Schneider Electric’s third annual club takeover event gave journalists and analysts an opportunity to see Open, Software-Defined Automation in action

First Friday Press Club kicked off the year’s events with a special onsite takeover by Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader. The event was hosted at the company’s London headquarters in Victoria and included a live demo that put open, software-defined automation (open SDA) firmly in the spotlight. Twenty-two leading technical journalists, editors and analysts joined the discussion to find out how this innovation sets the pace for the future of industrial automation.

Richella Oderbrecht, Chief Marketing Officer Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric: “Industry can’t compete with rigid, closed systems – Omdia [a global research and advisory company] found that [closed systems] costs mid‑sized manufacturers £8 million annually and large enterprises around £33 million. At Schneider Electric, we’re transforming that reality with open SDA already deployed in our nine Global Lighthouse factories. This is how we unlock agility, intelligence, and sustainable performance at scale”.

Kristin Baker, VP Industrial & Process Automation for UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric: “UK manufacturers are facing real pressures, from high energy costs to legacy systems, but the opportunity to boost competitiveness exists today. With open SDA, we can modernise production at speed and unlock the agility and efficiency our industries need to compete globally.”

Neil Fullbrook, Director, First Friday Press Club: “This takeover event is just the start of a big year for the club. 2026 will see our community of industrial leaders, editors, and journalists continue to grow and leading face to face conversations that will shape industry.”

Photographer: Anastasia Ivanova, Schneider Electric, 2026