Semcon
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Public company, (OMX: SEMC) | |
| Industry | automotive industry,Manufacturing and process industries, energy sector, life science, telecom |
| Founded | Västerås, Sweden (1980) |
| Headquarters | Göteborg, Sweden |
Number of locations | Brazil:São Bernardo do Campo;Resende;China: Beijing; Guangzhou; Shanghai;Germany: Munich; Berlin; Sindelfingen; Bad Friedrichshall; Rüsselsheim; Stuttgart; Böblingen; WolfsburgHungary: Budapest;India:Bangalore;Spain: Antas;Sweden:Göteborg; Eskilstuna; Falun; Helsingborg; Hudiksvall; Jönköping; Karlskrona; Karlstad; Lidköping; Linköping; Ludvika Lund; Olofström; Oskarshamn; Stenungsund; Stockholm; Södertälje; Trollhättan; Västerås; Växjö; Örebro; United Kingdom: Havant; Leavesden; Luleå; Kineton; South Woodham Ferrers; Grantham; |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
Markus Granlund CEO Björn Strömberg Chief Financial Officer |
Number of employees | 3,000 (2013)[1] |
| Website | Semcon.com |
Semcon AB is a global company active in the areas of engineering services and product information. The Group has sites at 45 locations on three continents with more than 3,000 employees. Semcon says it "helps companies develop products that boost sales and competitive strength." This occurs in both single assignments and projects where specific teams are formed to develop solutions for product development chains.[2] The company operates several research projects, including Sonic Movement, which is developing sound effects for electric cars.
History
Semcon was founded 1980 in Västerås by Arvid Hansen. 1983 Hansen also started operations in Göteborg and 1985 the head office was moved to Göteborg. In 1990 Semcon was sold to VIAK. VIAK was then sold to VBB Group. After a management buy our Semcon was introduced to the Swedish Stock Exchange in 1997. A rapid growth and expansion in Sweden took place.
In the beginning of 2000 Semcon started a series of sub brands such as Zipper, Zuite, Zystems, Zooma, Zingle, Zetup with focus on IT. (called the Z-companies) Pentech in UK was acquired 2005 and this was the first Semcon operations outside Sweden. In 2005 the first office in China opened. And soon also in Hungary. Two larger acquisitions took place in 2007: German IVM Automotive and Swedish Caran. With IVM Automotive Semcon now also had operations in Brazil, India and Germany. The Z-companies was sold except Zooma.
Core business
Semcon offers engineering services and product information services for the entire product development chain, from requirement studies to finished product.
Engineering Services: The three main areas of expertise are product development, produktion development and plant design. These include:
→Automotive engineering →Mechanics →Electrics & electronics →Plant design →Design →Automation →Test & verification →Design→ →User experience →Project management →Quality →Production & process development →Calculation & simulation
Product Information: The three main areas of expertise are online marketing communication, after market information and distribution of information. These include:
→Information strategy →Information design →Serviceability →Online marketing communication →Information management →Training →Product and user information →Service information →Parts & accessories information →Illustration & graphics →Digital distribution.
Business areas
Semcon is grouped in four business areas:
Engineering Services Nordic
Engineering services in the Nordic region. This encompasses varied sectors of activity like: automotive engineering, industrial design, mechanical design, production technology, prototypes, electricity and automation, embedded systems, both hardware and software. Quality, validation and traceability, medical device. Training and service within project management.
Engineering Services Germany
Engineering services in Germany. This encompasses varied sectors of activity like: automotive engineering, industrial design, mechanical design, production technology, prototypes, electricity and automation, embedded systems, both hardware and software. Quality, validation and traceability, medical device. Training and service within project management.
Engineering Services International
Engineering services in Brazil, India, UK and Russia. This encompasses varied sectors of activity like: automotive engineering, industrial design, mechanical design, production technology, prototypes, electricity and automation, embedded systems, both hardware and software. Quality, validation and traceability, medical device. Training and service within project management.
Product Information
Business area product information delivers services and information solutions ranging from online marketing communication to aftermarket information for complex products, software and plants. The business area has activities in Sweden, Germany, China, UK, Hungary.
Projects
Sonic Movement
Sonic Movement is a research project operated by Semcon.[3] Premiered in September 2013,[4] Sonic Movement proposes creating a new "adaptive" system of warning sounds and noises for electric cars,[4] which is in opposition to other industry trend of replicating combustion engine noises for electric car sound effects.[5]
Founders James Brooks and Fernando Ocaña are on the design team, as well as artists Holly Herndon and Matt Dryhurst.[6] The project aims to meet a proposal for a US mandate which would require all quiet electric vehicles to emit warning sounds,[4] as well as legislation passed by the European parliament in April 2014, which states that all new electric cars sold in the EU had to emit noise by 2019.[7] However, Ocaña notes that while legislators are "looking at this from a technical point of view, [Sonic Movement is] looking at it from a user experience point of view."[8]
References
- ↑ Semcon Financials (2013)
- ↑ Semcon.com
- ↑ "About". SonicMovement.com. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- 1 2 3 Gallina, Eric (October 23, 2013). "The Ambience of Sonic Movement". Form Trends. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "BBC radio. Jarvis Cocker discusses Sonic Movement with James Brooks and Fernando Ocana". BBC Radio. November 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "Sonic Movement". Cargo Collective. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ Banks, Nargess Shahmanesh (April 15, 2014). "Designing the sound of tomorrow's electric cars". Car Design News. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ Neiger, Chris (October 15, 2013). "Solving electric cars’ quiet problem". BBC Autos. Retrieved 2014-04-15.