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• Siemens implements autonomous stockyard management system in China
• Autonomous stockyard management system combines five automation systems
• Interaction of all components enables control of machines and conveyors
• Improved system efficiency, production capacity and security coupled with lower operating costs

Siemens is supplying an autonomous stockyard management system to be used in a new plant for HBIS Laoting Steel Co. Ltd., a Chinese subsidiary of one of the world's biggest iron and steel producers. The autonomous stockyard management system from Siemens comprises of a material tracking and management system (MAQ), an autonomous stockyard operating system (MOM), a Simatic PCS 7 process control system, industry network, consulting, engineering, project management and commissioning. Interaction between these different components enables control of all the plant's machines and conveying systems, it offers wide-ranging benefits such as the capability for all machines and conveyors to be controlled from a single system. This is achieved using a 3D model of the existing inventory which provides information on the volume and quality of stocked material, enabling autonomous operation of all the plant's storage and retrieval machines. This allows HBIS Laoting Steel Co. Ltd. not only to drive down its operating costs, but also to achieve between a five and ten percent improvement in system efficiency and between three and seven percent higher production capacity. The use of autonomous storage and retrieval machinery also improves safety.

• Vacuum circuit breakers and clean air insulation replace SF6 as extinguishing/insulating medium
• Dead-tank circuit breakers up to 115 kV
• Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) for 115 kV, 50 kA

Siemens has received orders from its customer Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to supply SF6-free dead-tank circuit breakers and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). They are destined for California's 115-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage grid. The orders comprise dead-tank circuit-breakers for 72.5 kV and 115 kV as well as GIS for 115 kV. These circuit breakers use vacuum interrupters for switching functions and treated air known as "clean air" as the insulating medium. It's now possible to eliminate the use of sulfur hexafluoride, and this order is a major step forward for Siemens' SF6-free portfolio. The first delivery will take place in mid-2019. PG&E, one of the leading energy providers in the United States, launched a company-wide initiative in July of this year to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by one million metric tons. One element is to use highly sustainable electric switchgear. "We are very pleased with the development of more and more SF6 free solutions for high voltage applications. They support PG&E at meeting the challenge of climate change while providing affordable energy to its customers", says Tom Rak, Manager of Substation and T-Line Standards Engineering at PG&E.

At SPS IPC Drives, Siemens is presenting a new graphical configurator for Sivacon 8MF1 system cubicles. The modular system consists of a basic framework in 90 different sizes and 2,000 flexibly combinable elements. This enables the implementation of tailored solutions for virtually all industrial sectors and applications. With the new graphical configurator, control cabinet manufactures can now configure the system cubicles directly on the 3D model and order them electronically. They benefit from considerably reduced planning efforts and error-free configuration, which also allows customized modifications. Order processing is thus significantly shortened. The new online configurator for Sivacon 8MF1 system cubicles, Version 1.0 is expected to be available free of charge on the Internet starting in February 2019.

• New Safety Library (3.0) for faster commissioning and compatibility with a wider range of Simatic-S7 controllers
• Advanced Position Control (APC) function for faster positioning
• New Simotics S-1FG1 servo-geared motors in upper and lower output range
• Cut in energy costs by optimized motion control

Siemens has upgraded its TÜV-certified Safety Library developed specifically for use with storage and retrieval systems. The benefits of Safety Library V3.0 for users include faster commissioning and compatibility with a wider range of failsafe Simatic controllers (from S7-1516F). Boosting the speed of storage cycles are two functions: Vibx (Vibration Extinction) and the more advanced new function Advanced Position Control (APC). APC also requires no additional sensors or actuators, and ensures the permanent prevention of mast vibrations. APC even kicks in under continuously changing vibration conditions, caused for instance by different loading conditions or variable disturbance factors such as wind. Supplementing this function are new additions to the Simotics S-1FG1 portfolio. In the upper output range, external fans now permit highly dynamic traversing processes, allowing a significantly more dynamic configuration of traversing motors. A new Simatic module for energy-optimized traversing enables energy savings despite the improved dynamic performance.

• Bridge Firewall to protect flat networks
• Protection of Service Bridge and other applications
• User-specific firewall for individual protective measures
• Configuration now also possible in the new Sinec NMS management software

Siemens has extended the Scalance SC-600 Industrial Security Appliances to include more functionality for even better and simpler protection of production networks. The devices now have a Bridge Firewall, support redundant network structures, and allow user-specific firewalls. This enables users to increase the availability of their production while also reducing the procurement costs of network components.

• Supply of electrical equipment for two Blair Multi-Rope machines (BMR)
• Multi-channel brake system COBRA01 from OLKO and Siemens for reliable and safe stop at all events
• Highest international safety standard for a mine hoist – certified to Safety Integral Level 3 (SIL3) as well as German standards (TAS)
• The new development is for the mining of the world's largest polyhalite (fertilizer) deposit

OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH has ordered the electrical equipment for two Blair Multi-Rope machines (BMR) from Siemens. The hoisting winders are being used in the Woodsmith Mine run by Sirius Minerals, a world leading producer of polyhalite, a unique multi-nutrient fertilizer in North Yorkshire, UK. One hoist working as a so-called production winder for material hoisting, one as a service winder for personal transport, with a hoisting capacity of 35 tons (t) payload. The Polyhalite is hosted from approximately 1450 meters (m) below sea level to the surface at a hoisting speed of 18 meter per second (m/s). The delivery includes a medium-voltage synchronous motor with an output of 9.3 megawatts and a torque of 1550 kilonewton meters (kNm) for each machine which are powered directly from a medium-voltage Sinamics SM150 (PWM) frequency converter. Both winders are fitted with a COBRA01 multi-channel brake system which is a joint development between OLKO and Siemens. The digital speed control and supervision unit, which was developed by Siemens, meets the Safety Integral Level 3 standard (SIL 3, corresponds to IEC 61508) as well as the German TAS standard which applies to shaft hoisting systems. Siemens is therefore the first company in the world to integrate the highest safety standard in a mine hoist. The delivery also includes complete commissioning as well as annual inspection, maintenance and servicing. From 2021, the Woodsmith Mine will be the world's largest polyhalite producer, a material which is used to produce fertilizers. This is hoisted via two mine shafts and conveyed out of the national park to Seesside via a 37 kilometer (km) conveyor belt system in an underground tunnel. The majority of the polyhalite is exported once it has been pelletized.

• Comprehensive monitoring of large, complex networks 
• Rule-based configuration of the network infrastructure
• Central firmware management with topology-based rollout
• For cross-sector use in all industries

Siemens is launching Sinec NMS, a powerful, future-proof network management system (NMS). It enables users to master the growing demands placed upon industrial communication networks, such as the increasing degree of networking, larger quantities of data, and the complexity of network structures. Networks with between 50 and 12,500 participants can be centrally configured, managed and monitored round-the-clock with the software. This facilitates forward-looking planning and a quick response time to prevent possible failures and so increase productivity. The software can be used across all industries.

• Significantly increase efficiency for mining customers worldwide
• Transparent smart ore movement and short interval control across entire conveying process
• Joint solution will provide real-time measurement of ore grades combined with material and quality management system Simine MAQ

With ore grades declining, plus added pressures such as rising energy costs and water restrictions, it is increasingly difficult for mining companies to competitively fulfil customer demand by delivering material on time, in the right quantity, and to the defined quality. To address this, Siemens and MineSense, have formed an exclusive cooperation on the real-time measurement of ore grade and ore characteristics for conveyors. By combining each party's strengths, the resulting joint solution will for the first time provide real-time measurement of ore grades and byproducts by MineSense's BeltSense™ in combination with a single material and quality management system, Siemens Simine MAQ. This new and comprehensive approach will enable customers to significantly increase efficiency via a single view of quality across the whole conveying process.

On the heels of its first-time order for SGT-800 gas turbines in Panama earlier this year, Siemens has been awarded the long-term service and maintenance agreement for the same power plant project. The agreement was signed with the independent power producer Shanghai Gorgeous Group, through its subsidiary Sinolam Smarter Energy (SSE), which is the Panamanian end user of the project, formerly Gas to Power Panama by Martano.