LEXINGTON, Ky. ā Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced it will invest about $46 millionĀ in itsĀ Lexington, KYĀ andĀ Lincoln, NEĀ manufacturing plants to modernize their operations and increase circuit breaker and related electrical product output for its customers in the U.S. andĀ Canada.
The new investmentĀ augmentsĀ the more thanĀ $100 million the company earmarked in 2021 to strengthen the regional capability and increase manufacturing capacity in the North American region, which saw organic growth of +12.6% in the fiscal year 2021.
The modernization efforts in the 65-year-oldĀ LexingtonĀ plant and 50-year-oldĀ LincolnĀ plant will include installing new equipment and machinery with the most current and connected technology and automation. The newer technology, coupled with using an architecture optimized for digitization, will help increase the plants’ quality and capacity and make their operations more energy efficient.
Further, these upgraded manufacturing facilities enabled by digitization and connectivity will improve operational efficiency and mean time between failures or the average time between repairable failures of a technology product. Since the new, advanced equipment will be connected, employees will be able to monitor and adjust energy usage and perform online diagnostics and predictive maintenance tasks remotely.
In addition, company officials said:
- Construction of itsĀ El Paso, TXĀ manufacturing plant is progressing on schedule. The 160,000-square-foot plant is projected to be operational by the end of 2022. Hiring for select engineering positions has started, and additional hires will be made through early 2023. The plant will employ about 400 workers.
- Expansion of Schneider’sĀ Tlaxcala, MX operation continues as the company seeks to meet demand for the circuit breakers and electrical panel boards produced there. The 150,000-square-foot operation will employ about 600 workers and will provide the company with the capability to manufacture and ship products in-region should the need arise. The plant is expected to be operational in early 2023.
- Schneider will expand its manufacturing operation inĀ Monterrey, MX with a 185,000-square-foot manufacturing plant that will build and ship customized switchgear products used to transmit power most often in commercial buildings. The company expects to employ about 325 workers and begin shipping products before the end of 2023.
TheĀ Lexington, KY plant is recognized by the World Economic Forum as both an Advanced Lighthouse and a Sustainability Lighthouse for its adoption and use of 4IR technologies and for achieving sustainability and productivity breakthroughs, respectively.
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