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.
- First new frame size in 0.4 to one kilowatt output range
- New shared DC link coupling reduces waste heat during braking and increases traversing cycle of individual axes
- Higher-level control now possible with Simatic ET 200SP CPUs and Open Controllers or Simatic S7-1500 Software Controllers
- Engineering and commissioning using Sizer and Start Drive, engineering in TIA Portal V15.1
Siemens is extending its Sinamics S210 single-axis servo drive system for mid-range applications to include a number of additional output and connected voltage variants. In the first of the new frame sizes, the system is available with an output of 0.4 to one kilowatt with 3 AC 400 volts. The new Sinamics S210 device variants come with an optional busbar trunking system and a shared DC link coupling to enable their international application. The DC link coupling permits energy equalization during dynamic reversing operations by using the integrated braking resistor to reduce waste heat occurring during braking and increasing the traversing cycle of the individual axes. Alongside S7-1500 Advanced Controllers, higher-level control of the new devices is also possible using Simatic ET 200SP CPUs (Central Processing Units) and Open Controllers or Simatic S7-1500 Software Controllers, all of which are connected over time-synchronized Profinet IRT. The drive system can be simply engineered and commissioned using the integrated web server. Alternatively, engineering can now also be performed using Startdrive in the TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Portal from Version V15.1.
- Simatic Field PG M6: Ready-to-use, high-performance programming device for mobile engineering with the TIA Portal
- Light, rugged and completely shielded device for use in machines and plants in a harsh industrial environment
- Preinstalled engineering software and integrated automation interfaces
- Equipment and performance graduated in Advanced and Comfort versions
The latest generation of ready-to-use, high-performance programming devices from Siemens has been optimized for engineering with the TIA Portal and designed for mobile use in machines and plants for configuration, commissioning, service, and maintenance. The new Simatic Field PG M6 programming device, with a stylish silver housing cover and M6 inscription, is equipped with a high-speed DDR4 work memory of up to 32 GB and an impact-resistant SSD mass storage device of up to 2 TB. Thanks to the light, rugged and completely shielded magnesium housing, the semi-ruggedized device is suitable for use in harsh industrial environments. Additionally, bumpers on exposed parts of the housing protect against shocks and vibrations.
- New Simogear coupling adapter for Simotics servomotors
- Flexible-use adapter for simplified handling
- KS adapter reduces downtimes, optimizes stock keeping and is suited for high-precision applications
Siemens has launched a new coupling adapter for linking Simogear gear units to Siemens servomotors. As the flexible new solution can connect different gear unit types to different servomotors rather than using a separate dedicated adapter for each motor, the new solution radically simplifies handling. Versions KS03 to KS05 of the new adapter are made of aluminum and are currently available for Simotics S-1FL6 motors. As of calendar year 2019 it will also be possible to connect series S-1FK2, S-1FK7, S-1FT7 and M-1PH8 series motors to practically any size and type of gear unit. The benefits of the new adapter solution include shorter downtimes and lower costs due to simple installation and removal, optimized stock keeping and a backlash-free design enabling connection with no parallel key as standard for high-precision applications.
- New Safety Library (3.0) for faster commissioning and compatibility with a wider range of Simatic-S7 controllers
- Advanced Position Control (APC) function for faster positioning
- New Simotics S-1FG1 servo-geared motors in upper and lower output range
- Cut in energy costs by optimized motion control
Siemens has upgraded its TÜV-certified Safety Library developed specifically for use with storage and retrieval systems. The benefits of Safety Library V3.0 for users include faster commissioning and compatibility with a wider range of failsafe Simatic controllers (from S7-1516F). Boosting the speed of storage cycles are two functions: Vibx (Vibration Extinction) and the more advanced new function Advanced Position Control (APC). APC also requires no additional sensors or actuators, and ensures the permanent prevention of mast vibrations. APC even kicks in under continuously changing vibration conditions, caused for instance by different loading conditions or variable disturbance factors such as wind. Supplementing this function are new additions to the Simotics S-1FG1 portfolio. In the upper output range, external fans now permit highly dynamic traversing processes, allowing a significantly more dynamic configuration of traversing motors. A new Simatic module for energy-optimized traversing enables energy savings despite the improved dynamic performance.
- Bridge Firewall to protect flat networks
- Protection of Service Bridge and other applications
- User-specific firewall for individual protective measures
- Configuration now also possible in the new Sinec NMS management software
Siemens has extended the Scalance SC-600 Industrial Security Appliances to include more functionality for even better and simpler protection of production networks. The devices now have a Bridge Firewall, support redundant network structures, and allow user-specific firewalls. This enables users to increase the availability of their production while also reducing the procurement costs of network components.
- Siemens implements autonomous stockyard management system in China
- Autonomous stockyard management system combines five automation systems
- Interaction of all components enables control of machines and conveyors
- Improved system efficiency, production capacity and security coupled with lower operating costs
Siemens is supplying an autonomous stockyard management system to be used in a new plant for HBIS Laoting Steel Co. Ltd., a Chinese subsidiary of one of the world's biggest iron and steel producers. The autonomous stockyard management system from Siemens comprises of a material tracking and management system (MAQ), an autonomous stockyard operating system (MOM), a Simatic PCS 7 process control system, industry network, consulting, engineering, project management and commissioning. Interaction between these different components enables control of all the plant's machines and conveying systems, it offers wide-ranging benefits such as the capability for all machines and conveyors to be controlled from a single system. This is achieved using a 3D model of the existing inventory which provides information on the volume and quality of stocked material, enabling autonomous operation of all the plant's storage and retrieval machines. This allows HBIS Laoting Steel Co. Ltd. not only to drive down its operating costs, but also to achieve between a five and ten percent improvement in system efficiency and between three and seven percent higher production capacity. The use of autonomous storage and retrieval machinery also improves safety.
Under the motto "Industrialize Additive Manufacturing" Siemens presented its comprehensive solution portfolio for consistent digitalization of additive manufacturing at the formnext 2018, the leading exhibition for additive manufacturing. Starting with the design and engineering software, via innovative simulation tools to complete machine and factory automation, Siemens demonstrated how the industrialization of additive manufacturing can be further accelerated. Furthermore Siemens introduced solutions around peripheral processes, such as automated support removal, surfaces finishing and part removal as well as post processing for intelligent de-powdering solutions. Additional, Siemens presented new business models, which have derived from digitalization in this industry.
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.
- On a comparable basis, excluding currency translation and portfolio effects, orders rose 8% and revenue increased 2%, with the majority of the industrial businesses contributing to growth
- On a nominal basis, orders rose 6%, to €91.3 billion; revenue was up slightly at €83.0 billion; the book-to-bill ratio was 1.10
- Industrial Business profit came in lower, at €8.8 billion, as profit increases in most industrial businesses did not fully offset sharply lower profit at Power and Gas
- Industrial Business profit margin excluding severance charges of 11.3%, clearly in the guidance range of 11% to 12%; profit margin including severance charges of €0.8 billion was 10.4% with most industrial businesses within or above their target ranges
- Net income up slightly at €6.1 billion; basic earnings per share (EPS) of €7.12; excluding severance charges, basic EPS at €7.88, well within the guidance range of €7.70 to €8.00
- Free cash flow rose to €5.8 billion, up 22% year-over-year
- Siemens proposes to raise the dividend €0.10 per share, to €3.80 per share
- Successful completion of share buyback program initiated in November 2015 with a volume of €3.0 billion; new share buyback program announced with volume up to €3.0 billion until November 2021
"We again delivered what we promised and fully reached our guidance which we raised at mid-year. This shows the strength of our global team which competed convincingly in both growth markets and difficult environments, and achieved another strong performance. In fiscal 2019 we will give our businesses even greater entrepreneurial freedom, and lay the foundation for execution of Vision 2020+."