Legrand is a French industrial group historically based in Limoges in the Limousin region. In 2011, the firm was the largest global producer of switches and socketswith 20% of the global market, and in cable management (15% of the global market), generating 75% of its turnover internationally.

The group is also expanding its product range in sustainable development and energy saving technologies, an has developed new products for photovoltaic installations and lighting control.

The company's origins date back to 1865, when a Limoges porcelain (in France's Limousin region) workshop was set up on the route to Lyon originally making porcelain dishes. In 1904, the company was taken over by Frédéric Legrand, who gave his name to the company. In 1919, the company entered into partnership with Jean Mondot, an artisan from Limoges who had started, a small factory, in Exideuil making electric switches using porcelain and boxwood.

Manufacturing subsequently gradually diversified into electrical equipment. At that time, before the appearance of plastic, porcelain was the best available insulating material. In 1949, following a factory fire, the decision was made to concentrate exclusively on electrical wiring devices (switches and sockets).

The company very quickly extended its range to cover protection products (fuse-holders and circuit breakers, etc.), cable management products (trunking and mini-trunking), emergency lighting, etc.

Since then, Legrand has made 120 targeted acquisitions becoming a large, diversified maker of electrical wiring devices with more than 150,000 product items. As of 2006, it has bases in 70 countries and sales in 180 countries.

According to en.wikipedia