ABB to invest $433m in new robotics factory

Electrification and automation company ABB will invest US$280 million (AU$433.2 million) to expand its manufacturing footprint in Europe by building a new European robotics campus in Sweden.

The new campus will serve as the hub for ABB Robotics’ offerings on the continent, providing customers with AI-enabled collaborative and industrial robots.

It will bring together automated manufacturing, R&D, customer experience and training centres to help develop the next generation of AI-enabled technologies.

Once complete, ABB will have invested US$450 million in its three robotics facilities since 2018, including its mega factory in Shanghai for the Asian market and the Auburn Hills facility in Michigan in the US that supports the Americas.

The new factory will also feature autonomous mobile robots that will transport materials and products between the warehouse, assembly stations and assembly departments. Construction is expected to commence next year. The campus will replace ABB’s existing robotics operations in Sweden.

ABB CEO Björn Rosengren said the investment in the facility is being driven by customer demand and projected market growth.

“Following important investments in China and the US, the new facility in Sweden will strengthen our capabilities in serving our customers in Europe with locally manufactured products in a growing market,” he said.

“Already today, around 95% of the robots ABB sells in the region are manufactured here. This is a strong commitment not only to our ‘local for local’ strategy, but to all our robotics customers across Europe.”

Image caption: Production floor at ABB Robotics’ new campus in Sweden. (Artist’s impression.)