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11 Media
GAIA-X 4 moveID project develops basis for secure mobile data exchange

08.09.2022

Press release

Business/economy

GAIA-X 4 moveID project develops basis for secure mobile data exchange

Stuttgart, Germany – Which parking garages currently have vacant charge spots available? Where are free parking spaces in the city center? And how can this information be digitally transmitted, and services billed, across providers? The answer to these and similar questions calls for secure data exchange between the vehicles and their environment. It is precisely this foundation that a research project consisting of universities, automotive suppliers, and system providers is now in the process of building, with Bosch leading the consortium. Over the next three years, the GAIA-X 4 moveID project is set to develop the necessary standards and technological concepts to enable the secure exchange of information between providers of mobility applications and their customers. The goal is to create decentralized digital vehicle identities. This is an important prerequisite for the mass use of electric vehicles, automated driving, and the establishment of connected cities. GAIA-X 4 moveID is supported to the tune of 14 million euros by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action – covering half of the project costs.Connectivity for digital services across the board “An integrated and transparent system architecture for the exchange of data on the road that incorporates different products and players simply isn’t available today. While it’s true that some companies out there already offer services, those services are tailored for specific applications, vehicles, or customer groups,” explains Peter Busch, project manager at the consortium leader Bosch. They often map the infrastructure, for example, but they rarely provide information about availability due to a lack of connectivity between the many independently operating service providers. “Open standards are needed so that users, for example, can find all available charging stations or pay for charging processes,” Busch says. It’s important to always ensure that the data is processed securely and that individual providers don’t exploit it solely for their own purposes. For Busch, this is the only way that the necessary user confidence can grow and a broad range of all available services, such as so-called deep parking (use of otherwise unavailable parking spaces), can be created. That is why the consortium is building on the European GAIA-X system, which defines the technological, economic, and legal framework for a secure and trustworthy data infrastructure. GAIA-X relies on decentralization and the interplay of different cloud providers under common guidelines. In this spirit, the GAIA-X 4 moveID project is using open source software for its developments and making them available to all providers for various business models. Vehicles are becoming marketplaces The standards that GAIA-X 4 moveID is pursuing will allow vehicles to securely and independently exchange information with other vehicles and their environment without an “intermediary.” The vehicles’ “infrastructure partners” include charge spots, barriers, traffic lights, and parking lots. The research project will use internationally recognized hardware and software to develop management and administrative services to facilitate the interaction and trade between different players. This will enable providers to connect a great many services, such as news, entertainment, and navigation, with the car’s system, especially in automated driving. The market for services related to connected parking alone is estimated to be worth ten billion euros annually worldwide. What’s more, the ability to navigate directly to a vacant parking space significantly reduces congestion and emissions. After all, today, about a third of downtown urban traffic is people looking for parking spaces. The availability of information is also a crucial factor for the success of electromobility. It is estimated that about half of newly registered cars in Europe will be electric by 2030. “Their drivers need to know that they’ll be able to find a charge spot quickly whenever they need one. And that requires connected systems,” Busch says. Extensive data exchange as a basis for automated driving The mass use of automated vehicles is conceivable only if cars are able to quickly and reliably communicate with their environment. The data exchange this requires will enable climate-friendly traffic control based on the volume of traffic at any given moment. This will allow cities to regulate incoming traffic to particular areas in real time, thus preventing congestion. However, this method, known as zoning, requires that vehicles be able to immediately recognize changing conditions and to reroute accordingly. Zoning is being demonstrated with test vehicles – for the first time across borders – in the Germany-France-Luxembourg (Merzig/Saarbrücken) test area as part of the GAIA-X 4 moveID project. The cars receive dynamic information regarding their approach to defined zones.The project partners: Robert Bosch GmbH Materna Information & Communications SE Denso Automotive Deutschland GmbH Continental Automotive Technlogies GmbH WOBCOM GmbH ecsec GmbH HTW Saar (University of Applied Sciences) Atos Information Technology GmbH Chainstep GmbH Peaq Technology GmbH Zeppelin Universität gGmbH (Zeppelin University) Datarella GmbH 51nodes GmbH Bigchain DB GmbH Fetch.ai Research & Development GmbH ITK Engineering GmbH Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (German Aerospace Center) Airbus Defence and Space GmbH Delta Dao AG

Business/economy
Live fantastic #LikeABosch

31.08.2022

Press release

Business/economy

Live fantastic #LikeABosch

Stuttgart, Germany – Continuing its successful #LikeABosch brand campaign, Bosch is turning to the pioneers of German hip-hop: DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER have produced a new version of the campaign song, to which they have written new lyrics. They also star in the new commercials. Bosch has shifted the focus of its new campaign to consumer goods for relaxed, convenient, and sustainable living. This is the first time, under the claim “Live fantastic #LikeABosch,” that Bosch’s Household Appliances, Power Tools, Smart Home, and Thermotechnology divisions have presented their products designed for “everyday needs” in a joint campaign. The “Live fantastic #LikeABosch” campaign, targeted at Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is to run on TV, YouTube, and social media from September 1, 2022. In addition, Amazon Prime Video will be airing the TV commercials during its coverage of the Champions League. Bosch and DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER will be presenting their joint project at IFA in Berlin.Live fantastic #LikeABosch The new round of the successful #LikeABosch campaign has a lot to live up to: #LikeABosch is one of the most successful marketing campaigns worldwide, and has won over 30 national and international awards since its launch in 2019, including the German Advertising Film Award. More than 15 million people, or one in five Germans, watched the first #LikeABosch rap video. The second highlight video, “Heat smart #LikeABosch,” was the most viewed German YouTube advertising video of 2019. Bosch wants to build on this success with the latest round of its campaign: comprising a 90-second music video and seven TV commercials, its reach will be increased by placing it online, on social media, and Amazon Prime Video. The focus of “Live fantastic #LikeABosch” is on products and solutions that make life easier, smarter, healthier, and more sustainable. These include power tools, appliances for the kitchen, home, and garden, smart home products, and heat pumps. “In many respects, the new campaign is a first for Bosch. It’s the first time we have put a total of four divisions at the center of a major campaign. In addition, we have DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER on board – a partner that is both prominent and eloquent, witty and authentic. The band skillfully transposes this into the commercials to show how Bosch products improve and simplify everyday life,” says Boris Dolkhani, the head of Bosch corporate marketing communications and strategy. Fantastic cast For the latest round of its campaign, Bosch is relying on prominent support and proven expertise: DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER are the founders of German-language hip-hop. They brought hip-hop to Germany and made it a household name. This is the first time that the four hip-hop artists have written and recorded a campaign song in their style for a company. They are also the stars of the Bosch commercials. The commercials were directed by Lars Timmermann, who worked with DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER on the music video of their hit single “Zusammen.” Connections were key to the partnership: “Just like Bosch, DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER come from southwest Germany. While neither the band nor the company have ever been geographically limited to this region, they’ve never completely detached themselves from it either: success needs roots. In addition, Bosch and DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER share the aspiration to make life better – be it with technology, music, or the pursuit of greater sustainability. Bosch and DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER are a perfect match,” Dolkhani says. The “Live fantastic #LikeABosch” campaign also builds on contributions by the creative agency Jung von Matt, the production company CZAR, and, on the part of the band, Radar Media. It also involves the agencies MediaCom, Lemundo, segmenta communications, Lucky7even, and the publisher falkemedia.

Business/economy
Bosch develops first 3D-printed ceramic microreactor

30.06.2022

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch develops first 3D-printed ceramic microreactor

Ludwigsburg / Immenstadt, Germany – A 3D-printing premiere: together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the chemicals company BASF, Bosch has successfully produced the first-ever 3D-printed microreactor made of technical ceramics. Microreactors are devices for housing chemical reactions. In terms of heat, stability, and corrosion, few materials can withstand the extreme conditions caused by high-temperature chemical reactions. “To control and monitor a chemical reaction, a reactor needs to have hardness, heat resistance, and complex structures inside,” says Klaus Prosiegel, sales manager at the Bosch startup Advanced Ceramics, based in southern Germany. “3D-printed technical ceramics bring these excellent properties to the table.”Many applications for technical ceramics The market research company Data Bridge forecasts that the global market for technical ceramics will be worth around 16 billion euros by 2029. This versatile material is in demand in a wide range of industries: in medicine, it is used in bipolar scissors, which can cut tissue and stop bleeding at the same time. Electric current flowing through the two metallic halves of the scissors heats the tissue and seals it. An insulator made of technical ceramics ensures that the two metallic blades do not cause a short circuit when the scissors are closed. This makes surgery faster and safer. In energy technology, the extreme heat resistance and ion conductivity of technical ceramics makes them ideal for use in fuel-cell stacks, among other applications. In mobility, distance sensors that help with parking are also made of technical ceramics. Another area of application is grinders for fully automatic coffee machines. Here, the material’s extreme durability and hardness ensures that the grinding effect remains the same over time, with no material abrasion that could affect the taste of the coffee. “We have products on the market in all these areas,” Prosiegel says. Premiere: 3D-printed ceramic reactor Bosch Advanced Ceramics was well aware that technical ceramics are also very well suited for chemical reactions. “The challenge, however, was to find a process that was capable of producing the complex structures inside a ceramic reactor,” Prosiegel says. To solve this task, the startup’s ten-strong team combined their company’s two core competencies: technical ceramics and 3D printing. "We’ve successfully employed 3D printing to produce ceramic components that can’t be made by conventional means,” he says. BASF is now using this microreactor in basic research, since it allows to monitor chemical reactions under ideal temperature conditions. Furthermore, it requires fewer raw materials and less energy than large reactors. Experts can analyze these small-scale results and extrapolate them for large-scale implementation. “This is just like a chef trying out a new recipe on a small scale first before putting the dish on the menu,” Prosiegel says. That is why the next step is to print 10 to 20 more reactors with the same design for BASF. In view of the conceivable further potential applications for technical ceramics in the chemicals sector, Prosiegel sees a bright future ahead: “After all, almost every laboratory crucible is made of technical ceramics,” he says. It will be a while before he and his colleagues run out of work. We’ve successfully employed 3D printing to produce ceramic components that can’t be made by conventional means....Klaus Prosiegel, Sales Manager Bosch Advanced Ceramics Bosch startup platform grow Bosch Advanced Ceramics is part of grow, Bosch’s in-house startup platform. With locations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, India, China, Japan, North America, and South America, grow is the global home for startups within the technology company. Worldwide, the startup platform currently has ten projects in the incubation phase. Further information on Bosch Advanced Ceramics is available online.

Business/economy
Bosch’s new rapid coronavirus test delivers reliable results in 39 minutes

25.09.2020

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch’s new rapid coronavirus test delivers reliable results in 39 minutes

Stuttgart, Germany – Bosch has developed a new rapid test for its Vivalytic analysis device to detect the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. The test provides a reliable result in 39 minutes and is currently the fastest polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test worldwide. Bosch’s new rapid test is predestined for decentralized use in mobile test centers at freeway service stations or in airports. People who take the test can obtain a reliable result while at the testing site. Available now in Europe, the CE-approved test helps avoid time in quarantine, relieve laboratories, and make travel and work safer again. “One of the keys to fighting the coronavirus pandemic is to rapidly identify sources of infection. That’s why we focused on following up on our first coronavirus test with an even faster one,” says Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. “This will now enable us to put people’s minds at ease even more quickly.” One of the keys to fighting the coronavirus pandemic is to rapidly identify sources of infection. That’s why we focused on following up on our first coronavirus test with an even faster one....Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH The development of the new Bosch PCR singleplex test is part of a research and development project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). As the federal minister for education and research Anja Karliczek says, “I believe it’s important that people have clarity about their state of health as quickly as possible. In this respect, insights from science and research can bring people huge benefits. Over the next few months, we will be confronted with the particular challenge of having to test more people. The improved testing procedure developed by Bosch with the BMBF’s support has the potential to be a tremendous help with this complex job. The rapid improvement of our technological capabilities shows what innovative achievements German companies can deliver in times of crisis.” The test has a sensitivity of 98 percent and a specificity of 100 percent. To develop it, the Bosch subsidiary Bosch Healthcare Solutions joined forces with the German biotechnology company R-Biopharm – a leading provider of highly sensitive manual PCR tests. PCR tests are considered the gold standard of test methods.A world first: simultaneous testing of five samples Bosch launched the first rapid test for its Vivalytic analysis device at the end of March, after just six weeks’ development. As a multiplex test, it simultaneously checks samples for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and nine other respiratory diseases in two and a half hours. The new, accelerated test is exclusively for SARS-CoV-2. “With our different coronavirus tests and variable analysis strategies, we open up a range of testing scenarios with a Vivalytic device – from screening all the way to supporting differential diagnosis for diseases with similar symptoms,” says Marc Meier, president of Bosch Healthcare Solutions GmbH. And development work is still in full swing at Bosch: As of early October 2020, it will be possible to simultaneously evaluate five samples in one test cartridge and at a comparable speed – a world first, according to the company. Bosch is thus increasing available testing capacity, enabling fully automated processing of more than 160 samples a day using a Vivalytic device. In addition, optimized software will in the next few weeks further reduce the time to result of the SARS-CoV-2 test on positive samples. Vivalytic analysis device: easy to use at the test site The advantages of Bosch’s rapid test lie not only in speedy analysis, but also in ease of use. A sample is taken from the patient’s nose or throat using a swab, and placed in the test cartridge. Then the test cartridge, which already contains all the reagents required for the test, is inserted into the Vivalytic device for automated analysis. The Vivalytic analysis device is designed to be user-friendly; medical staff require only brief training on how to operate it. The development of the Vivalytic system, which consists of an analysis device and test cartridges, grew out of a long-standing collaboration between Bosch’s corporate research and advance engineering and Bosch Healthcare Solutions. By the end of the year, Bosch wants to reach capacity for one million tests. As demand for the analysis device and the rapid tests remains high, the company is working closely with its suppliers to maximize capacity and further increase supply.

Business/economy
Bosch Rexroth achieves stable sales at previous year's record level in 2019

16.04.2020

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch Rexroth achieves stable sales at previous year's record level in 2019

Lohr am Main, Germany – Bosch Rexroth held up well in 2019 in a difficult environment and despite a sharp drop in incoming orders. At 6.2 billion euros, sales remained stable at the previous year’s record level. The company benefited from a solid core business in hydraulics and the further expansion of its product range in factory automation as an important door opener for new markets. “We draw a positive conclusion for 2019," says Rolf Najork, member of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH, responsible for the Industrial Technology division and Chairman of the board of Bosch Rexroth AG. "In view of the volatile markets and the noticeable economic slowdown, this very good result was anything but certain. It shows that our broad positioning with different divisions is a great advantage and that we have set the right course with our structural adjustments.” In 2019, Bosch Rexroth was able to match the success of the previous year in all regions. The core markets of Germany and Europe remained the strongest. Sales in Germany dropped by 4.1 percent to 1.4 billion euros. In the remaining European markets (excluding Germany), sales declined by 0.3 percent to 2.1 billion euros compared to the previous year. In the growth markets in the Asia-Pacific / Africa region, Bosch Rexroth achieved sales of 1.6 billion euros, which equals a slight increase of 0.6 percent. The region North and South America recorded a 5.3 percent rise to 1.1 billion euros. At the end of the fiscal year (December 31, 2019), the company employed around 31,000 people worldwide.Economic environment and COVID-19 pandemic cloud prospects for 2020 Bosch Rexroth expects business to decline in all regions and sectors in the current fiscal year 2020 due to the general economic weakness and the structural change in customer sectors closely linked to the automotive industry. Order intake declined by 20.3 percent in the course of 2019. Additionally, the global COVID-19 pandemic is currently clouding business expectations for 2020. Hence, the systematic implementation of measures to improve competitiveness in all areas is particularly important for Bosch Rexroth. "We are very much concerned with the current developments regarding COVID-19. We have taken extensive measures during the past weeks to protect our employees, customers and partners while ensuring the best possible supply," says Najork, "Safety is our top priority throughout. We want to be a reliable and responsible partner for our customers, also and especially in such global crises". Focus on innovations and new markets Bosch Rexroth remains one of the most significant innovation drivers and pioneer for new technologies in its markets. For example, the company invested some 348 million euros in research and development in fiscal year 2019 – an increase of 6.2 percent over the previous year. The company continues to focus on developing connected and fully automated solutions in the two major areas of hydraulics and factory automation. All divisions contributed to the success of Bosch Rexroth in 2019. While the core business with industrial and mobile hydraulics proved to be a solid foundation, the factory automation division with its focus on Industry 4.0 and the vision of the fully connected factory of the future, developed into an important door opener for new markets and customers.Machinery Applications and Engineering: connected and intelligent hydraulics Bosch Rexroth is actively driving change in its traditional core business of industrial hydraulics: smart hydraulic components and systems such as the compact hydraulic unit CytroBox can be quickly and easily integrated into connected manufacturing facilities. They are Industry 4.0 ready and offer services for the Internet of Things (IoT), for example for condition monitoring of machines and plants.Mobile Hydraulics: Smart Solutions for the mobile work machine of the future Despite the tense market environment, Bosch Rexroth was able to further expand its market share in mobile hydraulics in 2019. New activities in the fields of automation and driver assistance systems, electrification and IoT are future key topics. With BODAS Connect, Bosch Rexroth offers an open, scalable end-to-end solution to connect mobile work machines with each other. It enables customers to retrieve and analyze data from the mobile application. At the 2019 BAUMA trade fair for construction machinery, the company also presented the first components of a future range of electrification systems for work machines. These solutions support customers in reducing emissions, while further increasing performance. Here, Bosch Rexroth benefits from the long-standing Bosch expertise in electromobility. Factory Automation: new standards for connected manufacturing Connected assembly and intralogistics remain an important strategic focus for Bosch Rexroth’s factory automation division. The spotlight is on the vision of the factory of the future with software-based, automated and connected solutions. The company was able to further strengthen its position as an innovation driver in 2019, amongst others with the open ctrlX AUTOMATION platform. As the first 5G-capable automation platform from Bosch Rexroth, ctrlX AUTOMATION connects a wide range of devices with the new communication standard and ensures consistent connectivity in factories. Existing machines can be upgraded with the new technology via retrofit solutions. The Active Shuttle, which was also introduced in 2019, ensures greater flexibility and higher productivity in the automated factory. The autonomous transport system sets new standards in intralogistics, transports loads of up to 260 kilograms and is loaded and unloaded fully automatically using an integrated lifting platform."GoGreen" project: targets for energy and CO₂ savings exceeded In 2019, Bosch Rexroth was also able to record important achievements in CO2 neutrality: as part of the Bosch Group, the supplier of drive and control technologies has set itself ambitious goals to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. In the scope of the Bosch Rexroth project “GoGreen”, energy efficiency is being systematically improved in all plants and at customers' sites since 2011 – with an extremely positive outcome: by the end of fiscal 2019, Bosch Rexroth had saved 620 million kilowatt hours of electricity and gas worldwide thanks to "GoGreen," corresponding to more than 265,000 tons of CO₂. This equals the annual energy consumption of a city with some 80,000 inhabitants. Energy consumption at the Bosch Rexroth locations was reduced by 20 to 50 percent. Since the end of 2019, Bosch Rexroth has achieved a CO2-neutral “footprint” in Germany.

Business/economy
Bosch puts 5G machines in pole position

26.11.2019

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch puts 5G machines in pole position

Stuttgart, Germany – 5G is coming. The new communications standard accelerates the internet of things and boosts Industry 4.0. Control systems and sensors of the kind built into facilities, machinery, and logistics chains stand to gain from this fast, reliable real-time wireless data transfer. Preparing machines for state-of-the-art communication involves making them 5G-capable. Now Bosch has the solution: Bosch Rexroth’s new ctrlX AUTOMATION control technology comes with 5G built in and can connect a wide range of industrial devices with the new communications standard. ctrlX AUTOMATION will be showcased at the SPS trade fair in Nuremberg.Bosch opens the door to a new industrial age 5G is set to turbocharge manufacturing. Our new 5G-capable automation platform lays the groundwork and opens the door to a new industrial age,...says Rolf Najork, the member of the Bosch board of management responsible for industrial technology. 5G is the first communications standard designed to enable connectivity for people as well as for the internet of things. The new standard has impressive characteristics: it is up to 20 times faster than 4G, transfers data virtually instantaneously with a latency of one millisecond, and is up to 99.9999 percent reliable – making the receipt of a “digital shipment” as certain as with transmission through a wire. "5G is a revolution and an important building block for the factory of the future", Najork says. Engineers and designers now face the challenges of integrating 5G into their machines and products. Bosch is introducing the solution that meets their needs: the new automation platform’s hardware can be fitted with a 5G module. The operating system and software for ctrlX AUTOMATION are 5G-capable from the outset and support rapid commissioning. Retrofit solutions are also available for adding the new technology to existing machinery. Bosch Rexroth’s new automation platform is scheduled to have its market launch in 2020. 5G will be a competitive factor for connected industry Experts estimate that there will be up to 70 billion connected devices worldwide by 2025. Many of them will be in manufacturing, meaning that 5G will become a competitive factor. The new communications standard will enable applications that require high-power, extremely reliable wireless connections to be integrated securely and efficiently into manufacturing facilities. These include mobile robotics, autonomous transport vehicles, and human-machine interactions. For instance, workers wearing augmented reality glasses can access additional information in their field of vision, optimizing how they monitor and maintain machinery. Combining tasks in the virtual world with those in the real world calls for real-time data flows. And that’s what 5G promises. "This new form of communication eclipses everything we’ve had until now. 5G is the first wireless protocol to truly meet the needs of the manufacturing industry", Najork says. Bosch takes on leadership role in Industry 4.0 and 5G Bosch is developing the factory of the future. In this endeavor, the company is relying on Industry 4.0 . The company first tests and validates products in-house before they are available on the market. Bosch is taking this approach with 5G, too. The company presented its first 5G-capable autonomous transport system, ActiveShuttle , at the Hannover Messe. To support the further development of its factories, Bosch has applied to the German Federal Network Agency for 5G licenses with which to set up local campus networks. Moreover, Bosch has taken on the chair of the global 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA) with the aim of shaping the new mobile standard so that it meets the needs of the manufacturing industry from the outset.

Business/economy
Bosch Thermotechnology on growth path

10.07.2018

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch Thermotechnology on growth path

Wetzlar – In 2017, Bosch Thermotechnology achieved revenue growth of four percent in nominal terms and six percent in exchange rate adjusted terms, pushing up total revenues to a record level of EUR 3.4 billion. Bosch Thermotechnology continued to grow also in the first half of 2018, when sales revenues were up on the prior year period by three and six percent in nominal and exchange rate adjusted terms, respectively. “In spite of the difficult environment, Bosch Thermotechnology delivered an excellent performance in the past 18 months,” said Uwe Glock, President of Bosch Thermotechnology. “Raw material and transport costs have increased noticeably and we had to cope with adverse exchange rate effects. Although the currency depreciation, especially of the Turkish lira and the pound sterling, cost us a double-digit million amount, we were able to generate the highest revenues in the history of our company in 2017,” said Glock.In product terms, growth was driven primarily by heat pumps and wall-hung devices; in market terms, the rise in revenues is primarily the result of strong sales in Europe. Bosch Thermotechnology recorded a sharp increase in revenues primarily in Germany, the main market, and in Turkey as well as in nearly all Central and Eastern European markets. In spite of Brexit and its adverse currency effects, Bosch Thermotechnology grew strongly in the important UK market, where revenues climbed eight percent in local currency in the first half of 2018. “Our high and continuous investments in the expansion of innovative future technologies are clearly paying off. In 2017, our R&D budget amounted to EUR 172 million, which was more than twice as much as ten years ago,” said Glock. More than 415,000 connectable products sold to date make Bosch Thermotechnology the leading provider of smart heating solutions for greatly enhanced comfort, energy efficiency, operational safety and service quality. The all-new product generation launched in 2015 under the name of “DNA”, which has caused quite a stir in the industry, has been very well accepted by the market. The devices are characterised by connectability, a modular structure, easy servicing and a distinctive design. The series is meanwhile available in some 30 countries worldwide. “It has strengthened our position as the world market leader for residential buildings and set new standards for the heating technology industry,” Glock emphasised. Well positioned for the three mega trends in times of the energy transition Over the past ten years, Bosch Thermotechnology has evolved from a product supplier to an international supplier of complete systems in the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning) market. “On the way to the thermotechnology of the future, Bosch Thermotechnology will continue to rely on the three business segments ‘heating systems and energy management for residential buildings’, ‘domestic hot water heating’ and ‘commercial and industrial heating and airconditioning systems’. “In the times of the energy transition, it is our objective to become a digital climate and energy company including service operations and we aim for revenue growth of at least five percent per year,” Uwe Glock said to explain the ambitious objectives the company has set itself for the future. In the long term, the three megatrend “Ds” of the heating technology industry – decarbonisation, digitisation and decentralisation (increased local electricity generation) – will be the biggest challenges to make Bosch Thermotechnology fit and sound for the future. “It is therefore important to understand that now is the time to push ahead with the expansion of electric systems such as heat pumps in combination with controlled room ventilation or electric hot water solutions. Other items that rank high on our agenda for the coming years include complete system solutions for new residential buildings, the project business in the commercial and industrial segment and the entry into new business areas such as air purification”, said Uwe Glock. Already today, Bosch Thermotechnology has a large number of products in its portfolio which innovatively implement the three mega trends mentioned above for heating contractors and customers. Stationary battery storage systems make electricity supply more flexible The market for stationary high-performance battery storage systems continues to grow dynamically as efficient battery systems stabilise renewable energy sources and compensate for the time lag between power generation and power demand. Bosch Thermotechnology offers electricity storage systems in output ranges for smaller industrial businesses up to power plants. The Bosch battery storage systems feature a sophisticated cooling system which causes low operating costs and prevents premature ageing of the batteries. An example of such a large storage system can be found on the Bosch Thermotechnology site in Wernau. The 12-metre-long container is equipped with 432 battery modules which can supply forty households of four with an annual power consumption of 3,500 kWh each with electricity for one week. The system is connected to the public power grid and is charged and discharged in line with supply and demand in the electricity market. “We are convinced that our battery storage systems will become economically viable, as they are more efficient and faster than other solutions,” said Uwe Glock. Smart connection with the decentralised energy manager from Bosch Presented at the SHK trade fair in Essen in March, the new energy manager from Bosch assists smart-home residents in becoming energy-independent. More and more homeowners choose a solution comprising a heat pump and a photovoltaic system. The energy manager software intelligently combines the two units, thus facilitating the use of internally generated energy and efficient heat generation. The energy manager is integrated into the Bosch Smart Home – the app allows users to keep all data under control and to easily integrate their household appliances. Smart-home residents stand to save up to 80 percent of their electricity costs thanks to efficient digital control and renewable solar energy in combination with a battery storage system. Digital service tools assist heating contractors “Digital solutions are the key to success when it comes to shaping the future of the heating industry. In the foreseeable future, we will generate a large part of our revenues with connected solutions. We aim to be a strong partner to heating contractors to support them on their way into the connected world, so that they can focus on their core business and offer end customers the best possible service,” said Uwe Glock. In April 2018, the company launched a new digital solution in the form of the EasyContact app, which allows heating contractors to directly contact the Bosch Thermotechnology experts via phone. After only three clicks, they will quickly and easily be put through to the desired department. More functions will be added in the course of the year. It will be possible for the heating contractor, for instance, to use the app to send error reports directly to Customer Service, so that the technical consultant can come up with a solution even more quickly than before. EasyContact is integrated into the digital EasyService Toolbox, which means that all digital tools relating to the servicing and commissioning of the heating systems are combined in a single app. The benefits: better control, less time input, greater customer satisfaction.

Business/economy
Germany, high-tech hub: Semiconductors pave the way for better quality of life.

25.06.2018

Presentations

Business/economy

Germany, high-tech hub: Semiconductors pave the way for better quality of life.

Check against delivery.Ladies and gentlemen, It’s been only roughly a year since we jointly announced the decision to build a new plant for 300 mm wafers. Now here we are, following a complex planning process, laying the foundation stone for Bosch’s chip factory of the future. With it, we are laying the foundation for improving people’s quality of life, the foundation for more safety on the road – and the foundation for a technology crucial to the internet of things and the mobility of the future. Semiconductors are a core component of all electrical systems. Semiconductors are also turning data into a coveted raw material of the future – none of the cars made today would be able to drive without them. They enable automated and efficient driving, and provide the best passenger protection – such as when they are called on to deploy airbags. With the areas of application for semiconductors becoming larger and larger, we are expanding our manufacturing capacity. As a location, we have opted for Germany. With this plant, we are entering into 300 mm wafer production for the first time, in a drive to achieve further significant economies of scale and to bolster our competitiveness. We see Dresden, the capital of Saxony, as a driver of microelectronics in Europe – and thus as the first choice worldwide for our billion-euro investment. I firmly believe high-tech is something Germany does well. By working closely with semiconductor companies, researchers, and universities, we aim to strengthen both our innovative strength and the competitiveness of this high-tech industry – in Germany and throughout Europe. Ladies and gentlemen, every day in our wafer fab, we will use highly automated manufacturing processes to create the future in the shape of semiconductors. But we will be doing more than that: we’ll also be creating prospects for the future in the shape of highly attractive jobs. Our high-tech factory will employ up to 700 people. We are looking for creative minds – people who can bring their expertise to bear on the construction of this state-of-the-art Bosch wafer fab. We are counting heavily on finding specialists here in the region as well as international specialists and experts. Our new construction project is also the biggest single investment in Bosch history. We are putting roughly one billion euros into our new location, and are pleased that the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy plans to support its construction and commissioning. And in addition to the federal government, the state of Saxony and the city of Dresden have also pledged their support. So at this point, I wish to express my thanks to you, Minister Altmaier, and you, Minister-President Kretschmer. It is also thanks to you and your predecessors that things have moved so fast, and we find ourselves here today, ready to lay the symbolic foundation stone together – for better quality of life, for the semiconductor industry in Dresden, and for the competitiveness of Germany as a high-tech location.

Business/economy
Bosch lays foundation stone for factory of the future

25.06.2018

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch lays foundation stone for factory of the future

Stuttgart and Dresden, Germany – The foundation stone laid today in Dresden is a key milestone in the construction of the Bosch Group’s state-of-the-art wafer fab. Construction is scheduled to be completed in late 2019, when installation of the production machinery will start. “Today we are laying the foundation stone for the wafer fab of the future, and with it the foundation for improving people’s quality of life and their safety on the road,” said Dr. Dirk Hoheisel, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, at the formal ceremony in Dresden. “Semiconductors are the key technology for the internet of things and the mobility of the future. When installed in cars’ control units, for example, they enable automated, efficient driving and the best possible passenger protection.” In his address, Peter Altmaier, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, underlined the central importance of this Bosch investment: “We are today taking an important step toward securing the future competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location. The research community in Germany and Europe is an excellent one, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. In the field of microelectronics, we also need engineering skills and know-how, and especially industrial-scale manufacture and application, in Germany and Europe. Today’s ceremony is an important step on this route.” As a supplier of technology and services, Bosch is investing roughly one billion euros in its new location in the Saxony state capital. The first associates are due to start work in the new plant in early 2020. Today we are laying the foundation stone for the wafer fab of the future, and with it the foundation for improving people’s quality of life and their safety on the road....Dr. Dirk Hoheisel After Reutlingen, the Dresden plant is the Bosch Group’s second wafer fab in Germany. With it, the company aims to expand its manufacturing capacity, and thus to boost its competitive edge in global markets. Semiconductors are finding their way into more and more applications relating to the internet of things and mobility solutions. According to the market research company Gartner, semiconductor sales around the world rose by some 22 percent in 2017 alone. Otto Graf, who will manage the new plant, said: “Construction is proceeding right on schedule. “During the construction phase, we will move some 7,500 truckloads of earth, lay about 80 kilometers of piping and ductwork, and mix more than 65,000 cubic meters of concrete – 8,000 concrete mixers-worth.” Following a rollout phase, pilot manufacturing operations are expected to start at the end of 2021. The plot of land – measuring some 100,000 square meters, or roughly 14 soccer fields – will also be home to a nearly 72,000 square-meter multistory building housing offices and production space. Up to 700 associates will be involved in the highly automated chip manufacturing process, working to plan, manage, and monitor production. This also includes modifying the production processes and evaluating the data from Dresden in Bosch’s global manufacturing network. Saxony as a business location: driving Europe’s microelectronics industry “Bosch’s decision is an important milestone. The construction of the new wafer fab here in Dresden will create many other attractive jobs, strengthen Saxony’s reputation as a location for technology and business, and is good for Germany and Europe as well. This project will play a decisive part in securing a leading role for European industry as a whole in the technologies of the future,” said Michael Kretschmer, the Minister-President of the state of Saxony. “This investment in such a major project is a sign of confidence in Saxony, in its people, in the research and industrial network that has become established here, and in its innovativeness.” In its search for a new location, Bosch considered several cities around the world. In Hoheisel’s words, “Dresden is an excellent microelectronics cluster.” He added that the city’s infrastructure is excellent: everything is easily accessible, and the transportation connections are good. The cluster also includes automotive suppliers and service providers, as well as universities offering technological expertise. As Hoheisel pointed out: “We want to work closely with semiconductor companies and universities to increase semiconductor technology’s competitive edge – not only in Germany, but across Europe.” We are today taking an important step toward securing the future competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location....Peter Altmaier, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Semiconductors: key technology for the internet of things Manufacturing semiconductor chips always starts with a silicon disc, or wafer. The bigger the wafer’s diameter, the more chips that can be made per manufacturing cycle. This is one reason why the new Bosch factory will focus on the production of 300 mm wafers: Compared with conventional 150 and 200 mm wafer fabs, 300 mm wafer technology offers greater economies of scale. Semiconductors are extremely small integrated circuits with structures measured in fractions of a micrometer. Manufacturing them requires a highly automated and complex process consisting of several hundred individual steps over several weeks. It takes place in clean-room conditions, as even the tiniest particles in the ambient air can damage the delicate circuits. Connected manufacturing: 22 metric tons of data a day for higher quality Wafer production is one of the forerunners of connected manufacturing. The Dresden plant is expected to generate production data equivalent to 500 text pages per second – written out on paper, that would be more than 42 million pages a day, weighing 22 metric tons. This is why artificial intelligence will play a special part in chip manufacturing in the factory: the highly automated production facilities analyze their own data in order to optimize their processes. As a result, the quality of the chips rises while production costs go down. Furthermore, planning and process engineers can access this production data at any time to accelerate the development of new wafer products or minimize tolerances early on in the manufacturing process. “We need creative minds for our connected and automated manufacturing operations – particularly experts in wafer technology, like process engineers, mathematicians, or software developers,” Graf said. Many new associates have already been hired for the Dresden plant, he added, and there has been no drop in the number of applications. Leading semiconductor manufacturer with 45 years of experience For more than 45 years, Bosch has been making semiconductor chips in various forms, above all as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). At its wafer fab in Reutlingen, Germany, Bosch currently manufactures ASICs, power semiconductors, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Bosch ASICs have been used in vehicles since 1970. They are customized to individual applications, and essential for functions such as engine management or airbag deployment. In 2016, every car rolling off the production lines worldwide had on average more than nine Bosch chips on board.

Business/economy

25.06.2018

Factsheet

Business/economy

Laying the foundation stone for 300 mm wafer fab in Dresden

General information Total investment approx. 1 billion euros Site approx. 100,000 m2 (about 14 soccer fields) Total floor space approx. 72,000 m² of production area and office space Construction timeline Groundbreaking in spring 2018 installation of machinery mid-/end 2019 pilot production to start at end of 2021 Associates in the completed plant Up to 700 Qualified professionals needed Experts from the semiconductor industry, such as process, production, and maintenance engineers, mathematicians, software engineers, as well as professionals with degrees in physics, chemistry, and microsystems technologies Manufacturing technologye Highly automated wafer production (300 mm silicon substrate wafers with structures up to 65 nm in width – 1 nm equals one millionth of a millimeter) Connected manufacturing Every second, the machines will transmit one gigabit of production data. The volume of data produced is equivalent to more than 42 million written sheets of paper, weighing 22 metric tons.Details on the building Total building volume 600 000 m³ Concrete approx. 66,500 m³ (about 8,300 concrete mixer trucks) Steel approx. 16,400 metric tons (about 30 A380 passenger jets) Earth moved/excavated approx. 90,000 m³ (some 7,500 truckloads) Bored piles for the foundation approx. 860 Floor slabs 100 cm thick Length of piping and ductwork approx. 80 km Length of electrical cabling approx. 380 km (from Dresden to Berlin and back)Internet For job seekers www.bosch-career.de/jobs Site for the Dresden location https://www.bosch.de/en/ourcompany/bosch-in-germany/dresden Bosch semiconductors www.bosch-semiconductors.com

Business/economy
Political VIPs at Bosch: chancellor Merkel and prime minister Costa open technol ...

30.05.2018

Press release

Business/economy

Political VIPs at Bosch: chancellor Merkel and prime minister Costa open technol ...

Braga, Portugal – Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and António Costa, the prime minister of Portugal, today officially opened a new Bosch technology center in Braga together with Bosch board of management member Dr. Dirk Hoheisel . By the end of 2018, over 200 engineers will be working on developing sensors and software functions for automated driving at the location, which is situated about 50 km northeast of the coastal city of Porto. 100 new jobs will be created at the center. Some 100 associates have already transferred to the new 4,500 m2 technology center from the company’s main site, which is located four kilometers away. The German chancellor was in Portugal for talks on the development of German-Portuguese relations. In his speech, Portuguese prime minister Costa welcomed the opening of Bosch’s new technology center in his country, saying, “Portugal stands for innovative strength. Investments like the one Bosch has made here underscore this.” Our associates here will contribute to one of the key projects of future importance – the development of automated driving....Dirk Hoheisel, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH “Our new technology center in Braga is another indicator of the great potential we see in Portugal. It also reflects our confidence in the expertise of Portuguese engineers,” Hoheisel said, adding: “I am particularly pleased that our associates here will be able to make an even greater contribution to one of the key projects of future importance – the development of automated driving.” In recent years, Bosch has significantly expanded its presence in Portugal: between 2015 and 2017, it spent more than 200 million euros strengthening its activities there in the field of connected and automated mobility. In 2018, investments are expected to match the high levels of previous years. Bosch in Braga: solutions for tomorrow’s mobility The international supplier of technology and services currently employs more than 3,000 associates at its Braga location – around 1,000 more than just five years ago. The majority are involved in the development and manufacture of components for connected mobility, including technology for user-friendly display systems and infotainment. Among these is the eCall automatic emergency notification system for two-wheelers . If the vehicle is involved in an accident, the system automatically places a call for help. Particularly for motorcyclists, who have a much higher risk than car drivers of being involved in an accident, the system can mean the difference between life and death. About ten percent of associates at the Braga location work on developing components for automated mobility. In addition to developing and manufacturing sensors for vehicle safety systems like the ESP electronic stability program, the location also produces sensors that can, for instance, accurately determine the position of self-driving cars. In addition, the Bosch location in Braga has a longstanding research partnership with the local University of Minho, one of the country’s top universities. In a joint project with the university, the new technology center will also conduct research into sensors for automated driving. This partnership is scheduled to commence this year and continue for three years. Bosch Portugal: growing importance in the global engineering and manufacturing network Portugal is a key location within Bosch’s global engineering and manufacturing network. The company has had a presence in Portugal since 1911 and currently employs more than 4,500 associates at four locations. 500 of Bosch’s Portuguese associates work in R&D. In 2017, Bosch generated sales of around 240 million euros in the Portuguese market. Including deliveries to other Bosch companies, the total sales figure was 1.5 billion euros. Opened in 1990, the Braga plant is Bosch’s largest in Portugal. In Aveiro, Bosch’s Thermotechnology division develops and manufactures hot-water heaters, heat pumps, and heating appliances for private households. Ovar, the company’s third location in Portugal, is home to a manufacturing site as well as development activities of Bosch’s Building Technologies division. Video and fire alarm systems are one focus of activity at the site. Bosch’s regional headquarters in Lisbon is home to the company’s administrative as well as sales and marketing activities.

Business/economy