaker in its range, with only
one frame size for all ratings and breaking capacities
to suit all types of applications; the innovative Eloge
range of protection switchgear and enclosures for
homes and small businesses; and the ground-break-
ing Motorpact lineup of medium voltage motor
starters that meets both IEC and NEMA standards.
Ultra Terminal
Schneider Electric has identified the ultra terminal
segment for expansion. This is a local market in
which new product launches are highly targeted and
adapted to each country’s specific standards. The
Company has two global brands for electrical distri-
bution –Merlin Gerin and Square D– along with
numerous local brands such as Clipsal in Asia,
Alombard in France, Eljo in Sweden and Feller in
Switzerland.
The lineup covers wiring systems, installations sys-
tems and equipment, voice-data-image solutions,
wireless communication products and more.
Automation & Control
Schneider Electric leveraged its extensive expertise
to create Unity, an entirely renewed range of automa-
tion software. Based on an open architecture and
collaboration between software, Unity makes exten-
sive use of web and Microsoft technologies. Together
with the Transparent Ready®concept, Unity opens
the door to a whole new world of Collaborative
Automation.
Compact, intelligent, flexible and open, the new
"Simply Smart" Automation & Control ranges make it
easier to deploy high performance automation solu-
tions.
Business Review
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