- Bremer Straßenbahn AG exercises option in 2017 contract
- Siemens builds a total of 77 trams
- Delivery of the additional trams begins in 2021
The German operator Bremer Straßenbahn AG (BSAG) has ordered an additional ten Avenio trams from Siemens, exercising an option in a contract signed in June 2017, when BSAG ordered 67 Avenio trams. Including the new order, the Hanseatic city’s fleet of Siemens trams will grow to a total of 77. Delivery of the newly ordered trams will begin in 2021.
We released our first quarter results for fiscal year 2018 on January 31, 2018. The Press Conference and the Analyst Call were broadcast live.
- Orders rose 14% to €22.5 billion and revenue was up 3% at €19.8 €billion, including strong growth contributions from Mobility and Digital Factory and new business particularly resulting from the merger of Siemens' wind power business with Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica, S.A.
- Book-to-bill ratio rose to reach 1.13, the highest ratio since booking of large Egypt orders in Q2 FY 2016
- On a comparable basis, excluding currency translation and portfolio effects, orders increased 7% and revenue grew 1%
- Industrial business profit at €2.2 billion, down 14% due mainly to a sharp decline in Power and Gas which more than offset excellent performance in the short-cycle businesses and Mobility; current quarter impacted by negative currency effects while Q1 FY 2017 benefited from a portfolio gain; Industrial business profit margin at 11.0%
- Net income rose 12% to €2.2 billion; the current period included a largely tax-free gain from the sale of shares in OSRAM Licht AG and benefited from sharply lower income tax expenses due mainly to the revaluation of future tax positions following U.S. tax reform; basic earnings per share (EPS) increased to €2.68 from €2.41 in Q1 FY 2017
"The first quarter underlines the strength of our company. We take advantage of the growth momentum of the global economic upturn and set benchmarks in industrial digitalization. We clearly understand our opportunities and we know what we have to do."
On January 24, 2018, the most powerful high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transformer began its journey from the transformer factory in Nuremberg, Germany, to China. The transformer will first be transported to the harbor in Nuremberg by special heavy load transporter, where it will be loaded onto a ship. Its journey will take it to Rotterdam via the Main-Danube Canal, and from there it will be shipped to China, where it will arrive after several weeks on the high seas. In July 2016, Siemens received an order to manufacture four transformers of this type. About a year later, the world’s first 1,100 kV transformer was completed and successfully passed the tests in the testing facility. The enormous dimensions of the transformer – 37.5 meters long, 14.4 meters tall, and 12 meters wide – posed a logistical challenge for the team. In operation, the transformer weighs just under 900 tons and its efficiency is well above 99% of the rated power. For the first time, the transformer will enable a high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission with low losses over a record distance of 3,284 kilometers with a transmission capacity of 12 gigawatts. HVDC transformers are part of the converter station that convert alternating current into direct current at the beginning of the transmission line and convert it back again at the end of the line. The conversion from alternating current to direct current helps to transmit energy over long distances with low losses. Transformers are key components of an HVDC line: Thanks to the transformer, the Changji-Guquan project will be able to transmit direct current with a huge 1,110 kilovolts for the first time in the world. The new transformer not only makes the transmission of this record voltage level possible, but it is also the world’s most powerful tested transformer with a capacity of 587 megavoltamperes. Siemens has thus achieved a new dimension in high-voltage direct-current transmission. The HVDC line between Changji and Guquan will be operated by State Grid Corporation (SGCC), a Chinese grid operator. The connection is expected to begin operation in 2019.
Industry is advancing in giant strides towards digitalization and the utilization of IoT functions and applications. With MindSphere, Siemens has developed a cloud-based open IoT operating system with high performance capability to meet this growing demand.
To provide optimum support for companies facing individual, industry-specific challenges surrounding the digital transformation, January 24, 2018 saw the launch of a worldwide IoT initiative by MindSphere users and Siemens.
- Precise Time Synchronization according to IEEE 1588
- High Availability Seamless Redundancy (HSR) and Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) according to IEC 62439-3
- Reduced risk of downtime and communication disruption
- Certified for Electric Power, Transportation and Oil & Gas markets
Siemens is expanding its Ruggedcom portfolio with two new compact Ethernet switches. The Ruggedcom RSG907R and the Ruggedcom RSG909R compact Gigabit IEEE 1588 compatible Ethernet switches support HSR and PRP according to the IEC 62439-3 standard. At a time when the electric power industry worldwide is rapidly transitioning to fully digital systems, such as digital substations, the Ruggedcom RSG907R and the Ruggedcom RSG909R help to avoid revenue loss by mitigating the risk of communication disruptions and downtime with a redundant fault tolerant network supporting high bandwidth. In addition to the seamless redundancy Ethernet networking features the device is equipped with redundant power supply inputs for additional reliability. The RSG907R and RSG909R come with a comprehensive set of approvals enabling digitalization in Electric Power, Transportation and Oil & Gas markets.
- High bandwidth to handle growing amounts of data
- Ideal for digital substations, transportation and oil & gas industries
- Built-to-order with simplified field installation and modification
Siemens is expanding its Ruggedcom portfolio with a new Ethernet 19 inch rack switch. The Ruggedcom RST2228 is a rugged Layer 2 rack switch with 4 integrated 1/10 Gbit/s uplinks and up to 24 field modular 10/100/1000 Mbit/s interfaces supporting IEEE 1588 Transparent Clock. Its high port density helps significantly reduce capital expenses by reducing the number of network devices needed. The combination of precision timing and network communication on a single network eliminates maintenance costs related to timing solutions that require dedicated wiring. The device is rugged rated and features an operating temperature from -40 to +85 degrees Celsius, as well as Electromagnetic interference (EMI) immunity. The product can be used in the harsh environments of Electric Power, Transportation and Oil & Gas industries and is ideal to handle ever growing amounts of data.
- Joint research project launched
- Test plant will produce "green" chemistry and serve as an energy store for eco-electricity
- First plants will have potential to produce 20,000 tonnes a year
Evonik and Siemens are planning to use electricity from renewable sources and bacteria to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into specialty chemicals. The two companies are working on electrolysis and fermentation processes in a joint research project called Rheticus. The project was launched today and is due to run for two years. The first test plant is scheduled to go on stream by 2021 at the Evonik facility in Marl, Germany which produces chemicals such as butanol and hexanol, both feedstocks for special plastics and food supplements, for example. The next stage could see a plant with a production capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes a year. There is also potential to manufacture other specialty chemicals or fuels. Some 20 scientists from the two companies are involved in the project.
Per January 1st, 2018 Siemens has rebranded and renamed its full subsidiary NEM Energy into Siemens Heat Transfer Technology (HTT). Siemens HTT is a specialist in the field of Heat Recovery Steam Generators for power plants.