Clipsal — A global success story
By Richard Mead.
This article appeared in Electrical Gems Issue 86, August—September 2008
An industry leader, a member of one of the largest worldwide corporations and a company working towards an eco-friendly world, Clipsal Australia continues to prove itself to be one of the great business success stories in Australia.
Alfred Gerard founded the company in 1920, when he developed a range of adjustable conduit fittings that 'clips all' sizes of imported metal conduit. The new range struck a chord with the Australian market, becoming an instant hit. This innovation paved the way for the company's future success.
Clipsal has offices, representatives and distribution centres right across Australia, giving the company a presence in every state across Australia. As time moves on Clipsal continues to grow and expand. The company now comprises of four key business units consisting of Electrical Accessories, Datacomms, Industrial and Integrated Systems.
Clipsal's Electrical Accessories have developed a reputation for being the professional's brand of choice. With a product range numbering in the thousands, Clipsal is a clear market leader in the manufacture of electrical accessories, sockets and switches.
The Industrial business unit was introduced to Australian contractors in 1980. The Industrial sector, like the Electrical Accessories business unit, has also built a solid reputation with electricians around the country. Identified in the industry for excellent performance in harsh environments, the Clipsal 56 Series supplies the industry with electrical solutions for adverse applications.
The year 1997 saw the introduction of the Datacomms unit to the Clipsal family. The sector now plays a major role in Australia's thriving data and communication industry. Prior to 2000, only 20% of Clipsal's contractors were familiar with structured cabling. With the work that Datacomms has done in the past few years, 80% of the contractor base is now involved with communications cabling.
The last of the business units to be introduced to the Australian market is the highly accepted and regarded Integrated Systems unit. Beginning in 2000, Integrated Systems built on the success of the C-Bus Energy Management and Control System, which has been leading Australia's energy management and lighting control market since 1994. Clipsal Integrated Systems has received widespread and worldwide recognition since its inception, receiving a number of awards for both C-Bus products and for the Neo Range.
In 2003 Clipsal became part of Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management. This gave Clipsal the benefit of and leverage from the expertise and experience of the worldwide giant in the industry. Access to global resources has accelerated Clipsal's developments in the use of lean manufacturing methodologies and assisted in establishing 'continuous improvement' as normal practice.
In partnership with Schneider Electric's partners, Clipsal is able to offer a total commercial solution. Clipsal's new 2008 Commercial Solutions guide is an 84-page magazine-style publication that showcases all the electrical switchgear, data communications and energy management products needed for 11 different commercial building categories. The categories include offices, boardrooms, hotels, sports, entertainment, factories, health and aged care and more.
Ease of access for Clipsal contractors is paramount and Clipsal's eCatalogue provides them the opportunity to gain all of the product and pricing information they need within one program. Saving plenty of paper, the first Clipsal Product Catalogue on CD Rom was launched back in 1995. This latest edition includes 3D models of our most recent product innovations and also features an expanded quotation package including the ability to create a bill of materials and Tax Invoices.
Supporting Australian sport and business groups
While Clipsal continues to lead the electrical accessories market they are keen to inject funds back into the community. Clipsal is the naming rights sponsor of the largest touring car event in Australia, the Clipsal 500. Clipsal will sponsor the race around Adelaide's world famous street circuit until 2015.
The Clipsal 500 began without a major or naming right sponsor and was run as a three-day event. In the first year the 500 was run, it proved to be very popular among the sports-crazed people of Adelaide and it was after this race that Clipsal jumped on board to be the naming rights sponsor. As attendances grew (and have grown every year of the race's 10-year history) increased demand convinced the promoter to run the race over 4 days.
Clipsal hosts over 1500 contractors for the four days, through various packages. This allows contractors from around Australia, South Africa and New Zealand to network and socialise while enjoying some great racing. The race has become bigger than a racing weekend but rather has become a four-day festival, including four days of massive concerts and plenty of off-track entertainment. The event not only attracts people from across South Australia, but from across Australia and now attracts international guests and supporters.
Clipsal's major sponsorship goes beyond just community groups, also sponsoring industry associations such as NECA. The National Electrical Communications Association (NECA) is the voice of the electro-technology contracting industry. NECA is the only association that represents the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide, from employers and business people to technicians.
Living Innovation XPO8
In a world that demands more technical innovation, Clipsal's Living Innovations XPO8 brings creativity and forward planning together to serve up an exciting slice of the electrical future.
The inaugural Living Innovation XPO8 delivers a message to the industry that the demands and expectations of the various customer groups are changing considerably. With the introduction and take-up of many new technologies and systems, there is a growing demand within the industry for a genuine integrated electrical solution for both commercial and residential applications. What is available today and what is seen throughout the Living Innovations XPO8 is a variety of electrical solutions that will meet all your changing requirements in whichever market segment you operate in. The best way to predict the future was to create it with electrical solutions offered by the Schneider Group and Synergi Partners. These are the first true integrated solutions offered to commercial, residential and industrial markets also focusing on energy consumption and conservation solutions.
The XPO8 brought together the latest innovations from Australia's leading electrical brands from Schneider Electric and invited guests including our Synergi partners Wattyl, Gainsborough and Caroma Dorf.
The Synergi solution is a new and impressive partnership across premier household interior brands offering an aesthetically coordinated package. Each Synergi solution partner has released a range of products that combine perfectly to ensure complementary styles, seamless colour matching and unrivalled quality throughout the home. As the key attraction, XPO8 featured a 12m x 6m Synergi Solutions house, constructed in the centre of the XPO8, showing Innovative Interior Building Solutions.
The event gives guests the opportunity to attend twenty minute solution based seminars which focus on Commercial Project Energy Solutions, Aged Care/Health Care and Home Automation. This creates a platform for true integrated building solutions for lighting control, climate control, security and more.
The guests cover a broad spectrum from the industry, which includes Developers, Architects, Consultants, Engineers, Builders, Designers, Wholesalers, Electrical Contractors and End Users seeking information and advice from the Schneider Electric group of companies, Clipsal, Moduline, PDL, Energy Efficient Solutions, TAC and our Synergi Partners Wattyl, Gainsborough and Caroma Dorf.
Clipsal on the Move
In 2007 Clipsal announced that Gepps Cross in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs would be the home of Clipsal's new world class head office and manufacturing operation.
Clipsal will bring together all of its metropolitan operations into a single open plan facility in Adelaide. The new Gepps Cross site is situated on Port Wakefield Road, 8.5kms away from the present site at Bowden, and sits on an impressive land area of 90,200 sqm.
Previously occupied by the Coles State Office and Distribution Centre, the lease ended earlier allowing for a $35M transformation into Clipsal's new facility. The buildings are well suited to the major refurbishment and extensions required. Clipsal is planning to add approximately 5,000 sqm of floor space to accommodate extra office space, a canteen and a brand new training centre.
In all, the new Clipsal Australia building will occupy an impressive total floor area of almost 30,000 sqm. The new office and manufacturing facility will be available in August 2008, however the company's move will occur in stages and should be completed in early 2009.
"The site we have chosen meets and exceeds all the criteria we require to create a new international centre of excellence for both staff and customers", said Erik Scholz, Executive General Manager of Clipsal Australia.
"The new facility will be a better environment to maximise our manufacturing and logistical efficiencies. It will also be a better experience for the thousands of customers who visit for training each year and see our latest innovations and developments."
The Gepps Cross facility will employ over 1,000 staff under one roof, including Clipsal sales, marketing, manufacturing, logistics and support functions. Also relocating to the site are representative offices for Schneider Electric Australia, Schneider Engineering Services, Citect, as well as a number of shared services for the Schneider Electric Pacific Zone, such as finance, purchasing, human resources and research and development.
The commitment at Gepps Cross represents a major and ongoing investment in South Australia. Clipsal intends to remain the pre-eminent supplier of electrical products in Australia, and a significant player across the Asia Pacific region as part of Schneider Electric.