Page 47 - EngineerIt May 2021

Google cloud on Eon Musk’s starlink constellation

oogle Cloud has signed a deal with SpaceX to connect its Starlink internet constellation to Google’s
Gcloud services. Under the deal Google announced that SpaceX will locate Starlink ground stations
within Google data centre properties and connect Starlink to Google Cloud’s infrastructure.
Google Cloud’s private network will support Starlink internet service to business and consumers.
Google said that this combination will support public sector agencies and businesses working at the
network edge, or those operating in rural or remote areas, to use cloud applications, or cloud services
like analytics, artificial intelligence, or machine learning.
The collaboration also plans to bring in emerging cloud services – such as artificial intelligence and
machine learning – to make decisions about what parts of a dataset should be sent to Earth; these
computer services could reduce bandwidth needs. SpaceX’s target market for customers are those who
work in rural areas where Internet speed is often diminished. n
Endress+Hauser shows confidence Of the three countries with the highest sales, only China achieved
Individual regions, industries and segments developed differently.

growth and is now Endress+Hauser’s largest single market. In
ndress+Hauser weathered the 2020 pandemic year well. Despite declining Germany and the USA, on the other hand, sales declined. In contrast
Esales, the company, which specialises in measurement and automation to process engineering, laboratory instrumentation recorded strong
technology, maintained profitability at a high level. The Group created new jobs growth. Cyclical industries suffered in the crisis, while non-cyclical
and expanded its global sales and production network. sectors were stable. “The broad backing in the market helped us,”
said Matthias Altendorf.
Business creates value for society
Endress+Hauser succeeded in protecting people’s health and continuing to Profit at a high level
provide solid support to customers, CEO Matthias Altendorf said at the annual Endress+Hauser’s profitability did not suffer last year. On the cost
press conference in Basel, Switzerland. “We helped to keep important areas side, exchange rates had a positive effect in 2020, for example on
of our daily lives running during the pandemic. Our work is important for our material expenses. Because many business trips and activities were
customers and for society.” Endress+Hauser products are used, for example, to canceled, operating expenses fell. Personnel expenses grew at a
produce vaccines; subsidiary Analytik Jena supplies PCR technology to detect below-average rate.
the coronavirus.
Digitisation played an important role, picking up speed during the Major investments and plenty of innovation
pandemic – in products, in collaboration, in internal processes. Customers The company spent 195.1 million euros on R&D, equating to 7.6
have long been able to conduct everyday transactions via the Endress+Hauser percent of sales. Endress+Hauser filed patents for 276 inventions for
website. The number of registered users on the platform doubled, and online the first time, 42 less than in 2019. For CEO Matthias Altendorf, this
business grew by 39 percent. If needed, the Visual Support app brings service demonstrates the disadvantage of working from home: “People are
technicians virtually to customers’ plants. Even factory acceptance tests can more creative when they inspire each other and search for solutions
now take place remotely with video support. collaboratively.” However, the Group’s innovative strength is intact: 40
new products were launched in 2020; in the current year, the figure is
Strong currency effects impact sales expected to be 74.
Nevertheless, the Group’s sales fell by 2.8 percent to 2.577 billion euros “The outlook continues to be characterised by uncertainty,”
in 2020. However, this figure is heavily influenced by exchange rate emphasized CEO Matthias Altendorf. In addition to further pandemic
developments. Apart from the Swiss franc, all major currencies depreciated waves and new virus variants, the supply chain continues to
against the euro. Without these effects, according to Chief Financial Officer cause concern throughout the industry, he said. Endress+Hauser
Dr Luc Schultheiss, Endress+Hauser would have almost reached the previous is therefore increasing inventories and strengthening its supplier
year’s level in sales. “In local currencies, we are above the industry average and network. New efficient logistics centres have been put into operation
have performed well in the market.” in China and Germany. n

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