PDL by Schneider Electric

Plastic & Die Casting Ltd was founded in 1937 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The business was purchased by Bob Stewart in 1957 and renamed PDL Industries Ltd. It was Sir Robertson Stewart’s vision and energy that saw PDL grow and thrive in the suceeding decades.

Within 60 years, the business grew from 12 staff and sales of NZD5000 per annum to 2000 staff and NZD350m sales across 3 continents. This success was founded strongly on people and product.

Combining a ‘can do’ attitude with pioneering innovation and excellence of quality in electrical products was a winning formula nearly 70 years ago, and it remains so today.

The Global Company Behind the great PDL brand

Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 100,000+ employees believe that access to energy is a basic human right.

In 2001, Schneider Electric acquired PDL Holdings recognising its strengths and desiring to build on them. Today, Schneider Electric's commitment to New Zealand is a multi billion dollar investment with staff and factories around the world, and research and development centres in 25 countries.

Your home, your way
Your home reflects you and your lifestyle. Now, every part of your home can reflect that style with our range of switches and power points in a selection of designs, finishes and shades to complement any interior. 

More than just switches
Creating the perfect home interior means taking time to consider switches and powerpoints. More than just functional objects, the right selection can make a huge difference to the overall look of your home, and even to your daily life.

Whether your space is beautifully classic, sleekly modern, or more industrial cool, you’ll find the perfect option to suit your style. Choose from switch designs in brushed metal, glossy glass, or modern matte fingerprint-resistant finishes. There’s a range of shades, button styles and even borders to complement your interior styling.

Add in a smart home automation solution and you’ll be really living life your way.

PDL Iconic
Style meets smart connectivity in the stunning new PDL Iconic range. The award-winning future-proofed design features a wide selection of cover plates that are easily clipped on and off a PDL Iconic base grid.

The changeable cover lets you update colours or finishes whenever you like, safely. Choose from the modern matte finishes of original Iconic, the sleek anodized aluminium of Iconic Styl or the real birch timber edging of Iconic Essence – the ideal complement to today’s popular Scandi and mid-century modern styling.

The range also offers a variety of clever features and accessories such as USB charging options, quad power points, Night Walk sensor lights, energy-saving sensors and multi-way control of lights, while pictogram and LED indicators add to the stylish look of the range.

Iconic also integrates seamlessly with PDL Wiser Smart Home.

Trusted quality
Whether you’re building or renovating, it pays to choose the best quality products you can for your home. That’s why PDL by Schneider Electric is a perfect choice, as a trusted brand known for high quality - our products and solutions have been in New Zealand homes for more than 80 years.

The PDL by Schneider Electric brand and its designs have been inspired by the Kiwi way of life, and continue to adapt to how we want to live as time and technology change.

Keeping your family safe - enjoy peace of mind with safety solutions for your home.

When it comes to the things that are most important to you, don’t take any chances. Our range of fire safety, electrical safety and home security products are designed to help keep your house and everyone in it, safe and sound. With quality safety products from PDL in your home, you’ll enjoy peace of mind every day.

Ask a Sparky
What is a switchboard and why is it important for your home's safety? We asked experienced Kiwi electrician Carey Thomassen from MB Electrical some common questions about home switchboards. Find out more in the video.

Safety in the background
You may hardly ever need to open your electrical switchboard, but there are several safety devices you can add to it that will make your home a safer place, to give you peace of mind.

Circuit breakers will detect faults in your electrical system and switch off the current immediately, while surge protection devices prevent electrical surges (which can cause injury and destroy electronic equipment) from entering your home.

Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) are an early warning system that helps avoid electrical fires by detecting electric arc faults before they ignite. AFDDs are ideal for homes where wiring is older, where there may be damaged or squashed cables, or where a number of devices are left plugged in.

Safe and sound
Smoke alarms are central to safety in any home. Installing long-life photoelectric smoke alarms, as recommended by the New Zealand Fire Service, can give you and your family peace of mind 24 hours a day. Our FireTek smoke alarms are ideal for home use; they sound an 85-decibel siren when smoke is detected and can be interconnected (hardwired or wirelessly).

Deter intruders
Make sure you only have welcome guests by installing safety products for lighting and security around your home.

A well lit home deters intruders, and our range of energy-efficient sensors, lights and smart home options can help discourage unwanted visitors and let you keep an eye on things remotely.

PDL motion sensors will illuminate any area in which heat movement is detected, while daylight switches can be set to come on at a certain time to keep parking areas, paths or entrance ways well-lit.

Let there be light
Why not have a home where the lights just turn on as soon as you need them? Our range of motion sensors and lighting options help create an easier and safer home for you and your family.

Arriving home in the dark with bags of shopping, or taking the rubbish out at night becomes painless when outdoor sensor lighting turns on to guide the way. Inside, ambient sensor lighting on staircases, in hallways and in bathrooms help prevent trips and falls and makes night time navigation simpler for everyone - especially little people.

Motion sensors are also ideal in laundries, pantries or storage areas when you might be carrying items and can’t get a free hand for the light switch.

Millions of homes around the world are electrically unsafe
Whether you’re building or renovating, making sure that your home and its electrical system are safe should be a top priority and is easy to do.

There’s a range of easily installed products from PDL that are designed to protect occupants from fire and electrical hazards.

Adding RCDs (residual current devices) and surge protection devices to your switchboard will prevent electric shocks and short circuits, while AFDDs (arc fault detection devices) help avoid electrical fires by detecting and isolating any dangerous electrical arcs in wiring. Installing smoke alarms throughout your house is essential and will give you everyday peace of mind.

Vision Studio Showrooms and Digital Consultations
Bring your vision to life!

There are so many decisions to make when building or renovating. Visit our Vision Studio Showrooms in Auckland and Christchurch, or book a digital consultation and let us help with your home’s electrical design, perfectly curated to suit your lifestyle.

Our face-to-face consultations are available in a fully interactive showroom environment complete with living, dining, kitchen and bathroom areas, to effectively showcase electrical, smart home, safety and energy efficiency options for your home.

Energy Efficiency- reduce consumption and costs.

Energy efficiency is easy to achieve with our range of lighting, smart home automation and future-ready features for your home. From simple timers to dashboards that monitor usage, and even home EV charging stations, there are solutions to maximise your energy efficiency and save you money.

Monitor usage:
It’s easier to tackle rising energy costs when you know exactly how much energy you’re using and where in your home you’re using it.

PDL’s energy dashboards make it simple to keep an eye on your consumption through C-Bus smart home automation.

You can take control of your energy usage and make informed choices that will make your home more energy efficient and help you save on power bills.

Reduce energy use:
Reducing energy use in your home doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort. There are many ways to use less energy while making your home smarter, safer and more enjoyable to live in.

Starting can be as easy as installing long-life low energy LED downlights, while timers, sensors and sunset switches help by activating lighting only when it’s needed.

The innovative PDL Iconic range uses Bluetooth connectivity for a smart way of controlling lights and some appliances around your home, without the need for special wiring.

Full smart home automation via C-Bus can help your home work more efficiently, and dashboards let you monitor your usage to help reduce energy consumption.

Future-ready with EV chargers:
Electric vehicles are the way of the future when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels.

Whether you’re already driving an electric vehicle (EV) or not, you can make sure your home is future-ready with the our EVLink Wallbox.

Weatherproof and robust, the EVLink Wallbox can be installed outside or in your garage and lets you charge your EV quickly and easily at your place.

It’s faster, more reliable and safer than using a domestic socket outlet and is an energy efficient addition to your home that makes driving an EV even more convenient.

Green Premium ecolabel:
The Green Premium ecolabel by Schneider Electric makes it easy for you to make sustainable, environmentally-conscious decisions about the products you use in your home.

You can search the Green Premium online database for information about the environmental footprint of a specific product, including details of its recyclability.

Create the smart home you always dreamed of

Home. It’s a reflection of you, your style and what matters most. It’s where you want every detail to count; a seamless home that makes a statement and where you have control at your fingertips.

At PDL, we understand how smart homes can offer you convenience and enhanced functionality. We provide support to help you find the right solution that works for your needs now and into the future.

A smart home solution you can trust

PDL is a market leader in New Zealand with over 70 years of innovation in the electrical category, and over 20 years in smart home technology.

PDL have the network and the know-how to help connect your home with smart home options that can streamline your lifestyle.

A trusted system​
As a New Zealand market leader with over 80 years of innovation in the electrical category, and over 20 years working alongside smart home technology, PDL has the network and the know-how to help your home be connected in a way that streamlines your lifestyle.

A smart home that can grow with you
PDL can help to unlock the potential of your home with flexible smart home technology which can evolve with your family and keeps your options open.

We have solutions ranging from simple Bluetooth connectivity, remote access and control to fully hard-wired solutions.

New build or renovating? No problem!
If you’re building a new home or renovating, there are plenty of choices. Clipsal will be there to help you select the package that suits your needs and priorities.

Even if your budget is tight there are simple cost-effective options, that can also make upgrading later much easier.

Trusted installers and accessible support
Smart homes don’t have to be complex or challenging. That’s why we partner with trusted local electricians and experts to help ensure your smart home is a great fit for you and installed correctly.

Plus, you are supported by helpful online resources available 24/7 and our customer service team.

Stylish design that makes living easier
With a busy lifestyle it’s the finer detail that make a difference. From the elegance of a light switch that complements the colour scheme of a room to the ease of turning off all smart switches from your couch or bed.

Style and smarts can be complementary, and we can show you how.

Trusted security – across the cyber network
Backed by the global powerhouse in automation and control Schneider Electric, our systems and software use the latest technology and updates to help keep your home secure.

You could monitor your property remotely and rest easy in the knowledge that everything’s safe when you’re at home or away.

What are the benefits of a smart home?

Where to start?
There are many ways to turn your home into a smart home. You may be starting small with a stand-alone home automation option that is inexpensive and easily installed. Or you may be building a new house and want to integrate a more complex home automation system.

Whatever your situation, there are things your smart home system integrator will need to know before recommending products for a clever connected home.

What you’ll need to consider? Considerations that help you make the best decision.

• Who lives here? The smart home expert will need to know who uses your home. Is remote access important? Make a note of any routines or schedules you have.
• Budget: How much would you like to spend connecting your home? If your budget is tight there are cost-effective ways to get started, which make expanding later simpler and easier.
• Devices: Note down the smart home devices or appliances you already have, or ones that you know you want to connect to/control such as your lighting, front gate or garage door.
• Motivation: To ensure your objectives are met, let your smart home expert know why you want a smart home. Is it for safety and security? Comfort and control?

Experience a smart home!
Your smart home planning just got easier. Book a free appointment with a Home Solutions Consultants in our fully interactive showrooms in Auckland or Christchurch today! Not in the area? Why not book a digital appointment and experience our virtual showroom tour, explore product demos and have our experts answer your project questions.

PDL Iconic® Bluetooth smart home
Think a smart home is out of reach? Think again – the innovative PDL Iconic range is your key to simple and affordable smart home connectivity.

PDL Iconic uses Bluetooth, making it ideal for home renovations or less complex builds as there’s no need for any special wiring. It can link lights, dimmers and timers that you control via an app on your smartphone or tablet.

You can set lights to come on or dim at a certain time, or even schedule appliances like heated towel rails to turn on and off, offering convenience and energy efficiency.

There’s a range of PDL Iconic skins in different designs and finishes that clip on and off easily too, making it easy to update your interior look whenever you want.

C-Bus Automation - Ultimate control
If you’re dreaming of a smart home that anticipates your every need and can adapt to fast-changing technology, then you need C-Bus by Schneider Electric.

C-Bus is a wiring system for new builds that links stand-alone elements in your house to a single smart home automation app, like Wiser Home. Integrating with virtually any third-party device, you can run everything from lights to underfloor heating and locks, and even garden sprinklers.

C-Bus offers the ultimate in smart home automation and gives you a world of control when it comes to home security, energy efficiency, convenience and comfort. Designed to integrate easily with new technology, it also creates a home that can adapt to the future.

Renovating? Consider convenience, comfort and beauty.

Whatever home means to you, PDL is here to help set your home up for life
When you’re planning a renovation or new build, we often miss a key piece of the puzzle that is part of your everyday, and when planned right, can work seamlessly to make your home living smarter, safer, more stylish and sustainable. This is Electric Home Design.

Whether you’re looking for solutions to complement your style, ideas to inspire and guide you, information on safety and creating a smart home, or you have a specific room in mind, we’ve got you covered.

Simply search by the needs of your home vision and discover the possibilities of what Electric Home Design can bring to your renovation or new build.

Product considerations:
Think about how you and your family live. Our innovative electrical solutions can add comfort, convenience, safety and security to your home renovation project.

• USB sockets in kitchens, offices and bedrooms.
• Sensor lights in hallways, garages, sculleries and bathrooms.
• Sockets in bathrooms.
• Nightlights in hallways and bedrooms (Iconic range only).
• Dimmers in areas where reduced lighting is desired – living rooms, kitchens, entryways.

Electrical Considerations:
Essential questions to ask yourself before planning your home’s electrical requirements.

Lifestyle:

• Who lives in your home or investment property?
• Have you allowed a work or study space?
• Will you be entertaining outside?

Positioning:

• Have you decided where your furniture will go?
• Are there allocated places for your major appliances?
• Would you like to provision for something in the future?

Power:

• Have you positioned power points where you functionally need them?
• Do you want the points hidden in a cupboard, behind furniture or in plain sight?
• Do you have enough USB ports to charge all your devices?

Lighting:

• Where do you want your switches?
• Have you considered dimming?
• What style of switch would you like?
• Have you considered under cupboard lighting in the Kitchen/Laundry?
• Do you want to be able to locate your switch in the dark?
• Have you selected or allowed for decorative lighting?

Smart Home:

• Do you want to be able to control your home remotely?
• Do you want to control your home via Bluetooth control?
• Have you considered timers and sensors to turn lights on and off?

Entertainment:

• Where will your TVs be positioned?
• Do you have additional associated devices for your home entertainment?
• Have you allowed for home office or study requirements?
• Which connection points do you require and in which rooms?

Make your home a smart home:
Creating a smart home means designing life the way you want to live. It puts convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and home security at your fingertips, whether you’re at home or away.

Do the Products You Use Comply?

As New Zealand’s number one electrical brand, PDL by Schneider Electric’s greatest concern is the quality and safety of electrical products installed into people’s homes and workplaces. If you’re an electrical contractor and purchase or install inferior products that don’t comply with New Zealand Standards and regulations, you could risk your licence and hard-earned reputation. You could even risk potential fines and jail terms. Most importantly, you could endanger people’s lives and their property.

At PDL by Schneider Electric we design and manufacture quality electrical products that comply with all relevant New Zealand Standards and regulations. You can be confident with the service and support you receive when you buy genuine PDL products from a trusted wholesaler. Don’t risk it… it’s just not worth it.

Electrical product compliance

Why is product compliance so important?

• To prevent unsafe (substandard) non-compliant electrical equipment being sold in the New Zealand electrical equipment market.
• To reduce risk of problem installations, and ensure the safety of electrical workers and the general public.
• To create an even market, restricting the opportunities for non-compliant product suppliers.

What is the problem with inferior products?

• Inferior products will often fail to meet all the relevant New Zealand Standards and regulations for that particular product type. This is a huge concern because these Standards are designed specifically to protect people and property from harm.
• By design, genuine products are expected to have a much longer life than copy products.
• Inferior products may also have a much higher failure rate.

ERAC Compliance

The New Zealand Electricity Safety Regulations call for the compliance of electrical goods are deemed to be approved when products are registered in the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) database through the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC). Please refer to ERAC website to search for product compliance for our products.

Check conformity ↗

Associated Risks

The risks with using electrical products that don't complyIndustry Situation

• Within the electrical industry, there are a number of new manufacturing companies entering the market.
• Some of these companies manufacture products which are deceptively similar to PDL or other manufacturer’s products.
• These products, whilst appearing genuine, are often made from inferior materials with little regard for meeting stated ratings or safety requirements.
• They will often not conform nor meet mandatory safety regulations.
• They will often fail independent certification testing.
• They can be sold deceptively and often at prices below market level to then be installed into homes and businesses and electrical infrastructure.

The main issues and risks are:

To people

• House burning
• Risk to life or significant health and safety issues.
• Risk to property or property damage.
• Can overheat or cause short circuits.
• Risk of fires, shocks or explosions.

To the industry

• Issues of public liability.
• Loss of confidence in reputable brands.
• Risk of litigation against distributors or installers.
• Damage to reputation of all electrical contractors.
• Decline of reinvestment into the electrical industry.
• Decline of new product development.
• Loss of business for manufacturers of genuine product, meaning loss of markets and people’s jobs.
• Infringement of intellectual property rights.

Product Offer Rationalisation

Be advised that as part of on-going product rationalisation, PDL by Schneider Electric will no longer offer the following items. Please refer to the listed substitute if the item you require is no longer available.

Substitution Reference

• Direct: The listed substitute is a direct replacement for the phased out item. The substitute item can be used in place of the original.
• Alternative: The listed substitute is an alternative to the phased out item. The substitute can be used in place of the original in most cases, however it differs from the original in one or more attributes. Please consult the relevant supporting literature for suitability in each case.

Note: PDL and Schneider Electric provide this resource as a courtesy to our Partners.

Please contact us if you require more information.