Custom Sensors & Technologies (CST) is a specialist in sensing, control and motion products with a clutch of high profile brands, each focussing in a specific product line. All CST teams are deeply customer focused, continually striving to exceed customer expectations. They always look for a strong alliance with customers, develop proactive co-operation and ensure transparent relationships. Mr Claude Maison, VP International, Custom Sensors & Technologies, responded to the IPF Questionnaire. Excerpts:

What are the products that you offer?

Custom Sensors & Technologies (CST) is a specialist in sensing, control and motion products. Through its brands, BEI Kimco, BEI Sensors, BEI PSSC, Crouzet, Crydom, Kavlico, Newall and Systron Donner Inertial, CST offers customisable, reliable and efficient components for mission-critical systems. Each brand is in charge of different product lines:

• Crouzet: Automation & control, cockpit control, electrical protection, motors, pneumatics, position sensors, switches
• BEI Kimco: Motors & actuators
• Kavlico: Pressure sensors and RVDT/LVDT
• BEI Sensors: Position sensors and encoders
• Newall: Position sensors (DRO & Linear Encoders)
• Crydom: Solid state relays, and
• Systron Donner: Inertial sensors.

What are the applications?

We are providing customers with solutions for applications in the aerospace and defence, building equipment, energy and infrastructure, food and beverage, medical, transportation and industrial and commercial OEM markets.

Thanks to our capability to meet the most demanding specifications and standards, even in harsh environments, CST has obtained all the necessary industry approvals required to supply the most challenging sectors such as aerospace, nuclear, train, medical and oil and gas.

In India, we are strongly involved in the aerospace, train and energy markets. Why should the customer opt for these?

CST's value proposition is based on our capability and commitment to provide our customers with solutions that minimises their risks. Thanks to a close intimacy, proactive cooperation, fully transparent relationship and our capacity to adapt products to fit customers' "mission-critical" systems, we are a real dependable and adaptable partner. All CST teams are fully customer focused, continually striving to exceed their expectations. Our worldwide presence allows us to support customers everywhere with the same quality and level of services.

How strong/effective is the after sales service?

In our Premium markets, after sales service is strategic. Our reliability results from the ability to ensure customers an efficient after sales service during the entire lifecycle of their application. CST has a strong reputation in the Aerospace Market because of its excellent after sales service.

How does the cost of ownership over the life cycle compare with competition?

CST through its brands is deeply engaged with the customer in defining the right product really fitting his application need. Mastering advanced technologies while capitalising upon well proven solutions, CST is able to design, manufacture and deliver the highest quality products and to provide strong engineering support and adaptation capabilities worldwide. Thanks to this approach, CST is able to propose the competitive ownership cost to customers.

What is the company's history?

CST has been created in 2006 as a subsidiary of Schneider Electric. CST is made up of Crouzet acquired in 2000, Kavlico acquired in 2004, BEI Technologies (BEI Kimco, BEI IED, BEI Duncan, BEI Ideacod, PSSC, Systron Donner Inertial and Newall) acquired in 2005 and Crydom acquired in 2006.

These longstanding companies and brands have long histories and experience and are all specialists in their respective domains:

• Crouzet, specialist in automation and control, cockpit control, electrical protection, motors, pneumatics, position sensors, switches, was created in 1921
• Systron Donner, the world's leading supplier of quartz MEMS inertial sensing products and systems, existed since 1953
• Kavlico, specialist in pressure sensors on one side and LVDT/RVDT on the other side, was founded in 1958
• Newall, expert in DRO and linear encoders, was created in 1968
• BEI Kimco, specialised in the design of fast and accurate motion control solutions, was founded in 1974
• BEI Sensors, specialist of reliable position sensing products and encoders for harsh environments, resulted from the merger in 2010 of Duncan (1964), Ideacod (1979) and IED (1977), and
• Crydom, the world's leading manufacturer of solid state relays (SSRs) is existing for more than 25 years (1985).

What are the company's achievements?

In 2010, the company achieved a turnover of US$571 Mn with more than 4,300 employees worldwide. We are present in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Any breakthrough product launch that made a difference?

CST through its brands is always focused on listening to customers' needs and innovating while capitalising upon well proven solutions to offer the highest quality products and provide strong engineering support and adaptation capabilities. We are creating the difference for the customer through our premium commitment and because each of our brands are technological leaders in their environment.

How is the present business environment?

The European financial crisis creates an unpredictable and difficult environment in mature countries. But in BRIC countries, even if growth is slowing, the market remains dynamic. Key markets for us such as energy, aerospace and railways continue to grow worldwide.

What are the future plans?

To be and remain recognised by our customers as the dependable and adaptable partner for the most demanding customers which means keeping focused on the five principles which are the common decision making references for all CST employees:

• "Premium" focus obsession: Premium quality - Premium service - Premium relationships - Premium technology...
• Satisfied customers worldwide
• A "continuous improvement" mentality
• Safe and healthy work environment, and
• World class trade compliance.