Siemens to sell industrial x-ray unit

The industrial analytic x-ray division is one of three business units that German conglomerate Siemens AG plans to sell as part of its ongoing restructuring effort, the Munich company reported this month. Although the move does not affect the company's Medical Engineering Group, there was some confusion about the group's status due to the way the news was reported in the international press.

Siemens is in the process of divesting some non-core businesses as part of a restructuring designed to improve profitability. The Medical Engineering Group, which includes the company's medical imaging operations, was rumored to be on the auction block earlier this year, but Siemens executives in July said they had no intention of selling the medical business (SCAN 8/6/97).

The divestiture rumors were briefly revived early this month after Siemens issued an announcement Sept. 2 that it was restructuring its industrial groups, which are not affiliated with Medical Engineering. Articles in European newspapers and wire services said Siemens would sell three businesses: x-ray equipment, communications test equipment, and electric wiring and lighting.

The news caused some Siemens observers to speculate about Medical Engineering's future at Siemens, but this was ultimately due to a misunderstanding: The press reports should have specified that the x-ray equipment unit mentioned was the company's industrial analytic x-ray activities, not Medical Engineering, according to a Siemens spokesperson. Siemens actually first announced it would sell the unit, Siemens Analytical X-ray Systems of Madison, WI, over a year ago.