Clipsal

Clipsal


Clipsal is an Australian 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.[1][2] 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.

Contents

History

The former Clipsal factory in Bowden in the foreground

Clipsal was established by Alfred Gerard in Adelaide, Australia in 1920, selling a range of adjustable sheet metal fittings which joined the various imported conduits 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.[3]

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 [4] with The Smart Company Pty Ltd about the Clipsal Home Minder and other Smart products.[5][6][7][8]

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.[9][10][11]

The case was dismissed on 29 April 2011.[12]

The liquidators filed a Notice of Appeal for the dismissal on 20 May 2011.[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.clipsal.com/homeowner/news/archive_news/2009/clipsal_begins_new_era
  2. ^ http://www.electricalsolutions.net.au/news/8310-Clipsal-HO-moving-to-Gepps-Cross
  3. ^ From the Company's website at http://www.clipsal.com.au/consumer/about_us/history
  4. ^ "Federal Court of Australia WAD 132 of 2004". Commonwealth Courts Portal. https://www.comcourts.gov.au/file/Federal/P/WAD132/2004/actions. 
  5. ^ "Gerard family link to technology theft case". The Australian. 4 September 2006. http://smart.com.au/redux/documents/The%20Australian%20Newspaper%20Article.pdf. 
  6. ^ "Clipsal Stole C-Bus Technology Court Case". Smart House. 5 September 2006. http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Automation/Industry/W6J8A2P5. 
  7. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Telstra Dragged Into Clipsal C-Bus Theft Case". Smart House. 25 September 2008. http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Automation/Industry/E8R7X3X5. 
  8. ^ "John Howard's Mate Central To C-Bus Technology Theft Claim". Smart House. 28 September 2008. http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Automation/Industry/L3P3N4C5. 
  9. ^ "Surprise snag in $4bn Clipsal claim". The Advertiser. 17 August 2010. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/surprise-snag-in-4bn-clipsal-claim/story-e6fredel-1225906492814. 
  10. ^ "Ruling on who can fight for royalties". The Advertiser. 31 August 2010. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/ruling-on-who-can-fight-for-royalties/story-e6fredel-1225912491357. 
  11. ^ "Clipsal claimant loses $4bn bid". The Advertiser. 14 February 2011. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/clipsal-claimant-loses-4bn-bid/story-e6frea6u-1226005632251. 
  12. ^ "Federal Court of Australia Judgment for The Smart Company v Clipsal". 29 April 2011. http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/FCA/2011/419.html. 
  13. ^ "Federal Court of Australia SAD 106 of 2011". Commonwealth Courts Portal. 20 May 2011. https://www.comcourts.gov.au/file/Federal/P/SAD106/2011/actions. 
  14. ^ "Liquidators to appeal Clipsal case". The Advertiser. 24 May 2011. http://portellosponzi.com/doc/20110524-Liquidators_to_appeal_Clipsal_case.pdf. 

External links


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