Legrand invests in China for better lives and sustainable development
Amid deepening cooperation between China and France, Legrand, a France-based manufacturer of electrical and digital building infrastructure, announced its strategies for exploring the Chinese market.
The group is allocating 5 percent of its annual turnover to product research and development. By setting up more R&D centers in China, they are promoting technology integration and industrial upgrading across the country.
Its factories in China have artificial intelligence robots, intelligent manufacturing equipment, data manufacturing systems, automatic optical inspection and other technologies to realize intelligent, automated and data-driven production. Leveraging the advantages of highefficiency production, Legrand is accelerating its digital manufacturing transformation and upgrading digital management.
Through the lean management system, the group can share the research, development and production management experiences from around the world with every Legrand factory in China.
To perform better in localization, the group is adopting a localization management strategy where the management and R&D teams of Legrand China are mainly composed of Chinese employees. Moreover, 100 percent of its sales in China are made-in-China products.
“We have full confidence in the future of the Chinese market. First, China is expected to be the country with the largest incremental GDP value in the following five years. Second, because there are many trends that are positive for our industry: electrification, need for home improvement and renovation, urbanization. And finally data centers will continue to grow fast. Legrand China is well positioned to catch these trends,” said Olivier Chaudet, CEO of Legrand China.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, the group, which has been developing in China for more than 30 years, has committed to achieving sustainable development, aligning with China’s goal of promoting a low-carbon economy and addressing climate change.
Recently, Legrand China launched a new tagline — Zhiling Shenghuo — which is in line with the group purpose of “Legrand improving lives” and represents Legrand’s core values of pursuing sustainable development, innovation and high quality, improving the quality of life for all Legrand stakeholders.
For several years, it has been limiting the use of disposable plastic and paper packaging for products and has obtained an ISO14001 environmental management system certification in more than 91 percent of its factories worldwide.
In Legrand’s production process, while adhering to hazardous substances restriction, product environmental profile and the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals, it has continuously reduced waste generation and increased waste utilization to achieve its environmental goals.
“Under the group’s comprehensive corporate social responsibility program, which includes the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent each year through energy efficiency, from 2014 to 2021, Legrand worldwide achieved a reduction of 13 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions,” Chaudet said.
He added that by the end of 2022, Legrand China had equipped its plants with photovoltaic cells and the percentage of recycled plastic material will reach 15 percent in 2024.
“The Chinese government has created a predictable and higherquality business environment for foreign-funded enterprises. Legrand has greatly benefited from these policies and increased investment in China to obtain more business opportunities, improve Legrand’s revenue in China and achieve mutual benefit,” Chaudet said.