Finding the optimal solution together: SMC is Siemens Solution Partner for automation and drive technology

Finding the optimal solutions for all applications together (from left to right): Andreas Gronau, Solution Partner Manager at Siemens, and Wolfgang Karges, Sales Engineer at Siemens, look forward to collaborating with Ralf Laber, Managing Director of SMC, and Pascal Borusiak, Director of Business Operations at SMC. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

Automation has many facets – different applications require individual and optimally tailored solutions that often include technologies from various manufacturers and are implemented by system integrators. To meet high demands for reliability, flexibility, and productivity of modern systems, close collaboration in the sense of operators is not only desirable but essential. Since December 15, 2021, customers of Siemens and SMC can rely exactly on this: the two globally leading companies are solution partners and will now combine their deep expertise, know-how, and technologies, as well as service and support capacities for their innovative products in the field of automation and drive technology.

A partnership with great potential

"Our customers often use both our SMC products and technologies from Siemens together in their systems – the solutions of our two companies have been working successfully together for a long time," says Ulrich Lampen, Group Leader Product Management & Industrial Application Center (IAC) at SMC. "With the partnership in the Siemens Solution Partner program, we are building on a solid foundation and will offer our customers, as well as those of Siemens, even more benefits in the future." The basic idea of Siemens Solution Partner is simple: when sustainable and innovative solutions are already designed at the conceptual stage with input and know-how from several leading companies, and the technologies used are optimally coordinated, great potentials arise for all involved. "Our partners are an integral part of our strategy because, with their and our experience combined, we will remain leaders in the industrial markets in the future," explains Andreas Gronau, Solution Partner Manager at Siemens.

With the partnership, SMC experts can now directly integrate Siemens products into their solutions and access the comprehensive know-how of the leading international technology group. Ulrich Lampen: "Customized solutions can be conceived and implemented even faster for customers thanks to the Solution Partnership."

Complete solutions from a single source – with global support

Rising production speeds, the highest demands on availability and flexibility, as well as productivity – much is expected from manufacturing industries today. Added to this are profound changes and potentials, for example for operational safety and reducing life-cycle costs, brought about by digitized processes. "Each industry has its own challenges. That’s why we bring together the best companies with extensive expertise in our Siemens Solution Partner program and can thus develop the optimal solution for each case," says Wolfgang Karges, Sales Engineer at Siemens. This also significantly reduces the complexity of each project. "Instead of multiple contacts at different companies, customers will in the future receive their customized complete solution from a single source," emphasizes Ulrich Lampen. "This makes the project phase much more efficient." And there are also major advantages in operation, because with Siemens and SMC, operators have two global players at their side in service and support, and can rely on first-class maintenance and servicing of their systems – regardless of location. Ulrich Lampen looks forward to the successful partnership: "As a Solution Partner of Siemens, we are expanding our offerings and will provide our customers with even better and more innovative solutions for their diverse challenges."