Siemens 2013 Annual Report Download - page 56


“ As researchers, we always have
to think ahead.”
Professor Berend Denkena is head of the Institute of Produc-
tion Engineering and Machine Tools at Leibniz University in
Hanover and one of Germany ’s leading specialists in the field
of production process and machine tool development.
Professor Denkena, what’s the connection between your
institute’s work and Siemens ?
Professor Denkena : I’m very familiar with Siemens from my previous work in
industry. We cooperate with your company very closely. For example, virtu-
ally all the controls and drives used in our machine tools come from Siemens.
Our re search and teaching focus on production process and machine tool
development. In this field, there are many connections to Siemens. In the
area of simulation, for example, our work is guided by similar concerns. In the
area of machine tool programming, there are interfaces with Siemens’ prod-
uct lifecycle management software. As researchers, we develop innovative
solutions whose implementation may be several years down the road. That is,
we think a little ahead.
Enhancing industrial productivity
Creating efficient solutions
54
Intelligent software solutions
Keys to the
Fourth Industrial Revolution
R&D employees and software developers
(approximate) in fiscal 2013
Software is the heart of intelligent factories. It enables products
and production cycles to be planned and optimized in the virtual
world before the first screw is manufactured. Software will,
accordingly, be a key driver of industrial growth in the years
ahead. According to researchers, the market for industrial soft-
ware alone totals €18 billion (2012), with anticipated annual
growth of some 8%.
With our outstanding setup – 17,000 software engineers, of whom
8,500 are at our Industry Sector – we’re one of Europe’s largest
software companies. A leader in all relevant industrial software
segments, we offer a comprehensive software portfolio for the
entire value chain – from product development to manufacturing
and maintenance – for industries ranging from car making and
shipbuilding to aerospace and food production.
As a supplier of automation technology and industry software,
we’re one of the few companies to combine the real and virtual
worlds of manufacturing under one roof. We’re unsurpassed
in this field. And with over 290 manufacturing and production
facilities worldwide, we’re also one of the largest users of our own
industry software.
R&D employees,800
Software developers17,000
Software developers
at the Industry
Sector
thereof
about
8,500