APC 2010 Annual Report Download - page 23

DESCRIPTION OFTHEGROUP, ANDITSSTRATEGY, MARKETS ANDBUSINESSES
1
LEADER IN AN INDUSTRY OF THE FUTURE
Utilities and Infrastructures: ensuring a
safe, reliable power supply and controlling
operating costs
Schneider Electric’s main customers in this sector are energy
operators, water treatment facilities, oil and gas infrastructure, the
marine industry and the public sector.
The global challenges these customers face represent long-term
growth prospects for Schneider Electric, and include demographic
and economic growth, economic development, the expansion
of renewable energies, deregulation of energy sectors, growing
security needs, and outsourcing of services.
The Group’s solutions, products and services cover:
•transformation and electrical distribution;
•energy management, metering and quality;
•utility management (access control, lighting, Heating Ventilation
and Air-Conditioning, etc.);
•process control and supervision;
•decentralised management of one or several sites;
•critical power;
•pre-payment systems facilitating the access of low-income
households to electricity;
•installation and management of smart electricity grids.
Industries and Machine manufacturers:
enhancing productivity, flexibility, security and
traceability
Schneider Electric provides energy solutions for all segments of
this sector (waste water treatment plants, mines, cement plants
and material handling and packaging machines). Its customers are
end users, fi rms, engineers, systems integrators, OEMs (original
equipment manufacturers), heavy industry, panel builders, and
electrical equipment distributors.
Energy effi ciency is at the heart of the challenges facing industry,
in order to reduce production costs, comply with regulations, or
adapt to the limited power generation capabilities. In addition, the
growing demand for commodities and industrial infrastructure in
the emerging economies, and the long overdue upgrading of the
industrial infrastructure in developed economies, create signifi cant
opportunities for our customers.
The Group works closely with customers to get a thorough
understanding of their energy management needs, and to help
them enhance productivity, fl exibility, and process and installation
safety. Its solutions, products and services cover:
•process automation;
•equipment control and supervision;
•transformation and electrical distribution;
•energy management, metering and quality;
•utility management (access control, lighting, HVAC, etc.);
•decentralised management of one or several sites;
•critical power.
Non residential buildings: reducing investing
and operating costs while offering greater
comfort and safety
The non residential buildings sector includes all public, commercial
and industrial buildings: offi ces, hotels, hospitals, shopping
centres, manufacturing facilities, schools, sports and cultural
centres. Energy effi ciency and reduction of CO2 emissions are key
priorities for this sector. User requirements for comfort, security and
communications capabilities have to be met, as do the needs of
owners and management companies seeking to reduce investment
costs and optimise maintenance and operating costs by managing
several sites remotely (e.g. via the Internet).
Schneider Electric’s customers in this sector include property
developers, design fi rms, systems integrators, panel builders
and installers, electrical equipment distributors and management
companies, as well as end customers.
The Group’s solutions, products and services cover:
•transformation and electrical distribution;
•utility management (access control, lighting, HVAC, etc.);
•data exchange (Voice-Data-Image networks, radio);
•energy management, metering and quality;
•decentralised management of one or several sites;
•critical power.
Schneider Electric’s services comply with regulations and local
practices, and are available throughout the world. They include
networkable products that are easy to install and operate.
2010 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 21