Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric S.E. is an international energy management and automation company based in France. It was founded in 1836 by brothers Adolphe and Eugene Schneider, who acquired a cotton mill in the French town of Le Creusot. They quickly expanded their business, building a steel foundry, a copper mine, and a coal mine. In the late 19th century, the brothers began to diversify their business, investing in electrical engineering and the nascent field of automation. 

Schneider Electric S.E. provides energy and automation digital solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Energy Management and Industrial Automation. The company offers busway and cable support products, circuit breakers and switches, contactors and protection relays, electrical protection and control products, energy management software solutions, transfer switches, surge protection and power conditioning products, power monitoring and control products, power quality and power factor correction products, pushbuttons, switches, pilot lights and joysticks, software products, and switchboards and enclosures. 

In the early 20th century, Schneider Electric S.E. established itself as a leader in the field of automation, manufacturing electrical equipment such as transformers and circuit breakers. By the end of the century, the company had developed a wide range of energy management solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. 

In the 2000s, Schneider Electric S.E. began to focus on developing solutions for the Internet of Things, and in 2014, the company acquired the U.S. automation company Invensys. Today, Schneider Electric S.E. is a global leader in energy management and automation, providing solutions for customers in more than 100 countries.

1836-1963

In 1836, brothers Adolphe and Joseph-Eugene Schneider took over an abandoned foundry in Le Creusot, France. Two years later, they created Schneider & Cie, focusing primarily on the steel industry. Schneider & Cie rapidly grew, specializing in the production of heavy machinery and transportation equipment. In 1871, following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, it developed a main activity of manufacturing weapons with the encouragement of the government in Paris. It eventually became a complex group with industrial activities in many sites in France and abroad, including in Russia before 1917 and in Czechoslovakia between 1919 and 1938.

1963-1999

In the 1960s, Schneider was absorbed by Belgium's Empain group, which in 1969 merged it with its own corporate structures to form Empain-Schneider. In 1980-1981, the Empain family sold its controlling stake to Paribas, which was in turn nationalized in 1982. In the 1980s and 1990s, the company, by then again named Schneider, divested from steel and shipbuilding and focused mainly on electricity through strategic acquisitions. These included Télémécanique in 1988, Square D in 1991, and Merlin Gerin in 1992.

Timeline since 1999

In 1999, Schneider Electric S.E. acquired Square D Company, a leading provider of electrical equipment and services, making it the largest energy management company in the world. This acquisition also allowed Schneider Electric to expand into the North American market.

In 2003, Schneider Electric S.E. acquired Telemecanique, a French industrial automation company. This acquisition allowed Schneider Electric to expand its portfolio to include industrial automation solutions.

In 2004, Schneider Electric S.E. acquired American Power Conversion Corporation (APC), a provider of power protection and cooling solutions. This acquisition further strengthened Schneider Electric’s position in the global energy management and automation markets.

In 2007, Schneider Electric S.E. acquired Invensys, a leading British automation and engineering company. This acquisition enabled Schneider Electric to expand into the industrial automation and process control markets.

In 2011, Schneider Electric S.E. acquired Summit Energy, a provider of energy-efficiency services and technologies. This acquisition allowed Schneider Electric to offer energy-efficiency solutions to its customers.

In 2016, Schneider Electric S.E. acquired Aveva Group, a British engineering software company. This acquisition allowed Schneider Electric to expand its portfolio to include industrial software and engineering services. Today, Schneider Electric S.E. is a global leader in the energy management and automation sectors. The company provides solutions and services to customers in more than 100 countries around the world.

“Our mission is to provide energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability.”

“At Schneider, we believe access to energy and digital is a basic human right. We empower all to make the most of their energy and resources, ensuring Life Is On everywhere, for everyone, at every moment.”