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.
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.
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 AMB, the International Exhibition for Metalworking, was open from September 18 to 22, 2018 in Stuttgart. Under the motto "Digitalization in Machine Tool Manufacturing - Implement now!", Siemens demonstrated to users and manufacturers of machine tools how end-to-end digitalization solutions work from the machine tool right up to the corporate management level and the cloud.
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.
From September 4 to 7, Siemens was at SMM under the banner "Welcome to the Digitalization at Marine – implement now," with an exciting presentation showcasing the entry of digitalization into its marine portfolio. At Booth 318 in Hall B6, Siemens exhibited its broad spectrum of drive technology, automation and digitalization services and solutions for shipbuilding and marine operations. Highlights of this year's trade fair presentation included a virtual reality representation of the Siship as well as the smart web-based data application Siship EcoMAIN. Siemens also featured integrated solutions for the (partial) electrification of ships using uniform topology with the latest members of its Siship BlueDrive Family. As well as moving over functional features familiar from Siship EcoProp under the name Siship BlueDrive Eco, Siemens also offered visitors a glimpse into its own battery production and presented a partner in the field of fuel cell-based power supplies for the commercial sector.
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.