Frimley, 2013-Mar-12
Siemens loading cable at Woolwich
To mark the occasion, a six-week exhibition will be shown at the Crystal in London’s Royal Victoria Docks, and includes exhibits from 1843 when William Siemens, a 19-year-old engineer and entrepreneur from Lenthe near Hannover, set foot in England armed with a patent for a revolutionary electroplating process. In a letter written at the time to his brother Werner von Siemens, William said: “My opinion is that England is the place if anything is to be done.”
Following his arrival, William Siemens took out a string of patents, some developed in co-operation with his elder brother Werner. Several of these related to telegraph equipment, which provided the basis for his company’s growth.
Opening three factories specialising in making submarine telegraph cables, the company quickly expanded. In 1873 Siemens laid its first undersea cable linking Britain and the US, spawning an exciting new age of communication, and by 1914 half of all cables connecting Europe and North America were laid by Siemens.
Over the years, some of the world’s most influential inventions can be attributed to Siemens. These include:
- The first automatic dial telegraph in 1847 and the first alarm bell system to warn railway workers of approaching trains.
- The first devices for measuring voltage and resistance in 1860.
- The company’s discovery of the electro-dynamic principle in 1866 was the starting point for electrical power engineering, giving us power generation and electric motors.
- Siemens installed the world’s first commercial power station, and also its first electric street lighting, in Godalming, Surrey, in 1881.
- Siemens built the world’s first electric train for Bush Mills, Northern Ireland, in 1879 and, in 1883, the first public railway designed by Siemens was opened on Brighton seafront and still runs today.
In 1859 he married a Scot, Anne Gordon, and on the day of his engagement he took British citizenship and changed his name from Carl Wilhelm to Charles William. In 1883 he was knighted by Queen Victoria for services to science. He died Sir William Siemens, a few months later and is buried in Kensal Green cemetery in London.
Today in 2013, Siemens employs more than 13,500 people across all regions of the country. Around 8,000 of these are in manufacturing and engineering disciplines with products including superconducting magnets for MRI scanners, industrial gas turbines and variable speed drives – all of which are exported worldwide. Siemens is the leading supplier of offshore wind turbines in the UK.
Roland Aurich, Chief Executive, Siemens plc said: “I am honoured to celebrate this milestone with Siemens in the UK, including our thousands of employees across the country. With a hand in so many notable projects in this country’s history, Siemens UK has achieved remarkable milestones and been part of significant innovations in this country. “
He added:”We’ve stood for innovation, quality and reliability for 170 years and our commitment to the UK will continue to define us in the future as we address the most challenging questions of our time.”
Contact for journalists:
Siemens plc
Laura Bennett
Phone: 01276 696374
E-mail: laura.bennett@siemens.com
A press picture is available at www.siemens.co.uk/presspictures
For further information please see www.siemens.co.uk
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Siemens plc
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 170 years ago and now employs around 13,520 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £3.2 billion*. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry, infrastructure & cities and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
* Data includes intercompany revenue. Data may not be comparable with revenue reported in annual or interim reports.
