Investeren in technologie in tijden van transformatie

Het juiste evenwicht vinden tussen ecologie en economie

JANUARI 2025

Een dynamische economische en politieke omgeving is voor de meeste sectoren de nieuwe norm geworden. Productiebedrijven en machinebouwers hebben te maken met voortdurend veranderende eisen, onvoorspelbare leveringssituaties en enorme kostendruk, terwijl ze tegelijkertijd de kwaliteitsnormen handhaven en voldoen aan de groeiende wettelijke vereisten.

Dat is niet alleen een gevoel, de cijfers vertellen het verhaal: Volgens Deloitte vertraagde het groeitempo op jaarbasis in de VS bijvoorbeeld van 41,3% in september 2023 naar 20,5% in september 2024. Vooruitkijkend naar 2025 hebben fabrikanten te maken met een steeds uitdagender bedrijfsklimaat als gevolg van hogere kosten en aanhoudende marktvolatiliteit.

Afgezien van de marktomstandigheden neemt de druk toe om duurzamer te worden: om koolstofarm te worden, de energie-efficiëntie te verbeteren en de circulariteit te verbeteren. En de industriële sector is niet bepaald een hoogvlieger op dit gebied: In 2022 was deze sector verantwoordelijk voor een kwart van de wereldwijde energiegerelateerde CO2-uitstoot. Om aan te sluiten bij het NZE-scenario is het van essentieel belang dat de totale directe emissies van de industrie tegen 2030 met bijna 25% zijn verminderd.

Ondanks deze uitdagingen blijven bedrijven graag investeren in moderne technologie, van automatisering en digitalisering tot infrastructuur, om de efficiëntie en het toekomstige concurrentievermogen te verbeteren. Hier zijn drie bewezen manieren om deze investeringen in evenwicht te brengen met financiële voorzichtigheid:

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Elevate, don’t eliminate

One promising option in times of transformation is to modernize equipment instead of purchasing new machinery. Investing in new machines and equipment can come at a high price and with costly downtimes. Retrofitting, on the other hand, is an efficient and sustainable way to integrate the latest technologies into existing equipment. Retrofit financing options are perfectly tailored to the needs of machine builders, and they facilitate modernization. In one example of this approach, Siemens Financial Services (SFS) supported FCN-Basaltwerke, who urgently needed to upgrade a palisade production line. A tailored retrofit offer and a financing term of 72 months allowed FCN-Basaltwerke to extend the machine’s lifespan by 30 years. FCN benefited from increased productivity and significant time and cost savings compared to buying a new machine. In this way, retrofitting conserves cash flow and supports the circular economy.

Invest today, settle later

Machine manufacturers need technologies and equipment to produce their machines. Acquiring these involves high costs, and the return on investment is delayed due to long project timelines. To avoid liquidity bottlenecks, ease cash flow, and bridge payment gaps, Siemens Extended Payment Terms (EPT) can be used without impacting existing credit lines. This lets companies maintain financial flexibility also in times of transformation, as exactly this “buy now, pay later” option, for instance, allows payment terms to be extended up to 180 days.

Swedish machine manufacturer TechTribe faced the challenge of building and delivering machines for a customer. The turnkey contract required a large component inventory, tying up resources. Thanks to Siemens EPT, TechTribe was able to purchase the components from Siemens, ensure short delivery times, and effectively manage cash flow.TechTribe’s customer PulPac, a manufacturer of fiber-based products that replace plastics, is also reaping great benefits: TechTribe’s machines are not only more cost-effective, they are also more sustainable, saving almost 100% on water, consuming significantly less energy, and reducing CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to similar products.

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Think beyond – buildings pay back

Investments in transformative times means seeing the whole picture: Industrial companies can go beyond traditional production investments to unlock new potential: their infrastructure. Did you know that real estate typically represents the second-largest cost factor on the P&L, with operating costs accounting for 80% of building expenses? Energy alone makes up 40% of these costs.
Here too, modernization can be a game-changer. Jointly with Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI), SFS has developed Decarbonization-as-a-Service. This innovative solution allows building modernization without initial capital investment. The model is straightforward – monthly costs are covered by guaranteed energy savings, never exceeding previous operating costs. This enables strategic infrastructure upgrades while preserving capital for core business initiatives.

Germany-based industry company Stoba demonstrates this approach's success: Through implementing new technology from Siemens SI, including new heat and power control systems and battery storage, they achieved annual energy savings of one million euros and halved their natural gas consumption – all while protecting their investment budget (get more insights).

Even in times of dynamic markets, industrial companies don't have to choose between financial stability and sustainability. By partnering with a financing expert that blends financial with technological expertise, companies can secure funding for cutting-edge technology while driving innovation and maintaining environmental responsibility. This synergy enables industry companies to achieve their growth objectives sustainably and resiliently.

Interview with Madlen Junker and Thomas Geiselbrecht at Hannover Messe 2025

Get expert insights from our Financing Solution Partners for Siemens Digital Industries and Siemens Smart Infrastructure Madlen Junker and Thomas Geiselbrecht as they talked about how to bridge the gap between sustainability and market dynamics allowing for self-funding growth at Hannover Messe 2025.