APC by Schneider opens Jebel Ali logistics unit

Friday, Nov 12, 2010

Gulf News

Location will ensure that company will remain close to its customers and significantly reduce product delivery times

Dubai American Power Conversion (APC) by Schneider Electric, the critical-power and cooling services company, has opened a logistics unit in Jebel Ali, — the first for the company in the region.

The new hub will provide products and solutions to the distributors in the region.

“The setting up of this entity shall further ensure that we remain close to our customers and significantly reduce lead times for product deliveries. Elimination of time difference during working hours also will allow closer customer interaction,” said Christian Bertrand, Vice-President for Middle East and Africa of APC by Schneider Electric.

Companies can no longer afford to have their data centres go down, Laurent Vernerey, President and CEO of APC by Schneider Electric, told Gulf News. “We have to make sure we provide onsite maintenance with field service engineers and technicians,” he said.

In February 2007, APC was acquired by Schneider Electric for $6.5 billion (Dh23.85 billion).

When the financial crisis hit in 2008, the company shifted its focus to the emerging markets. “We are now reporting around 35 per cent of our sales in new economies. This is what we follow. The investments we have made in new economies have been much more important,” Vernerey said. “If anything, the crisis has accelerated for the next 20 years where the business is going to be.”

This year, the company registered a strong third quarter with sales up 16 per cent in emerging economies.

An advocate of the use of green technology, APC has been committed to conducting its business in an environmentally responsible manner. “For one unit of energy consumed it takes three to produce and everything in between is wasted,” Vernerey said.

“So every unit of energy that we save, we’re also saving three units that would have been needed for production,” he explained. In the process, they say they’re generating interest in their energy efficient enterprise solutions.

The setting up of this entity shall further ensure that we remain close to our customers and significantly reduce lead times for product deliveries.”

Christian Bertrand

Vice-President for Middle East and Africa of APC by Schneider Electric

By Samia Badih?Staff Reporter