Annual report 2009 - Siempelkamp

Narrow-gap welding machine
Plant expansion with foundation for the large vertical lathe
Research, development, investments: top performance instead of standstill
Even diffi cult general conditions, such as a global fi nancial crisis, do not justify a standstill in regard
to innovations. Once again, in 2009, all three Siempelkamp business units consistently focused on
new projects and technologies in order to not let the challenges of today become the critical
problems of tomorrow. Our activities in the areas of research and development also confi rm these
efforts.
In the area of machinery and plant engineering we concentrated our activities on the development
and the building of machines for wood-processing and the gluing of chips and fi bers. With our
excellent know-how and our diverse technologies we have entered new market segments. Biomassfi
red power plants and pellet facilities have expanded our range of products. In the area of metal
forming, we developed new high-performing open-die and closed-die forging presses.
In cooperation with well-known research institutes, the projects in our casting technology unit
focused on the further development of materials used in the areas of nuclear technology and wind
power industry.
Projects concentrating on high velocity oxygen fl ame spraying as well as on the optimization of
production methods by increasing the recycling rate for casting components could be successfully
completed in 2009 by our nuclear technology business unit. It is planned to further advance the
fl ame spray development with special emphasis on the technical implementation.
The same goes for our investments. Though, compared to last year, slightly more moderate in scale,
investments remained at a high level. Investments in intangible assets and plant and equipment
amounted to 16 million Euros in 2009 and resulted in numerous upgrades.
On the one hand, these upgrades were aimed at keeping machinery and production locations up
to date. On the other hand, we invested in optimizing business processes and in equipment for our
Krefeld location.