Future of NZ manufacturing plant considered
TUESDAY, 2 MAY 2006
Future of NZ manufacturing plant considered
PDL Electronics Ltd, a subsidiary of
Schneider Toshiba Inverter (STI), a
French-based
joint-venture, is consulting with its employees over the
future
of the company¹s Napier-based manufacturing
plant.
The existing PDL Electronics variable-speed drives
are reaching the end of
their viable product life and are
due to be phased out by the end of the
year.
STI
recently launched the ATV71/61 product ranges, which has
superior
features and fully substitutes the variable
speed drives being made by PDL
Electronics. The company
also continues to face higher logistical costs to
ship
their product to its main global markets in North America,
Asia, and
Europe.
STI is a worldwide leader in AC
variable speed drives and soft starters with
a number of
subsidiaries around the world. Its PDL Electronics plant
in
Napier designs, manufactures and markets
variable-speed drives. PDL
Electronics currently has 92
employees.
In a statement today, President of PDL
Electronics Ltd Jacky Pillais said
³the company will make
a decision this month on the future of the
Napier
operation following consultation with the
employees and their union. We
realise this will be very
unsettling for our staff, and we want to move as
quickly
as possible so they know where they stand. We are committed
to
assisting our employees as much as possible throughout
this process ²
This process does not affect the PDL brand
electrical switchgear and wiring
accessories produced at
the PDL plant in Christchurch.
Mr Pillais said worldwide
service and application support will continue to
be
provided from Napier and the Schneider network, whatever the
outcome of
the consultation process.
For further
information regarding Schneider Toshiba Inverter or
PDL
Electronics, please contact:
John Shattock
+64
(0) 21 322 453
Background:
About PDL Electronics:
-
PDL Electronics Ltd is a subsidiary of Schneider Toshiba
Inverter (STI)
- Schneider Electric acquired PDL
Electronics in 2001 when it bought the
PDL Group.
Schneider Electric transferred ownership to STI in 2004
-
PDL Electronics has operated a manufacturing plant in Napier
since 1973
- PDL Electronics employs 92 people in
Napier
- Around 18 of those staff are involved in
research and development
- PDL Electronics has
specialised in making AC variable-speed motor drives
for
industrial and commercial use
- PDL Electronics has
customers in New Zealand, Australia, North and
South
America, Europe and Asia
About Schneider Toshiba
Inverter [STI]:
- Schneider Toshiba Inverter is a joint
venture between Schneider Electric
and Toshiba, which
have been working together since 1988
- STI is the
worldwide leader in AC variable speed drives and soft
starters
and is at the forefront of the technology.
-
STI has has a worldwide market share of 16% (in the variable
speed drive
market)
- STI has operations in USA,
France, Austria, Japan, China and New Zealand
About
Schneider Electric New Zealand:
- A market leader in
automation and electricity management.
- Our lineup,
comprises global brands (Merlin Gerin, Square D
and
Telemecanique), market-leading local brands
(PDL)
- Schneider Electric employs 320 people in New
Zealand
- Find out more about Schneider Electric in New
Zealand
at
www.schneider-electric.co.nz
Ends