February 2, 2009 - Svenskt Stal AB (SSAB) awarded Siemens a contract for more than $14 million for a Vacuum Tank Degassing (VTD) facility at its Mobile, Ala. facility. Siemens is scheduled to complete the VTD project in May 2010. This VTD project is part of a major investment program announced by SSAB in August 2008 with the aim to further develop the company’s production base in Sweden and the United States. The investment will result in a major increase of the volume of quenched and tempered steels. The installation of the VTD facility will enable SSAB to provide more value-added products to its customers.

Siemens’ experience as a market leader in the metals industry enables the company to provide a complete solution for the project. Siemens will provide two tanks, two cover lifting devices and one vacuum pump system for the VTD facility. Additionally, Siemens will supply a primary de-dusting system, an automatic alloy and flux feeding system, condenser and machine cooling water system.

Level 1 and Level 2 automation packages are also included in the scope of supply. The Level 1 automation package consists of all necessary hardware and software for basic control of the degassing equipment: human-machine interface (HMI) system, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), panels for the control rooms and operation stations for motors and pumps. The Level 2 automation package provides the industry-specific hardware and software used to optimize the actual steel production of the degassing unit. The metallurgical data stored within the Level 2 system is used to calculate the requirements necessary for the successful degassing of ladles of liquid steel.

SSAB is a global niche producer of high strength steels with a leading market position in quenched and tempered steels. SSAB North American Division is the number one supplier of plate in North America. The Mobile steelworks has an annual capacity of 1.25 million tons and has expanded SSAB’s value-added product lines to include blast and painted products, as well as quench and tempered and normalized plate products.

Siemens Metals Technologies is a full-service solution provider delivering innovative, integrated products, engineering solutions, professional project management and life-cycle services to help its metals customers maximize efficiency, increase reliability and improve production flexibility providing them with the continuous advantage.

"Siemens is pleased to have been selected for this important project and is committed to exceeding SSAB’s expectations for delivery and performance,” says David Blunden, U.S. Vice-President for Siemens Metals Technologies. “The company is proud of its longstanding and successful business relationship with the SSAB.”

About Siemens:
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. is one of Siemens' operating companies in the U.S. Headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. manufactures and markets one of the world's broadest ranges of electrical and electronic products, systems and services to industrial and construction market customers. Its technologies range from circuit protection and energy management systems to process control, industrial software and totally integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems.

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 428,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide sales of $116.6 billion in fiscal 2008. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported sales of $22.4 billion and employs approximately 69,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.