Schneider Electric announced it will invest $2.5 million in advanced manufacturing at its Gepps Cross site in Adelaide, with a new production line expected to double its air and moulded case circuit breaker production capacity across the Pacific.
According to the company, the investment will establish a smart circuit breaker production line at the site, expanding a capability currently operating from its Local Adaptation Centre in Ingleburn, Sydney.
In a news release, Schneider Electric said the expansion is expected to create more than 25 new jobs, adding to the more than 400 people already working at the Gepps Cross site.
The company noted the additional manufacturing capacity is intended to support growing demand from data centres, defence, mining and major infrastructure projects, including preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Demand for critical electrical infrastructure is growing quickly across Australia, and this investment gives us the local capacity to respond,” Schneider Electric Vice President Power Products Tim Pratt said.
Schneider Electric said the approximately 21-metre production line will use digital systems to guide assembly and quality control, including digitally communicated product configurations, component requirements, assembly sequences and torque settings. According to the company, interlocked production steps will prevent units from progressing if a stage has not been completed correctly.
The company said the line will include about $500,000 in testing equipment to support quality control and traceability. Once operational, it is expected to produce Schneider Electric circuit breakers including the ComPacT NS and MasterPacT MTZ ranges, which the company said are used in electrical distribution applications such as data centres and mining operations.
The investment follows Schneider Electric’s recent 10-year lease extension at Gepps Cross. The company said the site already supports Clipsal manufacturing and research and development, alongside customer care, Digital Energy, Power Products, Power Systems, Industrial Automation, Power Services and logistics operations.
“Gepps Cross has been an important part of our Australian manufacturing footprint for decades,” Pratt said. “Adding this capability in Adelaide means we can increase production, support more local jobs and strengthen our ability to deliver the energy technology needed for Australia’s next phase of growth.”
Schneider Electric said the new production line is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2027.
“This investment builds on our established manufacturing capability at Gepps Cross, creating skilled jobs while increasing our capacity to meet growing customer demand,” Pratt said.
He added, “By bringing together advanced electrical products, automation and digital intelligence, we’re putting energy technology into practice while maintaining the quality and traceability our customers require.”
