2 minute read
Schneider Electric to invest in its UK manufacturing facilities
Schneider Electric, the global specialist in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced plans to expand its UK manufacturing facilities in Scarborough and Leeds – driven by rising demand in renewable and green technologies.
As part of a multi-million pound investment and upgrade, Schneider Electric intends to boost the capacity and productivity of its manufacturing operations and facilitate production of new technologies for the renewables industry. It also plans to create an innovation hub at its Leeds site, showcasing sustainable energy management technologies.
Schneider Electric is to make a multi-million pound investment to upgrade and expand its Leeds and Scarborough manufacturing facilities / Picture: Schneider Electric
Mike Hughes, zone president of Schneider Electric UK & Ireland, said: “We believe there is huge potential to enhance the skills, capabilities and production facilities in our Leeds and Scarborough sites to support the UK’s transition to renewable energy with high quality products and technology manufactured here in the UK. Whilst the UK economy may be showing signs of slowing down, we believe there has never been a better time to invest in renewables technology production.”
Both Schneider Electric’s Leeds and Scarborough sites currently specialise in the manufacture of switchgear for high-voltage, medium voltage and low-voltage environments. Switchgear is used in electricity substations, and large buildings such as hospitals, factories or residential flats to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. The new investment will enable the facilities to produce Schneider Electric’s range of WI switchgear equipment which is used in offshore windfarms to transmit electricity efficiently and safely to the grid.
Schneider Electric has also announced plans to build a new innovation hub in Leeds / Picture: Schneider Electric
The factories will also start producing technology that sits inside the wind turbines themselves. The Scarborough facility will produce more outdoor low voltage switchgear technology, used to protect and distribute electricity to housing estates, shopping centres, colleges, ports, airports, telecommunication sites, factories and many other commercial and industrial installations.
In addition to the investment in its production capabilities, Schneider Electric also plans to build a new innovation hub in Leeds, combining creative, production and manufacturing facilities under one roof. The hub will include a digital customer experience zone, a product innovation zone and an EcoStruxure control centre, focusing on sustainable energy management technologies.