Siemens is ending all reduced working-hour arrangements at its facilities in Germany. “The German government’s provision to extend funding for reduced working hour schemes helped us weather a difficult economic phase,” said Walter Huber, head of Human Resources for Germany. “The show of unity on the part of politicians, trade unions and the company enabled us to keep our employees’ expertise at the company. Now demand is on the rise again, and we’re ideally equipped in terms of personnel,” Huber continued.
We released our third quarter results for fiscal 2010 on July 29, 2010. The conference call was broadcast live on the internet.
"Siemens gained further momentum in the third quarter,” said Siemens CEO Peter Löscher. “Such order growth last occurred in 2008. Strong demand took our order backlog to a record level. At the same time, Sectors profit reached its highest point ever, and will clearly exceed the level of the prior year.”
Siemens increased both orders and revenue year-over-year in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 for the first time in more than a year. Orders of nearly €21 billion were up 22 percent compared to the prior-year quarter. Revenue rose slightly to just over €19 billion. The book-to-bill ratio – the ratio of orders to revenue – was therefore again above one. Orders and revenue both benefited from currency translation effects. Total Sectors profit climbed 40 percent year-over-year, to a record high of slightly over €2.3 billion. “Siemens gained further momentum in the third quarter,” said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher. “Such order growth last occurred in 2008. Strong demand took our order backlog to a record level. At the same time, Sectors profit reached its highest point ever, and will clearly exceed the level of the prior year.”
The Siemens Stiftung presented the children’s program slated for the Siemens Festival Night in Bayreuth on August 21, 2010. The presentation was made on the occasion of the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010. The program, supported by the Siemens Stiftung, is intended to encourage young people to join the multi-generational ranks of tomorrow’s audiences. The Siemens Stiftung and its President Peter Löscher view the foundation’s fostering of culture and the arts as part of its commitment to education and a focal point of its work. “That’s why we’re offering younger generations a venue for experiencing creativ-ity,” noted Michael Rossnagl, who heads the Stiftung’s activities in culture and the arts. A specially designed series of hands-on stations gives youngsters the opportunity to experi-ment with make-up and costumes, try their hand at scenery painting or play various musical instruments. This will help generate enthusiasm for the world of opera at a tender age and show that opera doesn’t mean just sitting still.
In connection with German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Russia, Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher today signed memorandums of understanding in Yekaterinburg to supply wind power and railway technologies with a total value of several billion euros. “Green technologies from Siemens will help Russia reach its targets for energy efficiency and climate protection,” said Löscher. Under the agreements, Siemens is to modernize 22 railway switching yards by 2026 and supply Russian Railways (RZD) with 240 regional trains over the next ten years. Siemens is also to install wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 1,250 megawatts in Russia by 2015. In order to manufacture most of the products in Russia, three joint ventures with Russian partners are planned.
Siemens plans to significantly boost its commitment to Africa by making an additional investment of roughly €200 million in the next two years to expand its business and its sales structures on the continent. “Africa offers Siemens vast opportunities for growth. As a green infrastructure pioneer, we’re a natural partner for mastering the continent’s major challenges. Renewable energies, in particular, have a huge potential in Africa,” said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher at celebrations marking Siemens’ 150th anniversary in South Africa.
The Siemens Festival Night in Bayreuth – a public viewing event scheduled for August 21, 2010 – will feature not only a live transmission from the Festspielhaus to the Volksfestplatz but also for the first time the screening of a new opera film for children. In the morning, a film version of Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg that has been specially adapted for youngsters will be shown. In the late afternoon and evening, the opera The Valkyrie will be relayed live from the Festspielhaus for all to enjoy. As in past years, the opera will also be broadcast live on the Internet.