Siemens Financial Services (SFS) has released new research examining how global manufacturers are using innovative finance to seize market opportunities through digitalization and automation. Conducted among manufacturing finance managers in 13 countries, the study found that manufacturers across the world are reporting a need to invest in new-generation technology in order to meet four key sector challenges.These are: to increase production capacity and flexibility to meet changing demand and drive sales; to improve client service quality while reducing production costs; to improve competitive positioning through improved product quality and broader product range and to optimize efficiency, cost control and manufacturing agility through automation and digitalization.
In December 2010, Siemens received an order from Eurostar International Ltd. for ten interoperable 16-car high-speed trains, and the company ordered an additional seven in January 2015. The trains are based on the Velaro, the world's most diverse high-speed platform. Service with the first Eurostar Velaro was inaugurated in November 2015 between London and Paris through the Channel Tunnel. In May 2017, service also began on the route between London and Brussels. And the Velaro has been running between London and Amsterdam via Brussels since April 2018.The train, designated as the "e320" by Eurostar, provides around 20 more passenger capacity than the previous Eurostar trains. With an overall length of 400 meters, the e320 is the longest member of the Velaro family and has seating for 900 passengers.All 17 trains are currently in operation and cover a total of around 37,000 kilometers a month in service. Passengers are offered free WLAN access, USB ports and services such as TV streaming and films via an onboard entertainment system. In view of these special amenities, the e320 was named "Train of the Year 2017" by the National Rail Awards in the United Kingdom.
Siemens has introduced a new SGT-800 performance enhancement that is applicable to all existing SGT-800 units with 43-47.5-MW ratings. The new upgrade is designed to provide owners and operators with significant fuel savings and CO2emissions reduction for improved sustainable energy production.
Siemens AG is constructing a modern and sustainably designed Siemens Campus Erlangen in the southern part of the city of Erlangen, Germany. By 2030, the company's research center in the south of the city will have been transformed step-by-step into one of Siemens' most advanced locations worldwide. Future-oriented office, research and laboratory jobs will be located on the campus. Equipped with the most advanced building and energy technologies, it will be developed over the long term into Siemens' first CO2-neutral location worldwide. A new urban residential and living environment will arise on the campus grounds. Siemens will be part of the community as never before. Designed by the Frankfurt architects KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten, the campus's open plan will link the company and society and provide a basis for the exchange of ideas.The construction project has a planned investment volume of some €500 million and will cover an area of 54 hectares. Siemens Campus Erlangen underscores the company's long-term commitment to its Erlangen location and will be a symbol of innovative power for employees and for the region. The project was planned and designed in close cooperation with the state of Bavaria and the city of Erlangen.
In a consortium with the general infrastructure contractor Per Aarsleff A/S, Siemens has received an order to build a light rail system in Copenhagen, Denmark, from urban transport development company Greater Copenhagen Light Rail I/S. The contract will be implemented as a turnkey project. Commissioning of the system is planned for 2024.
Siemens has won a significant order from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) in India to overhaul 18 units of RT48S & RT56 power turbines of Siemens fleet of aeroderivative gas turbines driven by Industrial AVON & Industrial RB211 gas generators along with installation and commissioning services. The turbines are operating at Mumbai High Asset and Neelam & Heera Asset of ONGC in Mumbai.
Werner von Siemens, born on December 13, 1816, would have turned 200 years old this year. On November 29, Siemens was marking the anniversary of its company founder's birth by holding a gala event in the Mosaikhalle (Mosaic Hall) at its headquarters in Berlin. In addition to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, more than 100 prominent guests representing government, business, science, culture and the media were present. Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG, opened the ceremony. Nathalie von Siemens, a great-great-granddaughter of Werner von Siemens, Managing Director and spokesperson of the Board of Siemens Stiftung and a member of the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG, as well as Gerhard Cromme, Chairman of the company's Supervisory Board, will also gave speeches in honor of the company founder.Together with Georg Halske, he established Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske, a company of international standing already within his lifetime. With inventions like the electric pointer telegraph, the electric generator and the world's first electric streetcar system, Werner von Siemens had a major influence on the technological development of today's world. His passion for engineering excellence and his relentless drive to create trailblazing innovations still shape the enterprise he founded. With around 351,000 employees in over 200 countries worldwide, Siemens AG is now a leading supplier in the growth fields of electrification, automation and digitalization.
In 2014, the Departments of Transportation of California, Illinois and Maryland ordered an initial lot of 34 Charger locomotives from Siemens, with an option for a total of 222 locomotives. The contract back then was valued at approximately €165 million ($225 million). Due to orders from other states as well as by the private rail operator All Aboard Florida, the total number of Chargers ordered amounts to 81 in 2017. The locomotives are deployed in corridors of the US states for regional and mainline trains travelling for Caltrains (California) as Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, in Washington as Amtrak Cascades and in Maryland with the regional network MARC. Under the "Brightline" brand, ten Chargers are being deployed in high-speed rail services between Miami and West Palm Beach; Orlando is due to follow at a later date.
Building on its commitment to innovative power plant solutions, Siemens has been awarded a contract from Colbún S.A. to upgrade the Central Termoeléctrica Nehuenco-I plant with Siemens' Power Plant Automation T3000 Cue (SPPA-T3000) system. The 368-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant is located in Quillota, Valparaíso Region, in Chile and provides electricity to approximately 350,000 homes in the region.
HTM (Haagsche Tramweg-Maatschappij) has ordered 40 trams from Siemens for the network of the city of The Hague. They are intended to replace part of the existing high-floor vehicles of type GTL 8. In March 2014, HTM ordered other 20 Avenio trams.On November 2, 2015, the Dutch tram operator HTM, started the passenger services with brand new Siemens trams in The Hague, Netherlands. The first Avenio will run on line 2.