By organising itself into four operational segments, Siemens Mining Technologies is bundling its portfolio. “By concentrating on our solutions and services business, we can integrate process expertise and electrical engineering competence to provide extra value to our customers and improve our market opportunities”, says Dietmar Jürges, who is responsible for worldwide mining business at Siemens VAI. With effect from October 1, worldwide operational business will be controlled by four segments, namely Mobile Mining Solutions, Drive Solutions, Process Solutions and Services. “The aim”, according to Jürges, “is to substantially boost growth and to double our share in this €5 billion market to over 10%.”
With this new market profile, Siemens Mining Technologies wants to drive ahead its development from a mainly electrical systems integrator to a solutions provider for primary and secondary processes in open-pit mining. “This is the only way we can satisfy the rising need for energy-efficient products and environmentally compatible solutions”, stresses Jürges. The growing demand for the provision of various services over the entire life-cycle of installations, he continues, is not only an opportunity for growth but is increasingly becoming the main factor that distinguishes Siemens Mining Technologies from its competitors. The global presence of Siemens, he says, guarantees the availability of support close to the customer 24 hours a day. “The high demand for raw materials is stimulating production”, says Jürges, “however, rising energy costs and environmental protection requirements are simultaneously necessitating new solutions that, above all, require a holistic consideration of the entire production process”. At the same time, the rising demand for migration and modernization solutions and the trend towards outsourced maintenance are opening new opportunities for local business.
“Mobile Mining Solutions”, which has its headquarters in Alpharetta, USA, will be responsible for worldwide business in electric drives and automation solutions for trucks, shovels and draglines. Drive products for mine winders and mill drives will be brought together in the “Drive Solutions” segment. Various solutions for the production process in open-cast mining will be offered by the “Process Solutions” segment, which will concentrate on conveyor belt systems for transporting ore and coal, on material handling equipment and on pelleting and flotation systems for ore processing. Another focal point will be solutions for water and wastewater purification as well as sludge treatment – a topic that is becoming an increasingly important cost factor in view of globally rising water consumption. The “Services” segment will be for all technological solutions and will offer services for maintenance, spare-parts management as well as modernisation and migration solutions thus enhancing the competitiveness, productivity and availability of open-cast mining installations over their entire life cycle. http://www.siemens.com/mining
