Schneider outlines brave new world

Global electrical manufacturer Schneider Electric unveiled its vision of a new electric world at a conference held in Seville in May.

Global electrical manufacturer Schneider Electric unveiled its vision of a new electric world at a conference held in Seville in May.

The company revealed that it commits between 5 and 6% of its current Eur 10.4 billion sales to research and development.

As a result, the company pioneers the application of new technology in the home, in commercial buildings, in energy and infrastructure and in manufacturing automation.

Investment in R and D has typically averaged 5% of turnover for the past 10 years and there are now 4500 people employed in research functions across more than 100 R and D centres in 25 countries.

Efforts revolve around three axes: incremental innovation - improving existing products; radical innovation - so called blue sky research into new technologies; and new markets - developing electrical equipment for new applications.

Current research projects involve nanotechnology, mechatronics, power electronics, wireless technology, LED lighting technology and optical temperature measurement.

Of these, LED technology and wireless applications are highlighted by Schneider Electric as offering the greatest impact in the short term.

High brightness blue LEDs are seen by many as the future in lighting, delivering as they do, greater lighting flexibility and vastly reduced energy consumption.

In wireless technology, the company sees a broadening of applications in the home, within the built environment generally and in industry; highlighting lighting, Wi-Fi and access control for early wireless growth.

Schneider Electric also pointed out that it has partnerships with many innovative companies and in this regard it will continue to seek to establish open standards that are accessible to all.

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