n NEWS April 2025 www.drivesncontrols.com 6 SIEMENS HAS ANNOUNCED plans to cut about 5,600 jobs from its worldwide automation business, including around 2,600 in Germany. It says that changed conditions in its key markets have made these capacity adjustments necessary. It has presented its plans to representatives of its employees. It also wants to cut around 450 jobs worldwide in its electric vehicle charging business, including about 250 in Germany. This sector has also been hit by a downturn. Siemens says it has experienced “muted” demand in its industrial automation business since the start of its 2023 nancial year, especially in its key markets of China and Germany. This, coupled with increased competitive pressures, has led to orders and revenues in the business being reduced “considerably”. However, it expects global demand for automation technology to remain intact over the long term. Siemens says that the shift of growth away from its key markets has made a structural adjustment of its capacities necessary. It is planning measures to strengthen the competitiveness of its Digital Industries automation business, including a realignment of sales activities, cross-unit collaboration in product development, and a more exible steering of the organisation’s global factory network. The German market, in particular, has been declining for two years. Siemens is ruling out “operational-related” layos in Germany. As far as possible, the people aected by the planned cutbacks will be oered opportunities for re- and up-skilling. Job placements within the company will also play a key role in implementing the measures. Despite the planned cutbacks, Siemens’ total headcount in Germany – around 86,000 – is expected to remain stable due to hiring in expanding parts of its business. There are currently more than 7,000 vacant positions at Siemens, of which about 2,000 are in Germany. Siemens Digital Industries employs about 68,000 people worldwide, and the planned reductions will aect about 5,600 jobs globally. The measures are due to be implemented by the end of scal 2027. Siemens says that it remains strongly committed to Germany as a business location. Of the €2bn in global investments that it announced in 2023 to strengthen its growth, innovation and resilience, about €1bn are earmarked for Germany, including €500m for a new campus for research and high-tech manufacturing in Erlangen, Germany, where it is establishing a global centre for development and manufacturing and a springboard for technology-related activities to drive the industrial metaverse. Siemens has opened US manufacturing facilities for electrical products in Texas and California. The $285m investment is expected to create more than 900 skilled jobs. It will more than more than double Siemens’production capacity for electric equipment. Combined with its planned acquisition of the software company, Altair, Siemens says it is boosting its US investments by more than $10bn. The company currently employs more than 45,000 people in the US – its biggest market. Siemens plans to axe 5,600 jobs from its global automation business pRockwell Automation has invested an undisclosed amount in RightHand Robotics (RHR), a US-based specialist in in robotic piecepicking systems for warehousing and logistics. The two companies plan to combine their expertise to oer smarter, more ecient, integrated automation systems for supply chains worldwide. pABB has announced plans to invest $120m in two US sites, expanding its capacity to produce low-voltage electrication products. The investment will enable the company to meet increasing demand from customers in sectors such as datacentres, commercial buildings and utilities. ABB plans to double the size of its existing manufacturing site in Senatobia, Mississippi, adding 200 jobs, and to create 50 new jobs at a new advanced manufacturing facility in Selmer, Tennessee. p The US couplings supplier Ruland Manufacturing has acquired the assets of RoCom Couplings, a Californian company that specialises in beam couplings, machined springs and custom beamed components. The acquisition expands Ruland’s beam coupling portfolio and enhances its manufacturing capabilities to better serve customers needing precision-engineered exible couplings and custom-machined items. Ruland says that RoCom customers will see improved lead times and service, and will have access to Ruland’s range, which includes shaft collars, rigid couplings, servo couplings and universal joints. p The global market for VSDs (variable-speed drives) will expand from $20.6bn in 2021 to $33.6bn by 2031 – a CAGR of 5.1% – according to a new report from Allied Market Research. Drives with ratings from 6-40kW make up the largest segment of the market, while the biggest application for VSDs is pumps. The oil and gas sector is the biggest buyer of VSDs (by total value) because of its extensive use of heavy-duty pumps and motors. www.alliedmarketresearch.com pSouthern Manufacturing & Electronics 2025, the regional show for the mechanical and electronic engineering sectors, had its most successful event ever in February, attracting 10,204 visitors – a 14% increase on 2024. The number of exhibitors also grew by 12%, with 535 companies showing their wares, breaking the 500 barrier for the rst time. The show returns to its Farnborough site from 3–5 February, 2026. pRARUK Automation has announced new partnerships with Sick and Inbolt which, it says, will allow it to unlock new cobot applications for UK manufacturers. Sick’s new End-of-ArmSafeguard (EOAS) technology creates a protective eld around robot end-eectors, preventing them from making contact with humans in the same area, while Inbolt’s GuideNow AI-based 3D vision system oers real-time robot guidance. NEWS BRIEFS Siemens is planning measures to strengthen the competitiveness of its Digital Industries business
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