Siemens announces new headquarters
ENGINEERING giant Siemens’ local Sheffield operation will become the new UK corporate headquarters of its Siemens VAI business.
The German-owned industrial group opted to relocate its corporate functions from Christchurch in Dorset to Sheffield – a major undertaking that is being supported by Creativesheffield’s business investment team.
The move will significantly expand its current Sheffield operation, with the associated relocation of around 80 jobs.
Siemens VAI currently employs around 200 people at its Sheffield Business Park site, which provides designing and engineering solutions and services for the steelmaking industry.
The firm supplies large scale equipment to steel manufacturers in China, South Korea and India. It is hoped that the relocation will allow the Sheffield operation to widen its business scope to provide these services to the global aluminium producing industry.
Alfred Piesinger, UK managing director of Siemens VAI, said: “In addition to the Sheffield operation’s recent business track record, the power and co-operative spirit of the local technical community were a major factor in this location decision. The professional and academic strength of this region will serve Siemens VAI’s business directly and our strengthened presence here also provides a means to access the region’s metals technology cluster for the wider Siemens group.”
Siemens VAI has strong links with Sheffield dating back to the Davy Brothers company which was founded in Lady’s Bridge in 1830. Following several changes of ownership and name over the years, the Siemens Corporation acquired the current business from the Austrian-owned VAI in 2005.
The group now employs around 9,000 people worldwide in 180 countries.
Creativesheffield, the company charged with the economic transformation of the city, provided relocation support to a number of key Siemens staff through its partner organisation Relocate 2 Sheffield.
Steve Wainwright, investor development manager at Creativesheffield, said: “This is a great vote of confidence for Sheffield. Having a global name such as Siemens choosing to make such a significant investment in the city is a testament to the performance and skills of the local management, local workforce and the city as a prime business location.
“Creativesheffield will continue to support Siemens VAI and the rest of the city’s strong engineering and manufacturing sector in all that they do to maintain and develop their investment in our local economy.”
