Schneider Electric Acquires Invensys Advanced Building Systems

Rueil-Malmaison, France – June 8, 2005 – Schneider Electric has today signed an agreement for TAC to acquire and merge with the European division of Invensys known as the Advanced Building Systems group in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (ABS EMEA). This lays the groundwork for ABS EMEA to join TAC and become part of the fastest growing and most innovative building automation company in the world. The merger is still subject to final approvals.

Schneider Press Release

Boston’s Logan Airport Selects TAC For $10 Million Security Upgrade

Project Includes Access Control and Digital Video Surveillance

DALLAS – May 3, 2005 – TAC announced today that the Massachusetts Port Authority, operator of Boston’s Logan International Airport, has awarded them a $10 million contract to replace and expand its existing electronic access control and video surveillance systems. TAC, a world leader in building automation, security systems and energy solutions, will provide a single security system that includes access control, closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, digital video management and photo ID badge management.

The company will install access control for secured doors using biometric technology and smart card readers linked to two real-time servers. A badge management system will be used for badge creation processes, including making biometric templates.

TAC will also implement video surveillance based on the newest video over IP technology. The system will communicate to a command center over fiber optics using vide encoders.

“The TAC team worked diligently to design a solution that met all the project’s technical and performance demands,” said Dean Meyer, president of TAC, Americas. “Their technical expertise and airport project execution experience enabled the team to understand and address all the Massport authority’s requirements.”

A major concern for Massport was migrating the existing access control system to a new platform with minimum disruption while maintaining airport security at all times to meet federally mandated requirements. TAC will meet this challenge by using a high degree of software customization to integrate access control, video management and badging into the Logan system. In addition, the TAC team will maintain the existing access control system until it has been entirely replaced with the new one.

TAC Introduces Andover onSiTE™ Solution for Small Buildings

System brings energy savings, lighting efficiency, and Web monitoring to chain retailers and small offices

DALLAS – February 23, 2005 – TAC, a world leader in building automation, security systems and energy solutions, introduces Andover onSiTE, a pre-packaged, web-based control solution for small buildings. The system is designed to bring energy savings, lighting efficiency, and the convenience of web-based monitoring to owners of multiple, similar properties, such as chain stores, branch offices, and small office buildings. With Andover onSiTE, owners of smaller facilities experience the benefits of a comprehensive building and energy management system that are usually reserved for large buildings.

Andover onSiTE has built-in functions for heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) control, lighting control, and power monitoring. The product family includes a building controller, a network of thermostats and remote sensors.

Using Andover onSiTE, up to 32 SiteStat® model thermostats can be networked to a single controller for gas, electric or heat pump applications.

SiteStats are compatible with most HVAC equipment, and easily retrofit old wiring applications. Operators can schedule thermostat temperature setbacks by day, night, day-of-week, or date, and even define holiday and weekday temperature schedules for the entire year. The system can also limit occupants to adjust the temperature within a limited range of degrees to reduce thermostat tampering. Temperature setbacks start automatically as soon as a building alarm is armed, and parking lot lights can be turned on and off at sunset and sunrise all year long.

The Andover onSiTE controller allows operators to monitor and control building functions remotely using a standard web browser. Remote scheduling, setpoint changes, alarming, built-in reporting, and graphical trends are all available via the Web. The controller installs using simple wiring diagrams and no additional software is necessary to complete the installation.

“Managers who are responsible for a large number of small facilities, such as retail stores, quick service chains, branch offices, or regional office buildings, understand that maintenance and operations can consume a sizeable part of their budgets,” said Lonnie Laue, director of marketing and sales support for TAC. “Energy costs alone can have a substantial impact on profitability. Therefore, it is important to aggressively and effectively control these costs using the right strategy to ensure the expected return on investment.”

According to Laue, the Andover onSiTE system offers small building control solutions that meet these maintenance and energy savings objectives, and provides short-term return on investment. “TAC’s building automation controllers, combined with smart communicating thermostats, can help a business reduce energy costs, save on maintenance expenses, and eliminate unnecessary service calls,” he said. Additional information about Andover onSiTE can be found at www.andoveronsite.com

TAC Introduces the Continuum® bCX1 Router/Controller Series

Network Controllers Designed to be Faster, Better, Lower-Priced 

AHR EXPO: ORLANDO, Fla. – February 7, 2005 – TAC, a world leader in building automation, security systems and energy solutions, introduces the Continuum® bCX1 Router/ Controller Series, the newest addition to the company’s network controller product lineup. The cornerstones of TAC’ Continuum building automation and security system, network controllers provide direct Ethernet communications from local field controllers through to the operator workstations.

“The newest series of controllers offers a lower cost solution that is also easier to use and features increased power, memory and reliability,” said Lonnie Laue, director of marketing and sales support for TAC. “In addition, the series offers flash memory to store not only the users’ operating system, but also the application code. In the event of a long term power loss beyond battery life, everything is restored automatically when power is returned.”

According to Laue, TAC designed the bCX1 controllers for time-saving set-up. “Network configuration is done via a standard web browser and all models feature removable connections for easier installation and servicing,” he said.

Three models of the bCX1 series are available, including controllers designed for the BACnet network protocol. These provide support for features such as BACnet trend logs, calendars and schedules, dial-in communications, embedded web server and DC power for UPS systems. The controllers are also designed to allow users to easily add inputs and outputs and have the capability of allowing users to migrate existing programs into the new controller series.

“From small sites to large, Continuum Network Controllers are powerful central processing units (CPUs) and network managers for the Continuum facility management system,” said Laue. “Standard features include native Ethernet TCP/IP network connectivity, high-speed processing, programmable communications ports for flexible interconnect and third-party communications, flash memory for easy on-line software updates and built-in web server capabilities.”