Carve out completed - it is business as usual - only better!
16 January 2009
The success of any company is in its ability to evolve to meet customer, market and economic trends. Siemens is a company adept at responding to its marketplace and in 2008 announced the SMT placement solution business group with their famous brand Siplace was to begin the process of a “carve-out”. Complete as of 1 January, the global Siplace team will be known as Siemens Electronics Assembly Systems.
This global Siplace organisation will be holding its global presence with the global headquarters in Munich, Germany and three regional headquarters, in Shanghai, Norcross (Atlanta), and in Singapore. The Company will be headed by the CEO Günter Lauber, who has been with the Siplace team for more than 15 years.
Depending on regional regulations the legal form in the individual countries will vary, so for the UK this will result in Siemens Electronics Assembly Systems Limited.
Tim Fryer asks the new Directors for Siemens EAS UK and Ireland, Victor Mason (Managing Director) and Richard Timms (Finance Director) what the carve-out means for the company in the UK and Ireland and how it will benefit customers.
Tim Fryer: Will you explain the benefits for UK and Irish customers?
Victor Mason: Manufacturing facilities of our customers have had to become leaner and more efficient in order to maintain market share. We must continue to do the same in order to remain a strong and reliable technology partner that will help them compete in this global marketplace. The “carve-out” provides us with an effective and increased flexibility to react to the fast-paced SMT market. The business will move forward in a way that suits the dynamics of today’s UK and Irish electronics manufacturing market, with an even greater agility in terms of response times, flexibility and customer orientation. The Siplace team combines considerable experience and will maintain the very high level of continuity enjoyed by our customers.
Tim Fryer: What is the structure of the new business and how does it affect customers?
Richard Timms: For our customers it will be a seamless transition between old and new - for our part we will now be wholly owned by Siemens. Our Siplace headquarter in Munich, Germany has always been a vital hub and as such will remain as the central hub. Our Siplace family of products will remain market leading and innovative, like they have been for decades. As a member of the Siemens family of companies, we have direct access to group resources, for example in the area of research and development, and to the global Siemens infrastructure. This level of commitment to the Siplace product line provides a solid foundation from which to react to customer needs and technological advancements.
The senior management team encompasses many years experience in the electronics assembly industry. Victor joined Siemens over 20 years ago in Manchester from Ingersoll Rand and takes the helm as Managing Director from his previous role as Director of Sales. I joined the then small, but dynamic sales team ten years ago as a Sales Manager and have held a number of key roles since then. Our expertise spans not only the electronics assembly manufacturing process and Siplace family of products and technology, but importantly what our customers need now and into the future.
Tim Fryer: How will this affect your existing sales, service and support?
Victor Mason: Siplace remains one of the few equipment suppliers who deal directly with the customer. Our customers will speak to the same sales personnel today as they did yesterday, deepening and developing important long-standing relationships. This level of customer interaction and the sharing of vital market intelligence is a key part of what makes us a strong partner. By working direct we are able to keep ahead of industry and technological trends and learn the specifics of regional, local and individual manufacturers’ requirements. This has not only helped in terms of customer support, but also in the development of Siplace products.
Siplace remains committed to the UK and Irish market and will continue to provide the local service and support so vital to the regions businesses. We have six service engineers in the UK and Ireland, strategically positioned to provide the fastest possible response times and each with over ten year’s service.
Tim Fryer: Is the Siplace ‘Compare’ Initiative still the message for Siemens EAS?
Richard Timms: The ‘Compare’ initiative enables manufacturers to make non-proprietary, well informed equipment purchasing decisions that will make their budgets work harder for them. In October last year we held our Siplace Compare Convention, with 450 global decision makers from a wide range of leading electronics manufacturing companies. This was an ideal time to test the market’s reaction and we were delighted with how well it has been received globally. We believe in the importance of a ‘best practice’ solution to investment decisions, the choices UK and Irish manufacturers make now will affect the future success of their businesses and the right equipment will enhance their processes and reward their investment over and over again.
Tim Fryer: What next for Siemens EAS?
Victor Mason: This is a positive start to the year in more ways than one as we prepare to launch our new Siplace MultiStar CPP Head next month. An industry first, the product was put through its paces during our Siplace Convention in September and the feedback from customers and our Siplace partners alike, left us in no doubt this is going to be a very exciting year for Siemens EAS. And of course, we continue with our ground breaking innovations and we already have some new and exciting products in the pipeline. You can expect a lot from us and keep an eye on Siplace.
Thank you to Victor Mason and Richard Timms of Siemens EAS and good luck with the new company.
Profile of Managing Director, Victor Mason
Victor has worked for Siemens EAS in the UK and Ireland for 21 years. For the past 11 years he has been Global Account Manager for several Blue Chip companies in addition to his local role.
Profile of Finance Director, Richard Timms
Richard joined Siemens EAS 10 years ago as Sales Manager and has taken on a number of key roles, including heading up a team in Munich as Strategic Marketing Manager before becoming Finance Director.
Contact Details and Archive...
Most Viewed Articles...