Double rolling train motor for the Georgsmarienhütte near Osnabrück, 1907

The first reversible electric drive in the world was built by Siemens for a blooming train at the Georgsmarien steelworks near Osnabrück in 1906/07. It had a maximum performance of 6,800 kW.

Mercury vapor rectifier

Although the change-over to AC at the end of the 19th century brought considerable improvements, reconversion to DC was needed for many applications. The generator transformers first used for this purpose caused relatively high losses. The breakthrough came in the 1920s with the introduction of electronic rectifiers operating with mercury vapor.

Simatic PCS 7 process control system in the Südzucker-Werk Zeil am Main

In 1959, Siemens introduced the Simatic system of control and regulation modules based on transistorized circuits. They replaced relays, contactors and electron tubes and enabled circuits to be developed for logic, memory and computing functions.

Sinumerik 840 D automation system with operating software Manual Turn, 1999

The Sinumeric modular system introduced in 1964 led to advances in automation in the production technology sector. Sinumeric streamlined the positioning and linear-path control of machine tools and other production equipment.

Macao airport, 1997

Macao airport, constructed as a turn-key project by Siemens in a consortium with a construction company, was opened in 1996. Siemens was responsible for the power supply systems, the air traffic management systems including radar and navigation aids, the runway lighting and the building automation.

Truck-Trolley System

Siemens offers mining companies turn-key trolley-truck solutions for open-cast mining. The trolley-truck system consists of an overhead line, portable rectifiers and converted trucks with pantographs and hybrid engines. As a result, diesel consumption is reduced and the speed of the vehicles is increased.

Totally integrated automation (TIA), here at the DaimlerChrysler works in Bad Cannstatt

Totally integrated automation is an entirely new approach to industrial automation. It enables a wide variety of technologies to be used within a single overall system with common data management.

Postal automation, sorting machine at the new international mail processing center at the Rhein-Main Airport Frankfurt (IPZ), 1998

The contract to automate the U.S. postal service, the largest enterprise of its kind in the world, involved several systems. One of their distinguishing features is extremely high speed, enabling up to 40,000 letters per hour to be sorted into the correct dispatch compartments.

The Arvika Augmented-Reality System

Augmented Reality is an advanced technology for superimposing computer data onto real images to show 'hidden' information about all kinds of objects. For example, a portable computer inserts assembly instructions or service guidelines into the field of view of a worker wearing special 'data glasses'. The result: a combined real/virtual working environment.

Sinteso fire detector, 2004

In 2004, with a newly developed analysis technique, Siemens took fire detector technology an important step further. The Sinteso fire detectors have a number of sensors which are linked with intelligent evaluation technology. If, for example the curtains catch fire in a hospital ward, two separate optical and thermal sensors register smoke, heat and the particles streaming into them. The system analyses the signals, evaluates them and assesses the situation. False alarms are thus virtually excluded.