On September 26, 2017 Siemens and Alstom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to combine Siemens' mobility business, including its rail traction drives business, with Alstom. The transaction brings together two innovative players of the railway market with unique customer value and operational potential. The two businesses are largely complementary in terms of activities and geographies. Siemens will receive newly issued shares in the combined company representing 50 percent of Alstom's share capital on a fully diluted basis.On February 6, 2019 the European Commission has announced its decision to prohibit the proposed combination of the Siemens and Alstom mobility businesses. As a result of this prohibition, the merger will not proceed. Siemens and Alstom regret that the remedies they offered, including recent improvements, have been considered insufficient by the EU Commission.
Around 10.400 young men and women worldwide – thereof around 7,300 in Germany – are currently enrolled in training or two-track programs at Siemens, making the industrial company one of the largest most innovative private providers of such programs in the world. Due to the great success of the German model, Siemens is increasingly offering two-track training, which combines theory and practice, to young people in countries outside Germany, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South Africa, India and the UK. These programs offer instruction in a wide range of commercial and, above all, technical fields. Courses are constantly being updated in a targeted fashion to prepare young people for the challenges of the future.Since the training year 2017, Siemens has integrated relevant digitalization topics, such as data analytics, software development and data security, in the company's curricula for all its apprenticeship and work-study programs. Didactic and methodological teaching approaches were also revised to accommodate the digital transformation of the programs’ training content and of the occupational subject matter.“Occupational training is foundational for our company’s future. One clear focus of our training program is on the responsible use of digital technologies, which are bringing enormous change to the working world and to society. For years now, we’ve been continuously adapting our training programs to new requirements, to digital content and to agile teaching methods in order to keep pace with these changes. In this way, we can ensure that our trainees are well prepared for the future,” said Thomas Leubner, who heads the company’s Learning and Education department.The success of the training system is also shown by the International Tech Apprenticeship@Siemens (ITA@S) program, which was established in 2012, back then under the name Europeans@Siemens. Young people are being sent to Berlin by the Siemens Regional Companies in their respective countries for dual educational training. In the past few years, however, an increasing number of participants have come from countries outside Europe. Consequently, the program now has a new name: ITA@S.Since the start of the vocational training in Berlin in 1891 more than 165,000 people have undergone training with Siemens in Germany alone.Siemens is also blazing new trails when it comes to recruiting trainees. In its “MINTfluencer” social-media campaign, short video clips star Siemens trainees as influencers. The campaign name is a word play on “MINT,” which is the German equivalent of science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM).
Siemens and Rolls-Royce signed an agreement on June 18, 2019 at the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget (France) for the sale of Siemens' eAircraft unit. Closing is subject to the usual conditions and is expected to take place in late 2019.
Additive manufacturing has the potential to become a new key technology. For example it opens up new attractive prospects in the manufacture of gas turbines. This is why Siemens has been investing in this innovative technology right from its inception, and is now driving the industrialization and commercialization of these processes. Additive Manufacturing is a process that builds parts layer-by-layer from sliced CAD models to form solid objects. This enables highly precise solutions to be formed from powdered high-performance materials. Siemens is a pioneer in Additive Manufacturing and already uses the technology for rapid prototyping. Furthermore the company is now developing solutions ready for series-production for manufacturing gas turbine burner nozzles and repairing burner heads. Just recently Siemens achieved yet another breakthrough: the first gas turbine blades ever to be produced using Additive Manufacturing have successfully finished performance testing under full-load conditions.
Siemens has developed a comprehensive concept for energy systems worldwide – the first such concept that takes into account and brings together not only technology but also the areas of regulation and social engagement. The Energy Value Charter aims to create customized solutions that will empower countries to make their energy systems fit for the future. The concept encompasses suggestions for implementing sustainable power-generation technologies, together with recommendations on how legal frameworks must be adapted to ensure that the full potential of these technologies can be tapped. In addition, the concept specifies options for promoting social engagement, such as work-study programs, as well as for refinancing infrastructure while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Siemens presented the concept at the 2019 Energy Transition Dialogue in Berlin, in the presence of energy ministers from a range of countries.Siemens developed the concept to create a global framework for energy solutions for its businesses. With its Energy Value Charter, the company wants to enter into a dialogue with governments in order to shape energy systems in such a way that they provide the basis for economic growth, social engagement and sustainable development.
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.
Scandinavia is the first region in the world to rely increasingly on battery-powered and thus environmentally-friendly technologies in the shipbuilding industry. After "Ampere", the world's first electrical ferry in Norway, and a follow-up order of the Finnish shipping company FinFerries, Siemens has now received an order from Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1. Ampere was put into operation in Norway in May 2015, and has traveled a distance equivalent to more than 1.5 times around the equator. With the change from diesel propulsion to battery, Norwegian ship owner Norled has reduced the cost of fuel by 60 percent. Now Siemens has tailor-made a suitable technical solution for Fjord1. With this contract, the first four battery-driven ferries in the world will run on technology developed and manufactured by Siemens."Elektra" - the newest member of the electric ferry fleet: In June 2017, the Elektra began regular operation between Nauvo and Parainen in the Turku archipelago. Battery packs, which are charged via the land-based charging stations in the harbor for use by the ferry, serve as the primary source of energy, with Diesel engines used as emergency power units. The Elektra is also Europe's largest car ferry. At nearly 98 meters long and 16 meters wide, the Elektra can transport up to 90 cars per trip. The ferry purchased by FinFerries will now be traveling this route every 15 minutes. The batteries will be charged in roughly five minutes while cars move off and onto the ferry. The two lithium-ion batteries each have a capacity of 530 kWh.
İlkin Alpay can still feel the awe-inspiring boards of Carnegie Hall beneath her feet. After singing at the world-famous venue, she's surrounded by adoring New York music fans: today is just like a dream for the young soprano.