Frequently asked questions

Why move to the Schneider Electric brand?
Customers need a single and strong brand that can provide a wider offer, complete solutions, effective integration and services to do business with. That is why Schneider Electric made the decision to move to one single brand.

What will be changed during migration?
Our brand signature shown on all communication materials will be changed to Schneider Electric: communication tools to customers, advertisements, building signage, events and websites, stationery, product packaging and labels, product marking, etc. Schneider Electric also launched a brand new communication platform to support this change in 2008.

What will remain unchanged during migration?
Product qualities, characteristics, functionalities; sales channels and partnerships; commercial policies and pricing, etc. will not be changed because of brand migration.

How does the migration take place?
Our migration is an evolution, so it moves in a rational way. Generally speaking, all communication aspects in terms of catalogues, advertisements, stationery, etc. change faster than the product packaging and marking (due to the constraints in the industrial processes).

How do you handle the packaging migration?
The transition of packaging is progressive, following the FIFO (first in, first out) rule. When stock is gone for each stocked item, new packaging starts.

How do you handle the product marking migration?
The product marking transition is progressive, following the FIFO (first in, first out) rule. When the stock is gone for each stocked item, new branded (Schneider Electric) products start.

Will we see a transitional time with mixing of previous and new brand products for the same family?
Yes, it will happen. We have decided not to scrap previous brand products just because of an aesthetics change, which means that for a certain period of time, the mixing of previous and new product logos will happen. This mixing (100% aesthetic) does not change the function and usage of the products.

For one product family, how long will the transitional time be (for mixed previous and new brands)?
When one product family starts migration at the plant level, you could continue to receive previous branded products due to the stock in the supply chain until they are completely depleted. For environmental protection reasons, we have decided not to scrap old stock of products since there is no impact of function and usage. Schneider Electric is taking active actions to reduce this transitional time as much as we can.

After one reference starts to migrate to the Schneider Electric brand, can I still place the order for previous brand products?
No, we cannot guarantee that the orders will be only previous brand products.

After one reference finishes migrating to the Schneider Electric brand, can I still place orders for previous brand products?
No, migration is not reversible.

After one reference starts to migrate to Schneider Electric products, can I place the order only for Schneider Electric branded products?
No, this will not be practical and we consider this adds little benefit as the mixing (100% aesthetic) does not change the function and usage of the products.

Since packaging and product marking do not migrate at the same time, how will I know if the products inside the boxes are old brand or new brand without opening the boxes?
The labels on the packaging have the same brand as the products inside the packaging, so it is easy to know the product marking without opening the packaging.

Are your products still certified?
Yes. Certification organisations have been notified of the change.

Does your migration project take into account environmental issues?
Yes, all the industrial processes related to packaging change and product marking change strictly follow the rules of environment protection. We also made the decision that the migration would take place progressively to make sure all previous brand products are not scrapped just because of migration.

Will the price increase or decrease after the brand change?
No. No price changes will happen just because of brand migration.

Is the migration affecting the product repair, after-sales service or spare parts?
No, the migration does not impact product repair, after-sales service or spare parts. You will continue to get the same service as before.

Can I exchange or return previous branded stock to Schneider Electric?
No, because the products themselves remain exactly the same (except for the aesthetics) and can be used in the exact same way as before.  Most importantly, to scrap well-working products is not environmentally friendly.

Will end user customers be aware of the migration?
Yes, Schneider Electric has already organised to inform the customers. Schneider Electric will keep the page on our website about brand migration updated.

 

How long will the migration process of Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique products last?
You may have already started seeing Schneider Electric marked packaging and products. It is envisaged that the migration of Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique products will be completed in 2010.

During brand migration of Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique, what is changing in terms of products, references and technical characteristics?
Only the aesthetics of product packaging, labels and markings is changing.  Product characteristics, qualities, references, production locations, standard delivery time, etc. remain the same.

Are you changing the Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique product packaging and product marking at the same time?
No. Product packaging changes started in mid-2008. You should have already seen the changes. Product marking is changing later, gradually based on product families. Product marking changes for Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique will be finished in 2010.

What situation could happen during the change of packaging of Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique products?
During the transition, very often you may find Schneider Electric packaging with previous brand products inside or Schneider Electric packaging with Schneider Electric branded products inside. You will never find previous brand packaging with Schneider Electric branded products inside. The brand on the labels of the packaging shows the same brand as the product marking inside.

That means we will see Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique products in Schneider Electric packaging?
Yes, during the migration transitional time.

That means we will never see a Schneider Electric product in Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique packaging?
Yes, you will never see Schneider Electric products in Merlin Gerin and Telemecanique boxes. Before the product marking change, the packaging migration of the same product family should be finished.

 

How will the migration of the SAREL brand take place?
The brand change will be performed on a range-by-range basis and the transition timing will occur as follows:

• Product packaging will change from SAREL to Schneider Electric from August 2009 onwards.
  This does not include our Spacial 6000 Floor Standing Enclosure offer.
• Product brand and part numbers will change from SAREL to Schneider Electric from November 2009 onwards.
  This does not include our Spacial 6000 Floor Standing Enclosure offer.
• Product colour will change from RAL7032 (dark grey) to RAL7035 (light grey) from February 2010, beginning with our Spacial 3D range of wall mounted, steel enclosures.

Will the migration of the SAREL brand affect product design and performance?
No, it will not. Moving the SAREL brand to the Schneider Electric brand has absolutely no effect on the product functions, technical features, size and weight. We will continue to deliver the same quality and service that you have come to expect from our company.

If I have a list of old part numbers, how can I find out the new part numbers?
Up until the end of 2010, old and new product part numbers will be printed on the product packaging labels. Also, a cross reference tool will be made available in early October to easily select the new part number from the old part number.