Schneider has set up a new residential division under the Square D banner. It will supply products to the home automation and entertainment systems market.
Schneider has invested £2 million in a new business division of its Square D subsidiary aimed at the residential market. The company aims to take a significant part of the growing market for home automation and entertainment systems.

Square D will market intelligent home control and voice/data/video systems, backed up by an installer network and 15-year warranties. The company expects to sell 2000 installations within its first year and double sales in 2005.

“Schneider has been almost absent from the residential market,” said Schneider chair and ceo Henri Lachmann at the launch. “We are a world leader in the industrial sector but we are not strong enough in the residential market. This is a natural move for us – why should we only serve the industrial and commercial buildings sectors when we have the technology?”

Square D is marketing two solutions: Intelligent Home Control and LexCom Home systems. The former is a residential automation range that aims to enhance the safety, security and comfort of homes; the latter allows home entertainment devices, such as telephones, radios, tvs or pcs to be plugged into any socket in the house.

Schneider is looking to appoint a network of approved installers and is aiming to have 60 firms in place by the end of 2004. Installers must attend a three-day training course to qualify.

Sales have already topped £1.5 million, more than half of last year’s turnover in the residential market. Schneider estimates that by 2006 the voice, data and video market will be worth £40 million in the UK, with home automation systems accounting for £50 million. David Bennett, general manager of Schneider’s residential business in the UK, wants “to measure our business in tens of millions of pounds by 2006”.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor