Merck and Siemens have expanded their collaboration to advance smart manufacturing through a new strategic partnership. Cedrik Neike, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries and Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, and Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck’s Electronics business and Member of the Executive Board, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their cooperation in Smartfacturing—an approach that integrates smart manufacturing technologies.
Under the MoU, Siemens becomes Merck’s preferred global supplier and strategic partner for Smartfacturing technologies, setting the stage for transformative projects across Merck’s Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics sectors. The partnership aims to shift from traditional mass production to a modular approach, improving efficiency and flexibility.
Cedrik Neike noted, “Our goal is to set new global standards for production. The MoU marks a significant step in evolving from mass production to modular, adaptable manufacturing. This long-standing partnership underscores that Merck and Siemens are not just collaborators but allies in shaping the future.”
Kai Beckmann emphasized the partnership’s significance: “We aim to accelerate market entry, enhance cost-efficiency, and focus on sustainability. Smartfacturing is key to these goals, and Siemens’ expertise makes them an ideal partner to help realize our vision.”
The MoU introduces a centralized governance structure and a streamlined contractual framework to expedite the partnership, enabling new business opportunities and technological advancements. Central to this collaboration is the Siemens Xcelerator platform, offering cutting-edge software and hardware solutions to support Merck’s digital transformation efforts. The partnership emphasizes modular production using the plug & produce principle, which facilitates the easy addition, removal, or reconfiguration of process modules. This approach reduces time to market, investment costs, and CO2 emissions, while driving innovation and growth.
A recent success of this collaboration is the modular manufacturing line for GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production at Merck, based on the new automation standard MTP (Module Type Package). This technology ensures high-quality, safe manufacturing processes, reinforcing Merck’s commitment to excellence. While currently applied in pharmaceutical and chemical production, this automation technology has broader applications across various industries.
