Siemens AG has signed a framework agreement with Computerelektronik Dresden GmbH – phoenix from the ashes of the old state-owned Robotron Elektronik Dresden operation – that will have the two collaborating in hardware research and development, and will allow Computerelektronik Dresden to manufacture Siemens MS-DOS-based PCD-2s, Sinix-based MX 300s, and the BS2000 mainframes. Computerwoche reports that for the manufacture of the mainframes, the two plants in Dresden and Augsburg will start off by by working on past versions of the System 7.560 processor to gain experience in Siemens’ manufacturing techniques; in all other areas, the ex-Robotron engineers will be schooled in the manufacture of Siemens hardware to present-day Siemens standards. Computer Elektronik, which has already started its first research and development project with Siemens this month, will begin manufacturing in October, with the first shipments available by the end of the year; until it has established its own sales network, Siemens, which clearly intends to keep a firm grip on the new company, will handle sales from its Berlin branch; eventually, a sales network covering not just East Germany, but the Soviet Union and other East European markets is envisaged. Overall, the operation hopes to reach a market worth around $250m by 1992. As to whether Computer Elektronik Dresden will be manufacturing Nixdorf-origin products as well, a spokesman for Siemens commented: at the moment we just can’t say. Separately, Siemens announced an automatic operator unit for its C40 family of office computers, which run the BS2000 mainframe operating system. The company says that the 3921 ATOP provides automatic start-up, monitoring and shut-down for unattended operation from a desktop unit with 3.5 floppy disk for simple software updates, and a 12 monitor and keyboard; remote ATOP units can be connected by phone up to two and a half miles away.
