Siemens-Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG, Europe’s largest computer manufacturer, says it is now beginning to reap the benefits of its purchase of big chunks of the East German computer conglomerate VEB Kombinat Robotron last year, a special correspondent writes from Moscow. East Europe divisional manager Gunter Lukas says CH Robotron engineers have been key in securing several large systems orders in the Soviet Union due to be publicised later this summer. Siemens took on what is described as the best Robotron engineers and has trained them as its East European sales force. They have the personal contacts in the market which is very people-oriented, says Lukas. Siemens Eastern Europe now operates out of Dresden, former home of Kombinat Robotron. The rest of Robotron remains under the control of the German privatisation agency the Treuhand. Robotron Prazisionstechnik und Elektronik’s Dieter Hicmann says the company has suffered badly from the confusion caused by German unification. It has also lost touch with many of its East European customers because of the general state of turmoil in the region. Robotron PE sells East German and US-made Winchester drives, disk drives and optical drives.
