Pictures of the Future      Spring 2005

In Brief

^? Remote services will become increasingly important in the future as companies try to offset rising cost pressures and availability of facilities and machines becomes more and more crucial. Siemens solutions allow plant operators to continuously monitor systems of all types, eliminate or even prevent faults with the help of preventive maintenance, and optimize plant performance. Customers also benefit from findings made by Siemens while monitoring similar plants owned by other customers  ^more 

^? Remote maintenance is suitable for a wide range of applications. Siemens systems monitor the operation of machine tools, gas turbines, large facilities such as^{power plants and oil refineries, medical equipment in hospitals and doctors’ offices; telecommunications networks, buildings, and trucks, cars and trains} 

^? Offering remote services requires the availability of advanced communications to ensure a sufficient degree of networking. Remote services also require more powerful computers for processing complex data and sophisticated sensors for reliably monitoring operating conditions  ^more 

^? In return, these systems provide cost savings and greater plant availability because they make possible the early detection and elimination of problems. Siemens Power Generation, for example, has saved tens of millions of dollars for itself and its customers in the past three years by providing preventive maintenance for gas turbines. And Vattenfall Europe Generation was able to extend the intervals between complete maintenance check-ups of its base load power plants by 33 %    ^{more at Trends and Service without Borders} 

^? Secure data transmission is essential to remote services. Communications must be reliable and secure to prevent third-party influence. A remote services system uses separate servers linked to the customer and the service provider via the Internet and protected by firewalls and encrypted lines   ^more 

^? Siemens has developed a transmission system that can forward sounds and images even at very low data transmission rates. Known as Virtual Service Support, it makes possible new remote services applications, even with GSM mobile phones   ^more