The last 12 months have not been easy for APC by Schneider Electric.

The South Kingstown-based company, founded here in 1981 as American Power Conversion, was forced to cut more than 200 jobs as businesses, rattled by the downturn, scaled back investments in APC products like uninterruptible power supplies and data center equipment. Its West Warwick manufacturing plant was closed to consolidate operations. Most of a ballyhooed $3.5 million investment to upgrade its South Kingstown headquarters was put off.