Cooper Power Systems Expanding Brazil Operations With $25 Million Investment

HOUSTON, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper Power Systems announced plans to expand its operations in Brazil with the addition of a production facility to be located just outside of Sao Paulo in Porto Feliz. The total investment will be over $25 million USD, with initial plans for a LEED Platinum-certified building, complementing the company's current operations in Itu and Sorocaba.

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Cooper Power Systems, a $1.2 billion division of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), engineers and manufactures medium- and high-voltage electrical equipment integrated with software, communications, and engineering services to deliver electric power efficiently and reliably throughout the world. Cooper Power Systems solutions include: feeder reconfiguration systems, substation automation, demand response, AMI (advanced metering infrastructure), and integrated voltage/var systems (voltage levels and reactive power). Products include, capacitors, voltage regulators, reclosers, distribution switchgear, line installation and protective equipment, transformers, and biodegradable transformer fluids.

"The region is a top investment priority for Cooper Industries due to strong economic growth, continuous infrastructure investment, and upcoming major international sports events," said Mike Stoessl, president of Cooper Power Systems. "Expanding our operations in Brazil will further position Cooper Power Systems to support the energy market development occurring in a region with one of the ten largest world economies."

Cooper Power Systems plans to expand switchgear operations already in the region, and begin production of power factor correction capacitors, voltage regulators, Power System Automation Solutions, line installation, and protective devices – including fusing and surge arrestors – to serve the Mercosur and several countries in Latin America. The expansion will also increase Cooper Power Systems local presence, and become an operating platform for other Cooper Industries divisions in Brazil including Cooper Crouse-Hinds, Cooper Lighting, Cooper B-Line, Cooper Wiring Devices and Cooper Safety.

About Cooper Power Systems

Cooper Power Systems, with 2010 revenues of approximately $1.2 billion, is a division of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), and a global manufacturer of world-class power delivery and reliability solutions for the utility, commercial, and industrial markets. Cooper Power Systems is a leading provider of innovative Smart Grid technologies that optimize electrical grid performance. These solutions include Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Demand Response (DR), Smart Sensors, Power Systems Engineering Software and Services, Substation Automation, and Feeder Automation. The company is also a leading provider of software, communications and integration solutions that enable customers to increase productivity, improve system reliability, and reduce costs. For more information, please visit www.cooperpower.com.

About Cooper Industries

Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE) is a global electrical products manufacturer with 2010 revenues of $5.1 billion. Founded in 1833, Cooper's sustained success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation, evolving business practices while maintaining the highest ethical standards and meeting customer needs. The Company has seven operating divisions with leading market positions and world-class products and brands including: Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; Crouse-Hinds and CEAG explosion-proof electrical equipment; Halo and Metalux lighting fixtures; and Kyle and McGraw-Edison power systems products. With this broad range of products, Cooper is uniquely positioned for several long-term growth trends including the global infrastructure build-out, the need to improve the reliability and productivity of the electric grid, the demand for higher energy-efficient products and the need for improved electrical safety. In 2010 fifty-nine percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and thirty-nine percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States. Cooper has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2011. For more information, visit the website at www.cooperindustries.com.

Contact:     Correy Robertson
                  412-394-6611
                  [email protected]

SOURCE Cooper Power Systems