Pro AV Catalog

Next Generation Modular UPS Addresses the Most Critical Energy

Issues for Standard Large Data Centers

ORLANDO, Fla. – October 6, 2008 – Data Center World Fall 2008 (Booth #108) – APC by Schneider Electric, a global leader in integrated critical power and cooling services, today announced launch of its new Symmetra® MW II uninterruptible power system (UPS), the second generation of APC’s modular UPS to provide power in the range of 400 kW to 1600 kW, with paralleling capabilities for increased capacity or redundancy. With the industry’s highest operating efficiency, the Symmetra MW II was designed to address the most common issues faced by managers of large data centers and facilities, while eliminating the potential for costly over-sizing.

Tapping decades of expertise and consistent feedback from customers, APC designed the Symmetra MW II as the ideal solution to the most dominant technological and financial issues that plague large data center and facilities managers: the ever-increasing costs of over-sizing, the rising costs of electricity and the downtime and expense associated with human error. The Symmetra MW II delivers efficiencies from over 94 percent at 25 percent load to full load efficiency above 97 percent. For example, based on power at $0.12 per kWh, a 1000 kW APC Symmetra MW II can save over $315, 000 in 10 years when compared to a competitive legacy UPS. In addition to the direct savings from the UPS efficiency, the reduced heat rejection due to the high efficiency can bring the total cost savings to $500,000 or more in that same 10 years. This high efficiency is ideal for redundant or 2N applications when customers have a lower load factor and will significantly reduce overall operating expenses, contributing to greening the data center.

“The challenges faced by today’s data center and facility managers are truly apparent and universal. The cost of electricity continues to increase, new technologies are resulting in more complex power problems, and companies are quickly ‘growing out’ of their legacy UPS systems and simply need more power,” noted Dave Guidette, senior vice president, Enterprise Systems and Service, APC . “The Symmetra MW II is the second generation of the world’s first modular UPS system to maintain enough capacity to handle the power-hungry applications of enterprises like universities, research labs and large datacenters, while keeping its total cost of ownership to a minimum. The system is easy to install, operate and service, and allows organizations to grow their data center at the rate that makes the most financial sense for them.”

The system’s scalable power capability enables the user to efficiently supply only the load required for that current time, while still leaving room for growth without the hassle and costs of over-sizing by installing another UPS. With its modular design, the Symmetra MW II enables a power module to be quickly and easily replaced in case of maintenance or repair, rather than go through a time-consuming repair service. In addition, the system maintains the highest availability through internal N+1 redundancy and advanced, self-diagnosing power modules for predictive failure notification.

In addition to significant improvements in the system’s reliability and general functionality, new features of APC’s new Symmetra MW II include Mega-Tie (the ability to connect two independent power systems in parallel, and with automated intelligent control, transfer all the loads for both systems to either UPS system). This allows operators to perform critical maintenance on either system without any downtime. The new system will also incorporate a re-designed display to provide operators with the ability to use APC’s datacenter management suite, including InfraStruXure^® Central, to monitor metering and alarms from the Symmetra MW II itself directly through the network. Additional network and management protocols are available to allow reporting to Building Management Systems and email notification.

Services available for the Symmetra MW II further decrease the system’s total cost of ownership. Initially, customers receive an assembly service, as well as 7/24 start-up service. A wide range of Service Agreement packages are available to suit the individual customer’s needs. These Service Agreement packages are designed to provide total system maintenance at a predictable and affordable price.

The new APC Symmetra MW II will be available in North Americain Q4 2008 and globally in Q2 2009. Visitors to AFCOM’s Data Center World Fall 2008 Expo can receive additional information on the new Symmetra MW II at APC’s booth (#108). To learn more about this and other APC solutions for high-density applications, please visit www.apc.com or call 800-877-4080.

About APC

APC by Schneider Electric, a global leader in critical power and cooling services, provides industry leading product, software and systems for home, office, data center and factory floor applications. Backed by the strength, experience, and wide network of Schneider Electric’s Critical Power & Cooling Services, APC delivers well planned, flawlessly installed and maintained solutions throughout their lifecycle. Through its unparalleled commitment to innovation, APC delivers pioneering, energy efficient solutions for critical technology and industrial applications. In 2007, Schneider Electric acquired APC and combined it with MGE UPS Systems to form Schneider Electric’s Critical Power & Cooling Services Business Unit, which recorded 2007 revenue of $3.5 billion (€2.4 billion) and employed 12,000 people worldwide. APC solutions include