Clipsal
Encyclopedia
Clipsal is an Australia
n brand of electrical accessories. The main factory
was located at Bowden
, but it was announced in 2008 that a move would be made to a new site, located at Gepps Cross. The move took place in 2009. Clipsal also boasts smaller factories in Nuriootpa
, Strathalbyn
and Wingfield
in South Australia
, and Bayswater
in Victoria
which employ over 2300 workers. They have offices worldwide and sponsor the Adelaide
Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar
Race. According to their website, Clipsal is a "market leader in data communications, industrial and home automation markets."
Clipsal Australia is now majority-owned by Schneider Electric
as of 2004.
, Australia in 1920, selling a range of adjustable sheet metal fittings which joined the various imported conduit
s of differing diameters found in Australia at the time. This fitting was the product that gave the Clipsal company it’s name ("clips all" - Clipsal). Alfred’s son Geoff eventually took over the company, and it soon spearheaded several manufacturing breakthroughs, including the invention of the first all-Australian switch in 1930. The company also did early R&D
on thermoplastics in the 1950s.
Clipsal Integrated Systems, a division of Clipsal, was responsible for the creation of the C-Bus
protocol used in home automation
.
Clipsal entered into a collaboration agreement with The Smart Company in 1995 and then a Heads of Agreement in 1996. These agreements with The Smart Company led to the development of the Clipsal Home Minder home automation
brains of C-Bus
that Clipsal sold until about 2004.
In 2004 Clipsal Australia became majority-owned by Schneider Electric
.
Since 2004 Clipsal Integrated Systems, Clipsal Technologies Australia and Clipsal Australia have been in litigation with The Smart Company Pty Ltd about the Clipsal Home Minder and other Smart products.
The litigation is for unpaid royalties to The Smart Company pursuant to the Heads of Agreement.
The Smart Company went into liquidation on 28 May 2010. The liquidators are sourcing litigation funding to continue the action against Clipsal and effectively Schneider Electric
for up to $4 billion Australian dollars.
The case was dismissed on 29 April 2011.
The liquidators filed a Notice of Appeal for the dismissal on 20 May 2011.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n brand of electrical accessories. The main factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
was located at Bowden
Bowden, South Australia
Bowden is an inner northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-History:The 'Village of Bowden' was established in 1839 by James Hurtle Fisher, who named it after his native village in Northamptonshire....
, but it was announced in 2008 that a move would be made to a new site, located at Gepps Cross. The move took place in 2009. Clipsal also boasts smaller factories in Nuriootpa
Nuriootpa, South Australia
Nuriootpa is the major commercial centre in the Barossa Valley in South Australia, about an hour's drive north of the capital, Adelaide, and 77 kilometres by rail...
, Strathalbyn
Strathalbyn, South Australia
Strathalbyn is a town in South Australia, in the Alexandrina Council. The town has a population of 3894 people.-History and Culture:The town was founded in 1839. Strathalbyn was once connected by broad gauge horse tram to Goolwa and Victor Harbor from 1869, and the line was extended to Mount Barker...
and Wingfield
Wingfield, South Australia
Wingfield is a suburb situated north of Adelaide and is located on Grand Junction Road. The suburb borders Gepps Cross and Dry Creek.- Government :The suburb of Wingfield is in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield local government area....
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, and Bayswater
Bayswater, Victoria
Bayswater is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 28 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Knox. At the 2006 Census, Bayswater had a population of 10,738.-History:...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
which employ over 2300 workers. They have offices worldwide and sponsor the Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
Race. According to their website, Clipsal is a "market leader in data communications, industrial and home automation markets."
Clipsal Australia is now majority-owned by Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French global company. It was founded in 1836 by two brothers, Eugène and Adolphe Schneider.In the first part of the 20th century, Schneider et Cie associated itself with Westinghouse Systems, a major international electrical group at the time. The group began manufacturing...
as of 2004.
History
Clipsal was established by Alfred Gerard in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Australia in 1920, selling a range of adjustable sheet metal fittings which joined the various imported conduit
Pipe
Pipe may refer to:* Pipe , a hollow cylinder following certain dimension rules* Smoking pipe* Pipe or butt, a cask measurement* Pipe , a type of metal casting defect...
s of differing diameters found in Australia at the time. This fitting was the product that gave the Clipsal company it’s name ("clips all" - Clipsal). Alfred’s son Geoff eventually took over the company, and it soon spearheaded several manufacturing breakthroughs, including the invention of the first all-Australian switch in 1930. The company also did early R&D
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
on thermoplastics in the 1950s.
Clipsal Integrated Systems, a division of Clipsal, was responsible for the creation of the C-Bus
C-Bus (protocol)
C-Bus is a proprietary communications protocol for home and building automation that can handle cable lengths up to 1000 meter using Cat-5 cable. It is used in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, USA, South Africa, the UK and other parts of Europe including Greece and Romania...
protocol used in home automation
Home automation
Home automation is the residential extension of "building automation". It is automation of the home, housework or household activity. Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC , appliances, and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and...
.
Clipsal entered into a collaboration agreement with The Smart Company in 1995 and then a Heads of Agreement in 1996. These agreements with The Smart Company led to the development of the Clipsal Home Minder home automation
Home automation
Home automation is the residential extension of "building automation". It is automation of the home, housework or household activity. Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC , appliances, and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and...
brains of C-Bus
C-Bus (protocol)
C-Bus is a proprietary communications protocol for home and building automation that can handle cable lengths up to 1000 meter using Cat-5 cable. It is used in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, USA, South Africa, the UK and other parts of Europe including Greece and Romania...
that Clipsal sold until about 2004.
In 2004 Clipsal Australia became majority-owned by Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French global company. It was founded in 1836 by two brothers, Eugène and Adolphe Schneider.In the first part of the 20th century, Schneider et Cie associated itself with Westinghouse Systems, a major international electrical group at the time. The group began manufacturing...
.
Since 2004 Clipsal Integrated Systems, Clipsal Technologies Australia and Clipsal Australia have been in litigation with The Smart Company Pty Ltd about the Clipsal Home Minder and other Smart products.
The litigation is for unpaid royalties to The Smart Company pursuant to the Heads of Agreement.
The Smart Company went into liquidation on 28 May 2010. The liquidators are sourcing litigation funding to continue the action against Clipsal and effectively Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French global company. It was founded in 1836 by two brothers, Eugène and Adolphe Schneider.In the first part of the 20th century, Schneider et Cie associated itself with Westinghouse Systems, a major international electrical group at the time. The group began manufacturing...
for up to $4 billion Australian dollars.
The case was dismissed on 29 April 2011.
The liquidators filed a Notice of Appeal for the dismissal on 20 May 2011.