Actually, that’s not strictly true. While he is an imposing figure, the Schneidernator is officially the site’s mascot.
And he’s so good at what he does, he’s been named the best mascot across all Schneider sites, worldwide.
Schneider Electric Benalla continuous improvement supervisor Conrad Brown said facilities from 20 countries entered their mascot.
“It’s a company competition, but we’re a global company, so it’s not that easy to win,” Mr Brown said.
“There were eight prizes, and we came first. We got the gong.”
Mr Brown said each year Schneider’s head office had a competition for all its sites.
Each site has an internal competition, then the different locations put forward their winner to see who takes the crown.
This year’s competition was to create a company mascot.
“Every site takes part if they like, it’s voluntary,” Mr Brown said.
“This year, our new plant manager suggested we had a go.
“So we put something up using all leftover bits and pieces, and it ended up four-and-a half-metres tall.”
The design was led by a clean and green ethos.
“The only specifications we were given is, it had to be a mascot,” Mr Brown said.
“And that it had to use and promote recycling and sustainability.
“Which is why we made it all out of recycled scrap materials.”
The Schneidernator was presented to the company in a forum with more than 3000 employees in attendance.
Local staff also made a video of their process, which will be shown to all Schneider employees worldwide.
Mr Brown said they had received great feedback, especially from local youngsters.
“Kids keep asking us about our robot,” he said.
“So we decided we’d better tell the Ensign, so everyone knows who he is.”
And to assuage any community fears, Mr Brown confirmed the Schneidernator is a good Terminator, not a bad one, and poses no threat to world safety.
39°C