Company founders:

• Felix Schneider (Founder-1889)

The Schneider Computer Division was created in the 1980s as a department of Schneider Rundfunkwerke AG at the Türkheim factory. It began manufacturing and distributing the Amstrad CPC home computer range (as the Schneider CPC) in Germany under license from Amstrad, followed by the Amstrad PCW range, and finally Amstrad's first IBM compatibles, the Amstrad 1512 and Amstrad 1640, along with all their official peripherals and printers.

Following the expertise gained, Schneider launched its own range of PC compatibles, which caused the termination of the agreement with Amstrad. Its first machine, the Schneider Euro PC, had clear echoes of the Schneider CPC 6128 by integrating the motherboard and a 3.5“ Double Density disk drive on the right side of the keyboard.

It was succeeded by several machines with Intel 80286 and Intel 80386 processors sold in two case formats: an elongated one reminiscent of current SFF (Small Form Factor) equipment (called the Euro AT, which sold well in places where space was vital, such as small workshops) and another more cubic design that recalled the modular look of the Acorn Risc PC.

As happened to Amstrad, the arrival of Asian competition with Intel 80486 machines—and especially the fact that every computer shop began assembling its own brand of clones—led the parent company to abandon a field where profits were plummeting. (Although founded in 1889 by Felix Schneider as a wooden washing machine factory, the company had become a manufacturer of music systems and radios during the 20th century, much like Amstrad itself). The experience gained was later used in devices such as digital recorders and set-top boxes.

Currently, equipment is marketed in Germany under the Schneider brand but with different logos, so it is possible that the computer brand was sold during the 2002 bankruptcy proceedings. All references to computer equipment on the official Schneider website (which previously hosted a BBS and a web support area for PC compatibles) have disappeared.

To market its computers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where Amstrad had no distribution structure, Amstrad partnered with Schneider Rundfunkwerke AG, a German company which, much like Amstrad itself, was only known for its budget audio products. In 1984, Schneider's subsidiary company, the Schneider Computer Division, was created specifically for the task, and Amstrad's full CPC line was branded and sold as the Schneider CPC.

Although based on the same hardware, the Schneider CPC models differ from the Amstrad CPC models in several details. Most notably, the Schneider CPC464 and CPC664 keyboards featured gray keys instead of colored keys, but still in the original British keyboard layout. To achieve a German “QWERTZ” keyboard layout, Schneider marketed a small software program to remap the keys, as well as adhesive labels for the keycaps. To comply with stricter German EMC regulations, the full Schneider CPC line is equipped with internal metal shielding. For the same reason, the Schneider CPC6128 features micro-ribbon type connectors instead of edge connectors. Both the grayscale keyboard and the micro-ribbon connectors made their way into the design of later Amstrad CPC models.

In 1988, after Schneider refused to market Amstrad's line of AT-compatible computers, the cooperation ended. Schneider proceeded to sell off the remaining stock of Schneider CPC models and used its now well-established market position to introduce its own PC designs. With the formation of its German subsidiary Amstrad GmbH to distribute its product lines, including the CPC464 and CPC6128, Amstrad attempted, but ultimately failed, to establish its own brand in the German-speaking parts of Europe.

The traditional company Schneider Technologies (formerly known as Schneider Rundfunkwerke) appears to have reached its end. As the company, known among computer fans for the CPC464 or the EuroPC, announced in a message, the creditors rejected the restructuring plan presented at the beginning of April. According to the company's board of directors, “the last option to save the shareholders' assets has failed.” The board of directors reached this conclusion and resigned: Ralf Adam and Hans Szymanski stepped down from their positions on May 8th.

The LfA Förderbank Bayern's 19 percent share was the largest shareholder in Schneider Technologies and the company's largest creditor. Now it seems to have been the decisive factor in rejecting the restructuring plan. “The creditors have the expectation that if the subsidiaries are sold, more money will ultimately come out for them,” the insolvency administrator told the Financial Times Deutschland. No investor has yet been found for the subsidiary Schneider Electronics; There are already 27 interested parties for the subsidiary Schneider Laser Technologies, which is responsible for the development and marketing of laser display technology. Among other things, the company was developing a new planetarium technology involved with Carl Zeiss.

Schneider Technologies, formerly known as Schneider Rundfunkwerke, was founded in 1889. The long-established company set up its own computer division in 1984, which caused a stir with the CPC464 and the EuroPC. In 1988 Schneider bought DUAL. In 1998, the company wanted to increase sales again with an Internet set-top box and then in 2001 with a digital video recorder. However, all the new projects were of little use and the company continued to experience financial problems.