Siemens to build new facility in SA

Siemens plans to build a maintenance and repair facility at Tonsley to service its energy technology business.

The Siemens facility, which is expected to be operational in October 2014, will employ about 25 people, with plans to double the workforce as the business grows. The company will invest more than $5m in the development - not including Siemens’ equipment at the site.

Premier Jay Weatherill and Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade Minister Tom Kenyon today announced Siemens’ commitment to invest in South Australia.

“It will help prepare the next generation of South Australian scientists, researchers, designers and manufacturers.

“Siemens Australia and New Zealand will be an integral part of the hub.”

IT company Tier 5, Flinders University and TAFE SA are also establishing themselves at Tonsley. Kenyon said work at Tonsley would accelerate the design, testing and commercialisation of high-tech products, systems and services.

“Other companies that make the move to Tonsley will join a cluster of high-value manufacturers working in sectors such as clean technology, mining and energy, green construction and medical technologies,” Kenyon said.

Siemens has a large environment portfolio and provides technology solutions for energy, healthcare, infrastructure and cities and industrial sectors, employing about 400,000 people globally including 100 people in South Australia.

Siemens Vice-President of Energy David Pryke said that setting up a state-of-the-art, purpose-built Siemens facility at Tonsley is the logical next step in this important relationship.

“We’re in the business of creating technology for a sustainable future and it’s a natural progression of our commitment to doing business in South Australia,” Pryke said.

Siemens has been involved in South Australia since the first telegraph line between Darwin and Adelaide through to today where its technology is helping companies competitively brew some of the world’s finest beers, produce clean drinking water and create renewable energy with the most efficient wind turbines.

The agreement comes on the back of the 2013/14 State Budget announcement that a Mining and Petroleum Centre of Excellence will be built at Tonsley.

The centre will support strategic projects to help ensure the success of South Australia’s mineral and energy potential.