- Two-digit million euro order volume, including a 15-year contract for maintenance services and spare parts
- State-of-the-art technology is able to handle up to 100,000 parcels per day
- Completion planned for summer 2016
Siemens has been contracted to design, supply, install and commission an integrated parcel sorting system for the Singapore Post's (SingPost) new Regional eCommerce Logistics Hub. The contract includes 15 years of spare parts supply and maintenance services and has a two digit million order volume. The sorting system is planned to be completed in summer 2016.
When fed into medium-voltage power grids, large loads of renewable or other decentralized energies – which are generated when winds are strong or the sun is very bright – can produce short circuits that endanger the power supply. Superconducting network technologies can ensure reliable grid operation even under these conditions. Siemens is installing a superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) of the so-called resistive type at Stadtwerke Augsburg, the municipal utility in Augsburg, Germany, that is designed to solve precisely this problem. Development work and installation in the utility's medium-voltage power grid are to be completed by the end of 2015. The superconducting fault current limiter will then be field-tested. The project, abbreviated as "ASSIST" – which is sponsored by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology – is part of Bavaria's Innovative Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency (BayINVENT) Program. The European Patent Office (EPO) has already granted Siemens several key patents for the technologies used in resistive superconducting fault current limiters.
- 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.
The Siemens Managing Board is establishing a Siemens Technology & Innovation Council (STIC). Comprising internationally experienced and respected experts from the research and scientific communities, the Siemens Technology & Innovation Council will closely support the Managing Board in systematically analyzing and monitoring strategic topics in the areas of technology and innovation. The council will focus, in particular, on developments, innovations and technologies that will have an impact on Siemens' business over the next ten years. Peter Gruss has been appointed to head the expert panel. He will also steer its orientation and composition.
- Birgit Steinborn elected Deputy Chairwoman of Supervisory Board
Gerd von Brandenstein, Peter Gruss and Berthold Huber have announced that they will resign from the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG, effective the end of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on January 27, 2015. As of the spring of 2015, Gruss will head the new Siemens Technology & Innovation Council (STIC) that is being established by Siemens' Managing Board. The council will closely support the Managing Board in systematically analyzing and monitoring strategic topics in the areas of technology and innovation.
The Supervisory Board of Siemens AG has elected Birgit Steinborn, Chairwoman of the company's Central Works Council, to the position of Deputy Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board. She will succeed Berthold Huber, who has been IG Metall's representative on the Supervisory Board since July 2004 and the Board's Deputy Chairman since January 2009. Huber has announced that he will resign from the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG, effective the end of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on January 27, 2015. Steinborn will assume the position of Deputy Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board at that time. The employee representatives have requested that Reinhard Hahn be nominated to succeed Huber by court appointment.
- Arup & Siemens present study on intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
- ITS an important lever to address the traffic congestion challenges
- Extreme weather exposing city infrastructure to more severe stresses
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) could generate economic benefits of 1.4 billion US dollars by investing in making its transportation system more resilient in extreme weather conditions, a study released by Siemens and Arup today shows. Calculations based on a review of HCMC's transportation network illustrate that – without intelligent solutions – its traffic congestion is estimated to have a direct cost to the city's economy of approximately $97 billion between 2015 and 2045. Around 45 percent of the city is less than a meter above sea level, rendering the city and in particular, the transport system highly exposed to flooding, especially during the rainy season. An economic appraisal shows that an Integrated Management System (control center) would take only 8 years to become net positive in terms of costs and benefits. This could lead to a net benefit of $1.4 billion over the next 30 years.
- 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.
- Fourth-quarter revenue was level year-over-year, and orders rose 2%. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.01 for the quarter, and Siemens' order backlog was €100 billion. On an organic basis, excluding currency translation and portfolio effects, revenue rose 1% and orders were up 2%.
- Total Sectors profit climbed 28%, to €2.195 billion, led by substantial profit improvements in Industry and Infrastructure & Cities, and income from continuing operations climbed 36%.
- Net income for the fourth quarter rose 40% year-over-year, to €1.498 billion, and basic earnings per share (EPS) increased to €1.72.
- Free cash flow from continuing operations was €3.400 billion, significantly above income from continuing operations but below the high level in the fourth quarter a year earlier.
- For fiscal 2014, organic revenue and orders both rose 1% compared to the prior year, and the book-to-bill ratio was 1.09. Basic earnings per share (EPS) from net income increased 25% year-over-year. Siemens proposes a dividend of €3.30 per share.
"We delivered the results we originally promised for fiscal 2014 and made substantial progress in strengthening our portfolio. Vision 2020 gives us clear strategic direction going forward."
- Slight plus for orders and revenue
- Net income at €5.5 billion
- Book-to-bill at 1.09 – Order backlog at €100 billion
Siemens AG reached its goals for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, thanks to a solid fourth quarter. Net income was €5.5 billion compared to €4.4 billion for the prior year. Total Sectors profit climbed 26 percent to €7.3 billion, fueled by strong profit improvements at Industry and Infrastructure & Cities. "We delivered the results we originally promised for fiscal 2014 and made substantial progress in strengthening our portfolio. Vision 2020 gives us clear strategic direction going forward," said Joe Kaeser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens AG.