Page 7 - EngineerIT June July 2025

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A tailored, engaging experience
The Innovation Hub offers a guided, customised
experience for every visitor. It begins with the
Schneider Electric company story, presented
on an interactive touchscreen, setting the
stage for a deeper dive into the company’s
comprehensive portfolio. Drakenstein wins big:
The Western Cape’s Drakenstein Municipality received Schneider
Customers are then guided through various
Electric’s Sustainability Impact Award for Anglophone Africa,
tailored spaces including:
recognising its bold decarbonisation efforts and long-standing
• The Software Portfolio, highlighting AVEVA
green innovations.
Operations Control, eTAP and various
EcoStruxure software solutions.
• Industrial Automation Solutions, featuring live
conveyor systems and EcoStruxure Plant and
Machine tables with control units, sensors,
and industrial intelligence.
• Building Solutions, showcasing various control
offers for the building sector, from access,
lighting, HVAC and room control.
• Power and Grid Solutions, highlighting
low and medium voltage equipment, the
company’s acclaimed SF 6-free AirSet
switchgear series, protection relays and
microgrid solutions.
• Secure Power displays, with a live server room
view demonstrating Schneider Electric’s data
centre and UPS solutions.
Devan Pillay Segment President, Heavy Industries at Schneider Electric (left)
and Canninah Dladla, Cluster President for English-Speaking Africa at
In line with the company’s global standards Schneider Electric (right), present the Schneider Electric Sustainability
Impact Award to Seraj Johaar, Executive Director, Drakenstein Municipality,
for Innovation Hubs, the space has been
Paarl, Western Cape, at the launch of the Schneider Innovation Hub in June.
designed to be flexible and evolving, therefore,
showcasing the absolute newest innovation
Innovation meets infrastructure:
and solutions from Schneider Electric.
The Drakenstein Municipality, in partnership with Schneider, is
The Innovation Hub can be booked in advance swapping out SF6-filled switchgear with Schneider’s air-powered
by partners, consultants, or system integrators RM AirSeT units — cutting SF 6 emissions — 23,500 more potent than
who want to showcase specific solutions to C02- and stepping into a cleaner energy future.
their clients. The space can then be customised
to demonstrate specific industry solutions. A first for Africa:
The new Midrand-based hub offers a fully immersive experience in
The environment is also staffed by trained
energy efficiency, automation, and sustainability — tailored for African
Innovation Hub Managers and an Operations
contexts and led by local expertise.
Specialist, with plans to scale this further
through Schneider Electric’s global Innovation
A building that breathes sustainability:
Hub Ambassador Programme which will enable
Schneider’s new English-speaking headquarters, also in Midrand,
employees from across the organisation to
slashes monthly CO 2 emissions by 32 tonnes and uses 37% less
guide visitors, when needed.
energy than its predecessor — powered in part by a 200 kWp rooftop
solar array.
The launch of the Innovation Hub in Africa
builds on Schneider Electric’s global
Local partnerships, global impact:
strategy to bring its technology closer to its
customers on the African continent, while Schneider’s Innovation Hub enables consultants, partners and system
reinforcing its leadership in sustainability, integrators to customise real-world solution demos — supporting a
innovation, and digitisation. more connected, collaborative energy ecosystem in Africa.

7 | EngineerIT June/July 2025