Schneider Electric opens major facility in Xiamen

Schneider Electric announced on Wednesday it has begun operations at its largest medium-voltage electrical equipment manufacturing facility worldwide, which is located in Xiamen, Fujian province.

The company said the move is part of its bid to expand its industrial presence in China, to capture opportunities arising from the energy transition and industrial upgrading.

The French industrial group also broke ground on the second phase of the Xiamen Xiang'an industrial complex on the same day, marking another investment in local manufacturing capabilities and key electrical components.

Yin Zheng, executive vice-president of China and East Asia operations at Schneider Electric, said the expansion reflects the company's long-term commitment to China and its confidence in the country's manufacturing capabilities, supply chains, and innovation ecosystem.

"Building on China's advantages in innovation, manufacturing, supply chains, and talent, we will work closely with industrial partners to develop an open and collaborative ecosystem," said Yin.

He added that the new facility will support the company's efforts to integrate research, production, and customer services while contributing to the development of advanced manufacturing and modern power systems.

This approach is in line with broader national priorities under the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which emphasizes green and low-carbon growth, industrial upgrading, and the development of emerging industries.

Covering 110,000 square meters, the newly operational complex combines research and development, automated manufacturing, and technical training facilities and features flexible production lines for customized medium-voltage switchgear, automated copper busbar processing, and intelligent inspection systems designed to improve production efficiency and product reliability.

The facility also incorporates digital energy management systems, rooftop solar installations, and energy storage equipment to reduce energy consumption and support low-carbon operations.

Xu Shaofeng, senior vice-president of Schneider Electric and head of the group's medium-voltage and services business in China, said the second phase will focus on manufacturing critical components, including vacuum interrupters and medium-voltage circuit breakers.

Xu said the company will invest further in specialized equipment and production technologies to enhance its capabilities in core manufacturing processes.

He also noted that growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and new power infrastructure is creating opportunities for suppliers of reliable and intelligent electrical equipment.

Since entering China in 1987, Schneider Electric has established the country as its second-largest market globally, and one of its four major research and development hubs.

The company, which will participate in the China International Import Expo for the ninth consecutive year in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, also expanded its Beijing campus and completed construction of a new industrial park in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, earlier this year.