The Legrand Group, which is headquartered in France, continues to reinforce its presence in the region and shows such as the Big 5 have enabled it to create greater awareness of its products, says the company.

At this year's show, the company launched its Smart Home system, which allows one to control all the electrical installations at home either through an intelligent switch or remote control computer or a mobile phone.

"We received a very good response to our stand and are currently in negotiations with potential clients and following up on a number of leads," says Mohammed Ahmed Yahia, area manager with Legrand Electrical Accessories, the Dubai branch of the group.

The Legrand Group has established a name for itself throughout the world as a major player in low-voltage electrical wiring accessories. It holds a 20 per cent share of the worldwide market for low-voltage electrical accessories, specifically for switches and sockets.

"Legrand offers professionals in the electricity industry all the products and services necessary to produce a quality electrical installation," says Yahia.

The group has 60 factories worldwide and five major divisions which deal in switches and sockets, cable management, protection and distribution, industrial and VDI and home automation systems.

Legrand claims to be the only company in the world that manufactures switches and sockets that meet all standards, the main ones being French, Italian, German, British and American. The company produces various switches and sockets with the brands names Legrand (from France), Bticino (Italy), Tenby (UK) and Pass'nd Seymour (US).

Legrand is also a world leader for cable management, with more than 16 per cent of the world market. Major products include an underfloor trunking system, cable trays and trunking. Its various brands include Legrand, Wiremold from the US and UK, Quintela from Spain and RT Jamma from Italy.

Its protection and distribution division is considered to be the third largest manufacturer of switchgears, producing various types of MCCBs (moulded case circuit breakers) and MCBs (miniature circuit breakers) and a full range of air circuit breakers, distribution panels and control panels.

Its industrial division manufactures industrial plugs and sockets, industrial enclosures and transformers.

Legrand's VDI and home automation division is a major player in the structural cabling market with brands including Legrand, Ortronics from the US and Bticino.

"Legrand offers professionals in the electrical industry all the products and services necessary to produce a quality electrical installation. To ensure that its products always meet the highest expectations of customers, Legrand carries out large-scale research and development,'' says Yahia. The objective is to create new useful products and services, to optimise production and to further enhance quality and reliability.

The group, employing around 29,000 (70 per cent outside France), recorded a $3 billion turnover at the end of 2001.

"This year we expect $3.2 billion," says Yahia. "Legrand has a very strong presence in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Legrand has been in the Middle East from past 25 years. It opened its first office in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) in 1981, followed by another in Riyadh. The Dubai office was established in the Jebel Ali Free Zone office in 1996.

"The group's turnover in the GCC was $70 million last year of which Dubai accounted for 15 per cent. We have been experiencing 20-25 per cent growth in the Dubai market every year.

"Our Jebel Ali operations looks after the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, while the Saudi offices look after Bahrain and Yemen, besides the Saudi market. We are working through either agents or authorised distributors in this region who stock more than $1.5 million worth of Legrand products.

"We have Al Hathboor covering Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and Electra for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. In Kuwait, we have Al-Diwan and Shuwaik; Oman - Rashid Al Kiyumi and Trade Links; Qatar - Jaidah Motors and Al Balagh.

"Legrand's team in Dubai comprises electrical engineers and technical assistants. Our job is to keep consultants, contractors, architects, interior designers, investors, municipalities abreast of developments at Legrand. Our agents follow contracts and submit samples and quotations.

"Due to the growth of the Dubai market, we opened the Legrand Customer Centre (400 sq m) in February this year. It was set up along with Al Hathboor to give clients a better knowledge about Legrand. The facility is also used as a training centre for the entire GCC, specifically for consultants, contractors, distributors and agents.

"We also opened a training centre related to our switchgear business last February in partnership with Middle East Switchgear in Sharjah in order to train consultants and contractors.''

The company's products are being used on a number of projects in the UAE such as the Emaar headquarters in Dubai, where the Mosaic range of switches and sockets have been installed. Its products are currently being used on the Novotel and Sofitel hotels, part of Dubai International Exhibition Centre and low-cost housing projects of Public Works Department in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Other projects include the Holiday Inn Bur Dubai, Meridien apartments in Dubai, the Sheraton in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Internet City projects.

"Over 6,000 different Legrand products are sold in this region, of the 130,000 different products manufactured worldwide by Legrand group and we keep improving our product range by launching new products.

"Plans for the next year include a warehousing facility in Jebel Ali. We also intend to hire more people for marketing, advertising and sales in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We believe very much in the future of this region and are proud to be part of its growth."

Early next year, the company will be opening Legrand centres in Abu Dhabi (100 sq m), Qatar (50 sq m) and Kuwait (200 sq m).

"We will also be participating in major shows like the Big 5, Index and Gitex as a platform to launch new products and also to make people aware of our products," he adds.

The annual meeting, usually organised in France, will take place in Dubai next year from January 20 to 25, where more than 70 Legrand group managers are expected to attend.