Schneider Electric, Kaman Industrial Technology forge distribution deal

Schneider Electric will become KIT’s primary line of AC drives, sensors, low voltage controls and automation, encompassing more than 75 percent of its sales in these areas.

Source: Schneider Electric

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Schneider Electric has entered into a distributor agreement with Kaman Industrial Technologies (KIT), a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation. KIT, a leading power transmission distributor in the United States, will become a distributor for Schneider Electric’s line of industrial automation and control products as well as select power control and protection products commonly used in motor control applications.

“We are pleased to be working with Kaman, one of the most highly-ranked power transmission distributors in the country,” said Mary Ramsey, senior vice president, Schneider Electric Industry Business. “This agreement provides our mutual customers with a new level of expertise and an ability to deliver technical solutions for both end users and OEMs. It also allows Schneider Electric to enter new channels to market with a partner that boasts a large footprint.”

This is Schneider Electric’s first major move to reach the power transmission/motion control market, estimated at $107 billion in the United States and a natural extension for the company’s core competencies in automation and control driven by energy management goals.

“Kaman provides a different entry point to our potential customers,” said Jeff Jervah, director of channel development for Schneider Electric’s Industry Business. “We look forward to working together to provide the power transmission market a comprehensive line of drives, controls, automation and sensors products from one supplier—an offer that is currently absent from the market.”

As part of the agreement, Schneider Electric will become KIT’s primary line of AC drives, sensors, low voltage controls and automation, encompassing more than 75% of its sales in these areas. The deal also authorizes the sale of Schneider Electric PLC, signaling and HMI equipment. KIT will begin stocking these products at its 200 branch locations throughout the United States in the first quarter of 2013.

Schneider Electric’s products align with the existing focus of power transmission/motion control distributors, a group accustomed to technical solution sales of applied products that require a high degree of expertise. Schneider Electric also will provide drives specialists to support a mutually agreed upon number of KIT branches. Each specialist is certified and will offer support and technical knowledge.

"We are pleased to expand our strategic relationship with Schneider Electric nationally and to be able to offer their world class products to our more than 50,000 customers,” said Steve Smidler, president of KIT. “We have built a strong network to offer electrical and automation control, MRO-bearing and power transmission, and fluid power products to a broad cross section of North American industry."