Schneider Electric, today officially launched its China Research & Development Center (CRDC) , which is located in Shanghai Zhangjiang High-Tech Park. By the end of 2006, the center is expected to rank one of the top 5 global R&D centers of Schneider Electric. Mr. Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chief Operating Officer of Schneider Electric, Mr. Russell Stocker, Executive Vice-President of Schneider Electric Asia Pacific Operating Division, Mr. Guy Dufraisse, President of Schneider Electric ( China ) Investment Co., Ltd. and Mr. Jean Damarius, Director of CRDC gathered at the ceremony with government officials from Pudong New Area People's Government and media to commemorate the launch.
The opening of CRDC symbolizes that China shall become another important R&D base of Schneider Electric following France and U.S., and fully demonstrates Schneider Electric's consistent pursuit in innovation and cutting-edge electric distribution and automation & control solutions. Senior executives of Schneider Electric also communicated and exchanged their ideas with the attendees in the topic of its latest development strategy and technical R&D in the globe, especially in China, Mr. Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chief Operating Officer of Schneider Electric stated ¡°As the worldwide leader in power and control , Schneider Electric highly value the continuous innovation of technologies and invested 5.5% of total revenue into R&D every year. In 2004, the company decided to establish the global R&D Center in China , and the number of staff in the center will reach 175 in 2005, and increase to 300 in 2006. ¡®'
Schneider Electric is the only multinational company that brings core product development platform to China in the peer industry, and its dedication and attention to China significantly highlights its commitment to Chinese customers. The CRDC is made up of 3 main departments: China Design Center for Power Protection & Control Domain (CDC), China Automation Center for Automation & Safety Domain (CAC) and Global Technology Center China (electronic) ( GTCC). T he products and solutions developed by CRDC will meet customer needs in both local and global market, which will boost production localization and provide continuing engineering & localization support to all production facilities. The launch of the center will increasingly improve R&D efficiency, accelerate new product R&D speed, and satisfy the requirements of both global and Chinese market.
Mr. Russell Stocker, Executive Vice-President of Schneider Electric Asia Pacific Operating Division said, ¡° to achieve a new excellence, Schneider Electric has kicked off a new company program, New2, which will guide the company over the next four years. The aim of this company program is to build on what we've achieved and continue to improve. In other words, to turn the good company we are today into a great company we want to be in the future. We have identified three areas that offer significant potentials for improvement: Growth , Efficiency and People . A s a multinational company that has been deep-rooted in the Chinese community, Schneider Electric has witnessed 33% average annual growth in past 9 years, meanwhile, we also dedicated to cultivate local talents, provide more development space to our employee to grow together with the company. Looking into the future of Schneider Electric in china, we will stick to the corporate new development strategies of promoting growth, improve efficiency and cultivate talented people. Today, the launch of China R&D Center is a significant step of actions that will certainly play a positive role in Schneider Electric's China and global development.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric: Giving the best of the New Electric World, to everyone, everywhere, at any time
Schneider Electric is the world's power and control specialist. Through its world-class brands, Merlin Gerin, Square D and Telemecanique, Schneider Electric manufactures and markets a comprehensive range of products and services for the residential, buildings, industry, and energy and infrastructure markets. Schneider Electric has 85,000 employees worldwide, operations in 130 countries and recorded sales of € 10,365 million in 2004 through 13,000 sales outlets.
About Schneider Electric in China
Since it entered China from 1979, Schneider Electric has owned around 5000 staff, 14 production facilities, 4 branches, 32 regional offices, 4 distribution centers, 2 training centers, 1 global research & development center, more than 400 distributors, a nation wide sales network in China. After establishment of SECI (Schneider Electric China Investment Co., Ltd.) in 1995, the company enjoys 33% of average annual growing rate. In 2004, SECI achieved 5,697 million RMB of turn over. With the rapid business development in China , Schneider Electric paid more and more attention to Chinese market, and will contribute to Chinese Opening & Reforming with deeper business cooperation.