PALATINE, IL, Sept. 26, 2007 -- The Schneider Electric North American Operating Division today announced the grand opening of its Automation and Control Innovation Center in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, Oct. 26, 2007. The new hands-on demonstration center will showcase Schneider Electric's total automation and control solutions for OEM and end-user customers.
"The Automation and Control Innovation Center is the first of three Schneider Electric Innovation Centers that will open throughout the country," said Andy Gravitt, vice president, industrial automation and control, Schneider Electric North American Operating Division. "The center in Raleigh is unique in that it will be the only one focused entirely on automation and control solutions. It will showcase the innovation, knowledge and industry-leading technology that defines Schneider Electric."
Using state-of-the-art technology, Schneider Electric product and services experts will customize the entire Innovation Center to showcase specific solutions appropriate to a customer's needs and challenges in eight industries: HVAC, pump, semiconductor, transportation wash, packaging, conveyance, automotive, and crane and hoist. Customers who visit the Innovation Center will experience individually tailored, live demonstrations to show how Schneider Electric's technology, knowledge and products can solve their specific problems.
The Automation and Control Innovation Center will be located in the same facility as the engineers and experts who work on customer projects. Having the Innovation Center and an engineering lab in the same building will provide a collaborative environment for Schneider Electric experts to work with customers. The process of project management, from inception to implementation, will be all under one roof.
"This new center will be the ideal environment for Schneider Electric's experts to share their knowledge with customers," Gravitt said. "Our people not only understand the specific products and applications for using automation and controls technology, but use their breadth of experience to deliver total solutions for the challenges that customers face."
To celebrate the launch of the Automation and Control Innovation Center, Gravitt; Dave Petratis, president and CEO, Schneider Electric North American Operating Division; Chris Curtis, president, Schneider Electric USA; and other executives; and special guests will be on hand for a companywide grand opening. The event will include a "Flip the Switch" ceremony, luncheon, and tour of the Innovation Center and Raleigh facility.
With headquarters in Palatine, Ill., the North American Operating Division of Schneider Electric had sales of $3.7 billion (U.S.) in 2006. The North American Operating Division is one of four operating divisions of Schneider Electric, with headquarters in Paris, France, and markets the Square D, Telemecanique and Merlin Gerin brand products to customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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