- Technical milestone: five times more powerful than comparable motors
- Larger electrically powered aircraft now a real possibility
Siemens researchers have developed a new type of electric motor that, with a weight of just 50 kilograms, delivers a continuous output of about 260 kilowatts – five times more than comparable drive systems. The motor has been specially designed for use in aircraft. Thanks to its record-setting power-to-weight ratio, larger aircraft with takeoff weights of up to two tons will now be able to use electric drives for the first time.
- Largest Light Rail Vehicle contract ever awarded in the USA to Siemens
- Order worth USD 648 million
- Option for an additional 85 cars
San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has awarded Siemens a contract to deliver an initial 175 light rail cars for its Muni transit system at a value of USD 648 million. With an option for an additional 85 cars, this is one of the biggest orders for light rail cars ever placed in the USA. With this contract, Siemens secures its position as the U.S. market leader in this segment. Every third streetcar or light rail car operating in the USA today comes from Siemens. The trains will be built at the Siemens plant in Sacramento, California, and the first cars are set to be delivered at the end of 2016.
- Twelve researchers with more than 900 inventions honored
- Investments in research and development to increase €400 million
In fiscal 2014, Siemens filed 4,300 patent applications – a year-over-year increase of nine percent. In addition, the company intends to boost investments in research and development (R&D) by around €400 million. In fiscal 2014, R&D expenditures totaled roughly €4 billion. Twelve Siemens researchers and developers who together account for more than 900 inventions and 842 granted individual patents played a leading role in the company's success. They were honored by Siemens as Inventors of the Year 2014 in Munich on December 3.
- Sale to EQT with Wallenberg family as anchor investor and to Strüngmann family as co-investor for €2.15 billion plus earn-out component
- Siemens reinvests €200 million in preferred equity
- Transaction closing expected in first quarter of calendar 2015
Siemens is selling Siemens Audiology Solutions to the investment company EQT and Germany's Strüngmann family of entrepreneurs as co-investor for €2.15 billion plus an earn-out component. Due to the very attractive offer made by the two investors, Siemens has decided not to further pursue preparations for the public listing it announced in May. "In the past years Siemens Healthcare has invested significantly in its audiology business. Both EQT with the Wallenberg family as anchor investor and the Strüngmann family have outstanding reputations and extensive experience in the healthcare sector. Not only is the transaction excellent from a financial perspective; we're also convinced that both investors have a clear growth strategy for further developing the hearing aid business over the long term," said Hermann Requardt, CEO of Siemens Healthcare and member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. Siemens will remain invested in the hearing aid business with preferred equity of €200 million and benefit from future business successes. In addition, Siemens will have a seat on the board of the buyer group. Under the terms of the agreement, the new owners will also be allowed to continue using the Siemens product brand for the hearing aid business over the medium term.
- Orders of approximately 1 billion Euro received in run-up to mega events
- Siemens supplying building technology for world's greenest stadium
- Efficient solutions enhancing transportation capacities
- Gas-fired power plant in the Amazon to replace environmentally harmful diesel generators
Brazil is counting on Siemens to provide key infrastructure solutions for its major upcoming sporting events. The country will play host to the Confederations Cup in 2013 and to the World Cup in 2014. In the run-up to these mega events, Siemens has received orders of approximately 1 billion Euro for infrastructure projects. "These major sporting events will turn the world's spotlight on Brazil. We're looking forward to exciting games, powerful emotions and the people visiting our country. Whether in transportation, energy supply, the environment, healthcare, safety or security – we want our infrastructure solutions to help make the events a success. The solutions we're providing will improve the quality of life in Brazil for generations to come and support the country's long-term economic development. Brazil is at a turning point in its economical development, and these major events will speed up works in infrastructure laying the foundations of sustainable growth." said Paulo Stark, CEO of Siemens Brazil.
Klaus Moosmayer has been named to head Siemens' entire compliance organization as Chief Compliance Officer, effective January 1, 2014. Since 2007, Moosmayer has played a key role in building up Siemens' new, globally recognized compliance system. Since 2010, he has been responsible for all legal and regulatory-related compliance duties at Siemens. Klaus Moosmayer is considered nationally and internationally to be a leading compliance expert. At the beginning of November 2013, he was appointed by the OECD's Business and Industry Advisory Committee to serve as the new honorary head of its anti-corruption taskforce.
- Up to €4 billion in volume within the next up to 24 months
Siemens AG plans to carry out a share buyback of up to €4 billion in volume within the next up to 24 months. "We want to let our owners continually share in the company's success. To this end, we have defined a corridor for the company's capital structure in the framework of our 'One Siemens' financial system. We have committed to the shareholders and are holding to this commitment," said Ralf Thomas, Chief Financial Officer of Siemens AG.
- New rules require far-reaching changes to car
- Infiniti Red Bull Racing relying on Siemens software
For record speeds both on and off the track, Infiniti Red Bull Racing is relying on Siemens software once again this season. At the team's factory in Milton Keynes, UK, over 100 engineers are using Siemens software to redevelop the world champion racecar for Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo. New rules issued for the 2014 Formula One season by the FIA, motorsport's global governing body, mandate wide-ranging changes in the car's design. Siemens' product lifecycle management (PLM) software is helping ensure their rapid implementation.
Siemens is targeting a Total Sectors profit margin of at least 12 percent and, among other goals, productivity gains of €6 billion over the coming two years with its recently launched "Siemens 2014" company program. The first measures have already been introduced and are being rigorously implemented. One of the program's five levers aims at strengthening the company's core activities. As part of this strategy, Siemens is acquiring LMS International for around €680 million in the Industry Sector and will also restructure its water technology business. In the future, the water business will focus on Siemens' core competencies in automation and drives, while activities involved in processing and treating water and wastewater will be sold.