APC by Schneider Electric

APC by Schneider Electric is a United States-origin technology brand focused on power continuity, power protection, and the physical infrastructure used by information-technology systems. The name APC originated with American Power Conversion Corporation, which was established in 1981 by three electronic power engineers associated with MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The founders initially worked on solar-power research and development. When government support for that research ended, the company redirected its engineering capabilities toward power protection and introduced its first uninterruptible power supply in 1984. The spread of personal computers, office networks, servers, and telecommunications equipment created demand for dependable backup power and protection from outages, voltage fluctuations, and electrical transients. APC built its early reputation through UPS systems and surge-protection products, then expanded into software, monitoring, network-management accessories, rack power distribution, server enclosures, and other data-center infrastructure. Its offerings have been organized around several application environments, including homes and home offices, business networks, access-provider networks, and data centers and facilities. APC's product portfolio has included the Back-UPS family for household and small-office equipment, Smart-UPS systems for business and network applications, Symmetra modular UPS platforms for server and data-center environments, and PowerChute software for UPS monitoring and orderly shutdown of connected computers and servers. The brand has also developed or marketed NetShelter racks and enclosures, rack power distribution units, UPS network-management cards, surge-protection devices, and related infrastructure products. These products address both the electrical and operational risks associated with IT equipment: loss of mains power, unstable voltage, inadequate distribution, overheating, and the need to monitor and safely shut down computing loads. Schneider Electric announced its acquisition of APC on October 30, 2006. APC shareholders approved the transaction in January 2007, and the acquisition was completed on February 14, 2007. Schneider Electric combined APC with MGE UPS Systems in its Critical Power and Cooling Services business. The transaction broadened Schneider Electric's presence in critical power and data-center infrastructure while bringing APC's established UPS and IT-channel brand into Schneider Electric's portfolio. Regulatory approval in Europe was associated with a divestiture requirement involving part of Schneider Electric's MGE UPS business below 10 kVA; the MGE Office Protection Systems division was subsequently acquired by Eaton Powerware later in 2007. APC had been a publicly traded U.S. company and a member of the S&P 500 before the acquisition, but it ceased to operate as an independent listed company after joining Schneider Electric. In 2011, APC by Schneider Electric became a product brand rather than a separate operating company, while the corresponding business activity was reorganized within Schneider Electric's IT business. The APC name nevertheless remains visible across Schneider Electric's customer-facing products and services. Today, APC serves residential, small-business, enterprise, networking, telecommunications, and data-center customers. Its positioning combines equipment protection with availability and manageability: UPS systems provide ride-through or backup power, power distribution products help deliver electricity within racks and facilities, software and network cards provide monitoring and shutdown functions, and racks and related infrastructure support the physical deployment of IT equipment. APC therefore operates as a product brand within Schneider Electric's broader critical-power, cooling, data-center, and digital-infrastructure ecosystem rather than as a separately capitalized corporation.

American Power Conversion was founded in the United States in 1981 by three electronic power engineers connected with MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Its initial work concerned solar-power research and development. After government funding for that activity ended, the company changed direction and concentrated on protecting electronic equipment from unreliable power. APC introduced its first UPS in 1984, establishing the product category that would define much of its subsequent identity. During the expansion of personal computing and local-area networking, APC developed products for computers, workstations, small offices, and business networks. UPS systems supplied temporary power during outages and helped mitigate voltage disturbances, while surge-protection products addressed shorter electrical transients. As IT equipment moved into server rooms and larger facilities, APC broadened its business beyond standalone backup units. The company added rack-mounted systems, modular UPS platforms, power distribution equipment, equipment enclosures, monitoring tools, and network interfaces. The brand's product families came to cover different levels of IT infrastructure. Back-UPS addressed home and small-office computing. Smart-UPS served office networks, servers, and other business equipment, with floor-standing and rack-mounted configurations. Symmetra provided modular UPS capabilities for network and server applications, including replaceable power and battery modules and management functions. PowerChute software supported status monitoring, event logging, and automatic or unattended shutdown of connected computers and servers. APC network-management cards allowed certain UPS units to be administered over an IP network, including in locations without a dedicated local server. APC also expanded into the physical environment surrounding IT equipment. NetShelter racks and enclosures supported the installation of servers and networking hardware, while rack power distribution units distributed electricity to equipment within cabinets. These products connected the brand's original power-protection expertise with the requirements of server rooms, telecommunications sites, and data centers. APC's target application areas included home and home office, business networks, access-provider networks, and data centers and facilities. Schneider Electric announced the acquisition of APC on October 30, 2006. APC shareholders approved the transaction on January 16, 2007, and Schneider Electric completed the acquisition on February 14, 2007. Schneider combined APC with MGE UPS Systems to create its Critical Power and Cooling Services business unit. European regulatory clearance included a condition requiring the divestiture of Schneider's global MGE UPS business below 10 kVA. Later in 2007, Eaton Powerware acquired the MGE Office Protection Systems division of Schneider Electric. Before the acquisition, APC was an independently traded U.S. corporation and had been included in the S&P 500. After the transaction it no longer operated as an independent listed company. Schneider Electric retained the APC name as a customer-facing product brand while integrating the business into its critical-power and data-center activities. In 2011, the brand structure was clarified further: APC by Schneider Electric became a product brand, while the associated company was rebranded as Schneider Electric's IT Business Unit. APC now operates within Schneider Electric's wider portfolio of energy management, critical power, cooling, data-center infrastructure, and digital-management solutions. Its products continue to serve homes, offices, enterprise networks, telecommunications and access-provider facilities, server rooms, and data centers. The brand's role is to provide continuity and protection for IT loads, support the distribution and housing of equipment, and enable monitoring and controlled shutdown when power conditions threaten system availability.

1. 2011APC becomes a product brand

   APC by Schneider Electric is established as a product brand, while the operating business is incorporated into Schneider Electric's IT Business Unit.

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2. 2007Schneider Electric completes the acquisition

   APC shareholders approve the transaction in January, and Schneider Electric completes the acquisition on February 14. APC is combined with MGE UPS Systems in Schneider Electric's critical-power and cooling operations.

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3. 2006Schneider Electric announces APC acquisition

   Schneider Electric announces an agreement to acquire American Power Conversion on October 30.

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4. 1984APC introduces its first UPS

   After shifting away from solar research, APC introduces its first uninterruptible power supply and begins building its core power-protection business.

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5. 1981American Power Conversion is founded

   Three MIT Lincoln Laboratory electronic power engineers establish American Power Conversion in the United States, initially pursuing solar-power research.

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A reliability-oriented power and physical-infrastructure brand for home users, offices, business networks, telecommunications environments, enterprise IT, and data centers, emphasizing power continuity, equipment protection, monitoring, and manageability.

• UPS systemsPower protection1984

  APC's foundational product category. Its UPS systems supply temporary backup power and condition or protect electrical power for computers, network equipment, servers, telecommunications hardware, and other critical loads. The portfolio spans household and small-office units through rack-mounted and modular systems for enterprise and data-center applications.

• Back-UPSConsumer and small-office UPS

  Back-UPS products are designed primarily for home users, home offices, and small businesses. They protect personal computers, networking devices, storage equipment, and consumer electronics against power interruptions and common voltage disturbances while providing battery backup for orderly shutdown or short-duration continued operation.

• Smart-UPSBusiness and network UPS

  Smart-UPS is a broad family for business networks, servers, and other professional IT loads. It has included floor-standing and rack-mounted models, with line-interactive designs in much of the range and online configurations in designated families. Monitoring, battery management, and network administration are central features of the line.

• SymmetraModular data-center UPS

  Symmetra is a modular UPS platform for network and server applications. Symmetra LX configurations have included systems from 4 kVA to 16 kVA, with rack and data-center deployment options. The design supports replaceable power and battery modules, integrated manageability, and serviceability intended for critical IT environments.

• PowerChuteUPS management software

  PowerChute is APC software for monitoring and managing compatible UPS systems. Depending on the edition and deployment, it can report UPS status, record events, coordinate unattended shutdown of servers and workstations, and work with APC network-management cards to administer UPS devices over an IP network.

• NetShelterRacks and enclosures

  NetShelter comprises racks, cabinets, and related physical infrastructure for servers, networking equipment, and other IT hardware. The products are used in server rooms, edge deployments, and data centers, where they can be combined with rack power distribution, cable management, environmental monitoring, and cooling solutions.

• Rack power distribution unitsPower distribution

  APC rack PDUs distribute electrical power to equipment installed in cabinets and racks. Depending on the model, they support basic or monitored distribution and are used to organize and manage power delivery in server rooms, telecommunications sites, and data-center environments.

• Surge protection devicesPower protection

  These products reduce the exposure of computers, networking devices, and electronic equipment to transient voltage events and power surges. They complement UPS systems and address protection needs in residential, office, and network environments.

• 2011APC is repositioned as a product brandStrategy

  Schneider Electric had integrated APC into its broader IT and critical-infrastructure organization following the acquisition.

  What changed. APC by Schneider Electric became a product brand, while the operating company was rebranded as Schneider Electric's IT Business Unit.

  Aftermath. The APC name remained prominent in product marketing, while corporate operations and business management were conducted within Schneider Electric.

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• 2007Schneider Electric completes acquisition of APCM&A

  APC had established a substantial UPS, power-protection, and IT-infrastructure business, while Schneider Electric was expanding its critical-power and data-center capabilities.

  What changed. Schneider Electric completed the acquisition of American Power Conversion on February 14, 2007, and combined APC with MGE UPS Systems in its Critical Power and Cooling Services business.

  Aftermath. APC ceased to operate as an independent listed company and continued as a Schneider Electric brand within critical power and IT infrastructure.

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• 2011APC becomes a Schneider Electric product brand

  APC by Schneider Electric was repositioned as a product brand, with the operating business incorporated into Schneider Electric's IT business structure.

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• 2007APC acquisition completed

  Following shareholder and regulatory processes, Schneider Electric completed its acquisition of APC on February 14, 2007.

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• 2006Schneider Electric announces acquisition of APC

  Schneider Electric announced an agreement to acquire American Power Conversion, bringing a major UPS and critical-power brand into its portfolio.

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1. APC by Schneider Electric
2. APC official website
3. Schneider Electric official website