The digital transformation of the producing industry is gaining momentum. Companies from a wide variety of industries are already unlocking this potential – they are using end-to-end digitalization to create a lasting competitive edge by reducing time to market and increasing flexibility, efficiency, and quality. With Siemens Digital Enterprise solutions the technical prerequisites for the implementation of Industrie 4.0 are available and can be deployed in every application and companies of all sizes. At the SPS IPC Drives in Nuremberg, Germany, from November 27 to 29, 2018 – which took place this year under the motto "Digital Enterprise – Implement now" – Siemens showed in hall 11 how this can be done.
Siemens has honored 12 particularly resourceful researchers as Inventors of the Year 2018. Together, these scientists are responsible for some 590 inventions and 589 patents. Two of the inventors are from Germany, three are from Austria, one is each from Norway, France, Poland, Mexico, China, India and the United States. Every year since 1995, Siemens has been presenting this award to its outstanding researchers and developers whose inventions have made major contributions to the company's strong performance. Since 2016, this award has also been presented to researchers from outside the company. In fiscal 2018, Siemens filed around 3,850 patents worldwide – an increase of 200 patents over the previous year. Worldwide, Siemens holds about 65,000 patents. In fiscal 2018, Siemens employees submitted about 7,300 invention disclosures. On a basis of 220 workdays during the year, this figure corresponds to about 33 inventions per day.
We released our financial figures for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018 on November 8, 2018. The Press Conference and the Analyst Call were broadcast live.
Siemens and the company's Central Works Council have signed a reconciliation of interests based on the framework agreement reached in May. The goal is to increase the competitiveness of the Power and Gas Division (PG) and the Process Industries and Drives Division (PD). At PG alone, costs are to be reduced – as originally planned – by about €500 million worldwide, with €270 million of this amount to be saved in Germany. Around 2,900 jobs will be cut in Germany instead of the roughly 3,400 announced last November. This reduction in job cuts is due, above all, to the continuation of the location in Görlitz, Germany, and the retention of activities at the Dynamowerk, a Siemens production facility in Berlin. However, the measures are not restricted to capacity adjustments alone. Instead, they are primarily designed to achieve structural improvements and systematically sharpen the company's focus on the technologies of the future.
"The market for fossil power generation has contracted substantially. Against the backdrop of this structural change, the agreement we've reached is critical to improving our competitiveness. We now have to implement the measures quickly," said Lisa Davis, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG.
"In the past few months, market forecasts have again worsened considerably. The job cuts agreed upon with the employee representatives are only one of the measures urgently necessary to improve our cost position. With the reconciliation of interests, we've also reached an agreement on structural changes and new opportunities for several locations," said Janina Kugel, Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG.
The world's largest trade fair for transport technology – InnoTrans – was being held in Berlin from September 18 to 21. Once again, Siemens has showcased its products in Hall 4.2 and in the outdoor exhibition area.Digitalization is fundamentally transforming the mobility industry. It is improving the availability of vehicles and infrastructures, optimizing operations, and reducing efforts and costs. Reflecting these changes, digital innovations in a networked "Complete Mobility System" was the focus of Siemens' presentation at InnoTrans 2018. Following the motto "Shaping connected mobility," Siemens has showcased new, intelligent solutions that will make rail transport more efficient, safer and more reliable.
Siemens joined Gastech 2018, which took place in Barcelona, Sept. 17 – 20. In its 45th year, the world renowned event was a highly regarded gathering for upstream, midstream and downstream gas and LNG professionals. Siemens used the occasion to highlight its integrated Gas-to-Power (G2P) solutions, through which the company is playing an integral role in increasing utilization of natural gas—a highly abundant, cost-effective fuel—as a feed stock for power plants. Sessions featured Siemens speakers which are outlined below.
Combined press and analyst conferenceWe released our third quarter results for fiscal year 2018 on August 2, 2018 and outlined a strategy update. The combined press and analyst conference was broadcast live.
We released our second quarter results for fiscal year 2018 on May 9, 2018. The Conference Call for journalists and the Analyst Call were broadcast live.
At the Intertraffic 2018, Siemens was showcasing a whole range of pioneering smart solutions, setting the trend for road traffic technology: Among the highlights, Vehicle2x was part of the growing "Internet of Things". Sitraffic ESCoS Road Side Units provides key data for a more precise picture of the current traffic situation. This enables more efficient traffic control, a significant reduction in accident numbers and an even greater cut in emissions than possible up to now. Tunnel management offers road users and tunnel operators a maximum of safety, system reliability and sustainability. The controller Sitraffic sX can adapt optimally to every city, from small and smart, to complex and challenging. Integrated Mobility allows easier and more comfortable travel even across different modes of transportation. Innovative start-up companies from Siemens next 47 had also shown their ideas for future mobility.