Siemens History

Siemens & Halske had made its first contacts in Spain as early as 1851, with the idea of building up a telegraph production operation there. But it was only later that the company became truly established on the Iberian Peninsula – considerably later than in other European countries. It was not until 1895 that the first Technical Office was set up in Madrid, with responsibility for Spain and Portugal. Fifteen years later, the first Siemens plant opened in Cornellá de Llobregat.

More than 170 years ago, a hitherto unknown young man left Germany for England to market his elder brother’s patents. This was Wilhelm Siemens, a freshly minted engineer not quite 20 years old, setting off to seek his fortune in the capital of the British Empire. And thus it was under his leadership that on March 16, 1850, the Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske, founded in Berlin only three years before, got its first international sales agency. Wilhelm now became “William” in England; his involvement in science and technology, along with his entrepreneurial efforts, would ultimately get him established in British high society. And the London branch he founded would become a pillar of the company’s success.

Women have played a key role at Siemens since the company’s early days. Just as society has changed, the importance of women workers at the company has steadily grown. From the first women workers in incandescent lamp production to power at the top levels of management: here are some historical notes on how women have contributed to the company’s success.