Siemens Supplies Conveyors to BMW’s Spartanburg Facility

ATLANTA, GA /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Energy & Automation announced it will deliver turn-key automated conveyor systems and the end-of-line testing systems for BMW's new Assembly North Facility in Spartanburg, SC. The conveyor projects will be implemented in the skillet conveyor, door line monorail and engine line monorail and stacker areas. Siemens will be providing the mechanical design as well as acting as the general contractor for the mechanical and electrical integration of the project.

Siemens has been involved with BMW's Spartanburg facility since 2005 when it was selected to replace the existing programmable logic controllers (PLC) with SIMATIC PLCs and Siemens electrical systems at the plant. In addition to implementing the latest technologies, this latest project enables BMW to benefit from Siemens synergies to handle multiple projects that reduce the overall cost.

"BMW's history of production and factory innovations has been a good match with Siemens' technologies and services. We are pleased to begin these latest projects and look forward to growing along with the Spartanburg facility," said Raj Batra, Vice President AMD, Siemens Energy & Automation.

By producing several models on the same production line, BMW has shown itself to be an industry leader. This requires the flexibility of Siemens' systems to assist in these innovative production techniques. For the new deliveries, Siemens will be implementing PROFINET, the international open industrial Ethernet standard for automation, throughout the concepts and its Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) platform. Totally Integrated Automation supports simple vertical and horizontal integration of automation into the operational processes, based on a three-fold integration of uniform engineering, high-performance communications and consistent data management. This enables users to easily expand existing operations or build new lines without having to overhaul the entire automation system.

About Siemens
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. is one of Siemens' operating companies in the U.S. Headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. manufactures and markets one of the world's broadest ranges of electrical and electronic products, systems and services to industrial and construction market customers. Its technologies range from circuit protection and energy management systems to process control, industrial software and totally integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems.

Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 460,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide sales of $96.6 billion in fiscal 2007. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported sales of $19.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.