Another Reorg: On-Q is now Legrand

Legrand is reorganizing again, CE Pro has learned.

The big announcement will come on Sept. 9 at CEDIA Expo 2009, but Legrand gives CE Pro this much:

On-Q/Legrand is registered for CEDIA under the name Legrand. This is the first step in On-Q/Legrand officially changing its name to Legrand.

As of September, On-Q/Legrand will become Legrand as part Legrand’s long-term strategy for the U.S. market. The “On-Q” name will still be used as a product range under the Legrand brand (e.g., On-Q Intercom Systems), though all new products as of September will be launched under the Legrand brand.

This transition means that current and future customers will have access to robust product solutions from all of Legrand that are designed to work together and to look better together, including electrical wiring devices and innovative home systems. Also, customers will benefit from Legrand’s strong name recognition and its reputation as a leader in technology and design.

Legrand goes on with the obligatory "important message" that customers will continue to get the same great service, support, product development. …

What Does it Really Mean?

Legrand has "reorganized" its businesses several times since it acquired On-Q, a leading high-volume manufacturer of residential structured wiring systems, in 2005. (List of reorgs below)

Then came the acquisitions of Vantage (high-end lighting and home controls) and UStec (higher-end structured wiring systems).

UStec, the high-end version of On-Q, basically became part of the Vantage family since both companies targeted the same dealer base. But UStec seems to have fallen between the cracks.

Should Legrand market its brands through product categories (e.g., structured wiring) or channel categories (high-end residential integrators, electrical contractors, etc.)?

It seems the company will let us know for sure on Sept. 9.

From the vague statement by a Legrand official, though, it appears that Legrand will officially absorb On-Q. The Legrand brand is wildly popular in the electrical markets and in commercial networking, most notably through its Ortronics, Wiremold and Pass & Seymour brands.

With the market for residential structured wiring dwindling, On-Q could use a nice piggy-back ride on Legrand's distribution channels. And those distributors are perhaps more likely to embrace On-Q/Legrand if it were just Legrand.

All speculation, of course.

On-Q has evolved to be much more than a structured-wiring company, with some very popular (and stylish!) intercom, multiroom audio, and whole-house communications systems. We in the CE channel know On-Q well, so a brand change will do no harm. "Legrand" will work just fine.

But the community that knows the Legrand brand is just too huge to pass up, and the forthcoming changes will hopefully help our old friends in the industry broaden their reach.

As for Vantage … no word on that.

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Notice to On-Q/Legrand dealers