APC 2009 Annual Report Download - page 21

2009 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 19
DESCRIPTION OFTHEGROUP, ITSMARKETS ANDITSBUSINESSES
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A STRATEGIC FOCUS ON BALANCING THEENERGYEQUATION
a world class player in medium voltage and electrical distribution
automation systems. The Group would be able to step up its strategy
and act more effectively to seize opportunities in the fast-growing
energy management market. Ultimately, it would create a new Energy
business .
...thanks to Schneider Electric’s IT Business
Number1 worldwide in critical power and cooling services
Critical power and cooling services target the growing number of
industries—notably those involved in information technology and
fi nance—that require a reliable energy supply and impeccable quality
at all times. There is huge demand in both mature and emerging
economies for products, services and solutions that are innovative,
easy to use and effective.
The February2007 acquisition of American Power Conversion
(APC) allowed Schneider Electric to expand even further in this
market and become the world leader. By combining APC with
subsidiary MGE UPS Systems, a Group member since 2004,
Schneider Electric has put together an unparalleled portfolio of
products and services and gained unrivalled geographic exposure
and sales channels—plus the possibility of leveraging the two
units’ powerful innovation capabilities.
In June2009, Schneider Electric moved to the top of the Brazilian
critical power and cooling services market by acquiring Microsol
Tecnologia, a local UPS manufacturer. This move has increased the
Group’s capabilities for developing specifi c products and solutions
for the Brazilian and South American markets .
...thanks to Schneider Electric’s Industry Business
Number1 worldwide in industrial control
Number3 worldwide in industrial automation
Schneider Electric has constantly strengthened its presence
in automation and industrial control. The Group has pursued an
active policy of partnerships and acquisitions to broaden its line
up, which comprises speed drives, human-machine interface
(HMI) terminals, supervision, control and data acquisition (SCADA)
software, packaging machine automation systems and motion
control solutions.
Schneider Electric supplies programmable logic controllers
and automation platforms, as well as specialized confi guration,
programming, operating assistance and supervision software.
Its vast industrial control line up ranges from contactors, overload
relays and motor circuit breakers to speed drives, motion controllers,
sensors, control units and operator terminals. The 2008 acquisition
of RAM Industries extended Schneider Electric’s catalog of products
and solutions for OEMs.
...thanks to
Schneider Electric’s Buildings Business
Number4 worldwide in building automation
Number1 worldwide in video security systems
In the past fi ve years, Schneider Electric has created one of the
world’s leading players in this market.
The Group has put together a comprehensive, innovative range of
automation solutions backed by design and supervision software
to manage building utilities. The range is based on open, integrated
systems that address operators’ real needs. These solutions make
it possible to optimise installations, modernize them cost effectively,
reduce maintenance costs and energy consumption and enhance
comfort and security.
In October2007, Schneider Electric strengthened the security side
of the business by acquiring Pelco, a worldwide leader in the design,
development and manufacture of video security systems.
...thanks to Schneider Electric’s CST Business
Schneider Electric offers the market’s broadest line up of customised
sensors, with leadership positions in angular speed sensors (number
one worldwide in leading-edge quartz gyro technology), and in
position and pressure sensors for the automobile, aeronautic and
manufacturing industries.
...thanks to Services
Customers are looking for increasingly effective solutions that meet
their performance and reliability needs. When it comes to services,
local presence is a major strength.
Around the world, Schneider Electric’s 6,000 Services Experts listen
carefully to customers’ specifi c needs and, as long-term partners,
offer a single, comprehensive line up of life cycle services. These
include:
•audits and consulting: (engineering, installation and energy
audits, energy effi ciency solutions, etc.);
•solutions engineering: (project deployment and management,
site upgrades, tailored projects for critical applications, process
simulations, energy management, etc.);
•installed base services: (troubleshooting and repairs,
maintenance and renovations to enhance the reliability of existing
equipment and processes);
•job training: personalized or general at the customer’s site, in
one of the Group’s fi fty training centres or online through Energy
University by Schneider Electric.
Schneider Electric’s ability to industrialise services offers customers
guaranteed results, thanks to its:
•knowledge of applications and factory fl oor reality in fast-
changing industries;
•practical, innovative contracts that leverage leading-edge
technologies;
•ongoing support, from the initial assessment of needs and
constraints to project completion.
Schneider Electric has what it takes to provide safe, reliable and
efficient services that help customers enhance performance
throughout their installations’ life cycle.
...thanks to e nergy efficiency solutions
Taken together, industry, infrastructure and buildings account for
more than half of the world’s energy consumption. At a time when
energy use is growing exponentially, when CO2 emissions must be
drastically reduced and when the cost of energy is constantly rising,
energy effi ciency is clearly of critical importance. To reduce energy’s
cost and environmental impact, it is urgent that we learn how to use
it more effi ciently and manage its cost and related pollution more
effectively.
In 2005, Schneider Electric launched an energy effi ciency programme
to focus all of its talent on this issue. Thanks to this major strategic
initiative, the Group now has the know-how, skills and technologies
to meet the energy challenge of the 21stcentury.