1945

Death of Joseph Siat. His two sons take over the company, with Pierre in charge of production and Maurice in charge of sales and administration. The company starts to manufacture more specific equipment: changeover switches, transformers, rheostat-regulators and high breaking capacity fuse links.

1948

The company abandons the piecework bonus system in favour of a group bonus. This social innovation, a first in France, gets the full backing of the workforce, now numbering 60 people. The first Works Council is created.
The “Equipment” division is launched at the end of the 50s to manufacture low voltage distribution and automatic control assemblies.

1953

 The Société des Ateliers de Constructions Électromécaniques du Bas-Rhin changes its name to SOCOMEC.

 Social development mirrors technological progress; from 1955 onwards SOCOMEC applies law that links the profit-sharing to gains in productivity. A trade union section is created.

1960

With over 150 employees, SOCOMEC increasingly manufactures products for industrial switchgear purposes: cabinets, switchboards, control consoles, etc. The first integrated sales office opens in Paris.

1968

The “Electronics” division is launched. The company begins to market high power UPS in partnership with a Swiss manufacturer.
A “profit-sharing contract”is signed with employees

1970

A new production plant is set up regrouping the mounting, warehousing and cutting workshops. The workforce now numbers 200.

1972

The company is computerised. The first internally designed SOCOMEC UPS are developed in the same year.

1974

Belgian subsidiary set up. The SIRCO switch is also developed this year, proving to be the power house behind the company's commercial development.

1977

Pierre SIAT, company chairman, retires. His post is taken over by his brother Maurice.

1978

The “Turbine” division starts up, producing turbogenerators.

1979

Socomec with its power testing lab is a founding member of ASEFA (Association of French Electrical Switchgear Testing Stations), and is accredited by the National Testing Network (RNE - Réseau National d'Essais).

1982

New factory set up in Huttenheim, specifically for UPS production.
Under the management of Bernard Steyert, Benoît Siat and Jacques Siat (Joseph Siat's 3 grandsons) the company continues and formalises its quality initiative, implementing a policy of “total quality”.
The company obtains the first product certifications: RAQ 3 (armed forces certification) in 1984 for the new range of A2S 80 UPS; later RAQ in 1987 for the A2S 92 range.

1987

The “Turbine” division is closed. CAD systems begin to be widely employed.

 

1989

 









Bernard Steyert becomes company Chairman.
The company starts to play the role of cultural sponsor. From 1991 onwards the company's workshops open their doors to concerts and art exhibitions to foster the development of new ideas and initiatives.

1992

Two subsidiaries in Germany and one in Spain are opened, as well as a sales office in Kuala Lumpur.
Tomi Ungerer takes part in the celebrations of the company's 70th anniversary.

 

Launch of the multi-function meter DIRIS

1993

UK subsidiary opens.

 

1994

The company commits itself to further improvement, implementing the "Working Better Together" training policy for all personnel. A concrete initiative: the personnel can invest in the company's capital.
The entire switchgear activity is ISO 9002 certified, while the UPS business launches the first IGBT 400 kVA on the market and clinches a historic deal to equip the Charles-de-Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier with frequency converters.

1995

Italian subsidiary for switchgear activity opens.
The UPS division is awarded ISO 9001 certification.
Taking pride in its values, company management produces the company charter

1996

Industrial organisation is restructured. Manufacturing processes begin using the “just-in-time” (JIT) methodology with autonomous working units.
Socomec is voted champion of industrial growth by the trade magazine Usine Nouvelle. A subsidiary is opened in Thailand and a sales office is opened in China.

1997

A second subsidiary is opened in the UK.

New information technology firmly establishes itself in the company. Socomec changes from centralised IT structure to a network architecture.
A lunch and debate on the subject of the Euro are organised in the presence of Jean Arthuis, the French Minister of Finances and the Economy.
Socomec wins the top regional prize for exports.

1998

Italian partner Sicon (low power UPS specialists) merges with the group. After seven years of profitable partnership both companies decide to face their destiny together.
The group's presence is further enhanced with the integration of subsidiaries in Slovenia and Singapore. The Kuala Lumpur Sicon's sales office closes and relocates to Bangkok.
Socomec wins the regional prize for innovation awarded by the French institute for industrial property.

1999

SOCOMEC opens further subsidiaries in India and Argentina.
The UPS production plant is extended by 5300 m2.
The group opens its first internet site.

2000

The test laboratory is extended and equipped with a turbo-alternator that enables the platform to achieve short circuits of 100 kA. The laboratory becomes the second largest electric power test facility in France.
Launch of the DELPHYS DS UPS (80 to 200 kVA), which sets a new standard on the market.
The company introduces the 35-hour working week.

2001

Launch of the new range of MODULYS modular UPS systems (1.5 to 24 kVA).

 

2002

Michael Carter is appointed Group General Manager and work starts on the building of the 5200 m2 Timelec plant in Tunisia.
Creation of a new subsidiary in the Netherlands.

2003

Launch of ATYS, a whole new concept in modular switches that positions Socomec as one of the leaders in the field.
Production starts in the Tunisian factory, providing the group's industrial organisation with a new impetus.
Both businesses are ISO 9001 version 2000 certified. A sales office is opened in China.
The Board of Directors of Socomec SA welcomes three external administrators.

2004

The UPS business almost completely renews its offer with the launch of the new range of MASTERYS (8 to 90 kVA) and DELPHYS MX (250 to 500 kVA) systems.
Socomec receives the prize for excellence following a survey by Frost & Sullivan of customer service provided by the top 13 manufacturers of UPS systems in the world.
Creation of a sales subsidiary in India.

 

2005

Opening of a sales office in Moscow and creation of a sales subsidiary in China.

2006

In order to assure a solid future for all Socomec’s European staff and in order to improve the group's international competitive edge, Socomec orients its industrial organisation into centres of excellence. A 6000 m2 European logistics platform is opened in Alsace, France and work starts to build a new factory in Italy.

 

 

A sales office is opened in Dubai.
The Socomec group is building on its position as an independent and innovative specialist to pursue its international growth. With a headcount of 2,000, the group is now a leading player on the worldwide low-voltage power distribution market.