FM newsroom – energy management, digitalisation. In 2024, the company inaugurated its new smart factory in Dunavecse, set up a new service centre in Budapest, further strengthened its cooperation in higher education and launched a project to support efficient charging of electric cars in partnership with one of Hungary’s most successful technology companies.
Focus on sustainability
The year 2024 was an important milestone in Schneider Electric’s history in Hungary, with the inauguration of the Duna Smart Power Systems (DSPS) plant in Dunavecse, one of Europe’s largest custom manufacturing facilities. The 28,000 sqm smart factory, which employs 500 people, was built with 80 million euros.
The official statement highlights that the DSPS was implemented with a focus on sustainability, in addition to the use of smart solutions to increase manufacturing efficiency. Construction waste and various packaging materials were collected and transported separately from the construction site. The plant is heated and cooled by a geothermal system. Solar panels have been installed on a total of 28,000 sqm of roofs in the factory, with a capacity of around 1180 MWh/year. Collected rainwater is used for irrigation and toilets. In the changing rooms, bathrooms, meeting rooms and offices, presence detection solutions control the air handling system and LED lighting. And 30 e-car and 25 e-bike charging stations have been installed for electric vehicles.
In addition to increasing sustainability and improving energy efficiency, the efficient operation of the building was an important design consideration. Schneider Electric’s state-of-the-art online monitoring system and communication networking tools support the prevention of failures and the timely execution of necessary interventions.
A new hub in Budapest
Last May, Schneider Electric announced the creation of its new Europe Services Hub in Budapest. The company will offer a wide range of on-site services within its service portfolio, including consultancy for implementing new solutions and assistance with service and maintenance to support more cost- and energy-efficient operations.
The team at the Budapest headquarters is expected to grow to 100 people by 2025. They will cover the whole continent from the Hungarian capital, working with local staff in European countries.
Charging stations within easy reach
One of the highlights of last year was the partnership with mobility solutions leader Parkl Digital Technologies to offer efficient, secure charging solutions for electric cars, adapted to the existing electrical networks of properties. The company is continuously working on the deployment of such infrastructures in hotels and industrial facilities as well.
Strengthening connections
In 2024, Schneider Electric has further strengthened its partnerships with higher education institutions in the country. In February, students from the Faculty of Foreign Trade of the Budapest University of Economics and Business (BGE), Hungary’s largest business community, took over a new community space called Impact Zone. The area, which helps prepare for classes and build community, was created with the support of Schneider Electric.
At the end of October, the company signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Dunaújváros (DUE) to support, among other things, the training of young professionals, early orientation and research and development.
“Schneider Electric’s business culture is capable of responding to the changing business environment with flexibility and agility. Global trends, such as the rise of digitalisation and artificial intelligence, climate change and the energy transition, continue to impact us, and as a future-shaping company, we are working to make the best of these trends. We are also thinking long-term in Hungary, and one of the best proof of this is the smart factory we inaugurated in May in Dunavecse,” – said Zsolt Veres, Country Director of Schneider Electric.
