- Siemens’ lightning information service detected about 329,000 lightning strikes in Germany in 2019 – down 26 percent on 2018
- Germany’s “lightning capital” in 2019 was the city of Speyer in Rhineland-Palatinate
- The fewest strikes were recorded in three Bavarian cities: Hof, Bayreuth and Schweinfurt
- Bavaria was the German state with the most lightning activity in 2019, Potsdam was the leader among state capitals
- The most lightning strikes in 2019 were recorded on June 12
- At European level, Trieste and surrounding area tops the ranking in Siemens’ 2019 lightning atlas
The city of Speyer in the state of Rheinland-Palatinate was Germany’s “lightning capital” in 2019. Siemens’ lightning information service BLIDS (which stands for Blitz-Informationsdienst von Siemens) detected just under 3.1 lightning strikes per square kilometer in Speyer in 2019. The cities of Rostock on the Baltic coast and Lübeck in the state of Schleswig-Holstein took second and third places with 2.6 and 2.5 ground flashes per square kilometer, respectively. Germany’s lowest density of lightning strikes was recorded in the Bavarian cities of Hof and Bayreuth, where considerably fewer than 0.1 lightning strikes per square kilometer were recorded. The Bavarian city of Schweinfurt, which was No. 1 in Siemens’ 2018 lightning atlas, was also at the bottom of the list, recording 0.1 lightning strikes per square kilometer in 2019. With lightning striking just under 2.3 times per square kilometer, Potsdam led the country’s list of state capitals in 2019, followed by the neighboring city of Berlin (rounded off: 2.2). Berlin is also the German state registering the highest lightning density, while Bavaria recorded the highest number of measured ground flashes in 2019. Overall, at 329,000, BLIDS recorded its lowest number of lightning strikes, around 26 percent fewer than in 2018.
- Global deployment of smart office app for safe return to the workplace lays foundation for future-proof digital workplaces
- First phase focuses on workplace re-entry during COVID-19 pandemic; second adds features for future smart offices
- Eventually available to 100,000 Siemens employees in 30 countries
- Rollout supports mobile working of Siemens’ new normal work model
Siemens is deploying its workplace experience solution Comfy across its global offices, targeting approximately 600 company locations, by October this year. This supports a safe return to the workplace for employees during the pandemic and lays the foundation for more agile and future-oriented working. The Comfy app combines location, usage and smart building data with a wide range of user demands to connect employees to their office environment. More than 100,000 Siemens employees in 30 countries will get access to the application. In the first phase, a simplified version will provide the most important information about each employee’s office location. This also includes the latest general and location-specific COVID-19 updates as well as health regulations.
- Siemens finalizes investment and framework agreements with BECIS
- Investment makes Siemens a major shareholder in BECIS
- Partnership enables customers to redirect capital funding to core business
- Innovative funding solutions for distributed energy solutions and services
Combining its financial expertise with intelligent energy solutions and services, Siemens has entered investment and framework agreements with Berkeley Energy Commercial Industrial Solutions (BECIS). Together, they will provide customers access to distributed energy solutions via a flexible ‘Energy as a Service’ (EaaS) model, allowing customers in the Asia Pacific market to pay for energy services without the need for any capital investment. This will address customers’ energy cost and sustainability challenges.
- Brings greater installation flexibility thanks to IP54 protection rating
- LED display for enhanced user experience
- New feedback signal for safety-critical applications
The new SSA actuators for small valves have been added to the Acvatix valve and actuator line from Siemens Smart Infrastructure. They feature new functions that transform the existing product portfolio and support hydronic room applications with superior control accuracy, energy efficiency as well as reliability. The Acvatix product line meets all control and hydronic requirements associated with the generation, distribution and use of heating and cooling. The SSA actuators feature quiet and fault-free operation and manual override for flexible valve and actuator testing, regardless of system availability. New features offer a variety of installation options as well as a choice of installation direction. With new functionalities such as feedback signal for safety-critical applications and a modern, compact and IP54- compatible design, the new actuators can be used for more applications than ever.
- Communications-Based Train Control signaling system to be installed on 11km of ‘D’ Metro Line in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- The automated signaling system will provide greater availability, enhanced operations and passenger experience
Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract by Subterráneos de Buenos Aires, Sociedad del Estado (SBASE) to install a Communications-Based Train Control system (CBTC) on the ‘D’ Metro Line in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The CBTC signaling system will be fully implemented across the entire 11 kilometer line that incorporates 16 stations between “Catedral”, located in the historic Plaza de Mayo, and “Congreso de Tucumán”, located in the northern part, close to the borders of the city of Buenos Aires. The system will include the installation of onboard units on 24 existing cars, as well as a radio system, electronic interlockings, and wayside equipment. All elements of the system will be coordinated by a newly established operations control center. As part of the overall SBASE project to renovate the ‘D’ Metro Line, Siemens Mobility will also provide a passenger information system.
- Digitalization and automation solutions provide companies in discrete and process industries with the necessary flexibility for new conditions
- The Digital Enterprise Virtual Summit showcased concrete and future-oriented solutions
- The Digital Enterprise Virtual Summit had around 12,000 registrations from Customers and Partners with already 6,300 live attendees on the day of the event
The current situation creates major challenges for industrial companies worldwide – and shows that digitalized and highly automated production is more important than ever when it comes to gaining a competitive edge. This is the only way that companies can react to current and future challenges with the required degree of flexibility. Successful solutions were presented at the Digital Enterprise Virtual Summit by Siemens on July 16. As part of the conference, representatives from numerous companies from the discrete and process industries discussed strategies and technologies for future success under these new conditions. The focus was on topics such as the horizontal and vertical integration of the value chain with simulation and optimization from product creation through to servicing and from field level to the cloud. Other topics included online and remote solutions as well as edge and cloud computing, additive manufacturing, industrial 5G and artificial intelligence. The Digital Enterprise Virtual Summit had around 12,000 registrations from Customers and Partners with already 6,300 live attendees on the day of the event. The Summit is now also available to be viewed on demand at http://www.siemens.com/digital-enterprise-summit.
- Sitrans SAM IQ app for the Smart Asset Management of field devices increases system availability and process quality
- App makes previously unused device information available
- Prepares data and offers numerous diagnostic options
- Supports NAMUR information model and use cases
Siemens is expanding its field device portfolio for process plants to include the new Sitrans SAM IQ app for the Smart Asset Management (SAM) of field devices. With the Sitrans SAM IQ app, the user has new opportunities to make use of valuable information that was previously hidden. Primarily, this is additional diagnostic data, which can be collected, prepared and visualized clearly. Sitrans SAM IQ has been developed specifically in line with the requirements of NAMUR, the User Association of Automation Technology and Digitalization in Process Industries. The app can process data from Siemens field devices as well as devices from other manufacturers. The transfer of all device data to a uniform information model means that information from all manufacturers can be derived and compared for the first time.
- Protection during grid power outages and avoidance of peak loads
- Reduced power consumption by recovering braking energy
- Higher availability and low installation costs
Siemens is offering new Ultracapacitor Modules which ensure machine operation during grid power outages, avoid peak loads and recover braking energy. The UltraCap "DLC modules" are ideal for use as energy storage devices in machines, such as those used in wood, glass and plastic processing, metal forming technology, machine tools, handling and robotics.
- Mobile working two to three days a week as worldwide standard
- Managing Board approves new model for working independently of fixed locations
- Model based on transformation of leadership and corporate culture
- Siemens among first large companies to adjust working models permanently
Siemens will establish mobile working as a core component of its “new normal” and will make it a permanent standard, both during the global pandemic and beyond. The company’s Managing Board has now approved implementation of a corresponding model. The aim is to enable employees worldwide to work on a mobile basis for an average of two or three days a week, whenever reasonable and feasible. The coronavirus crisis and social distancing measures have shown that working independently of a fixed location offers many advantages and is possible on a much wider scale than originally thought. Worldwide surveys of Siemens’ employees confirmed their desire for greater flexibility and for personalized solutions when it comes to deciding where they work.