ABB

ABB is a pioneering multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, specializing in electrical equipment and industrial automation. Formed through a historic merger between Sweden's ASEA and Switzerland's BBC Brown Boveri, the company has grown into a global leader in robotics, power grids, and digitalization technologies. Its products and systems are integral to industries ranging from manufacturing and utilities to transportation and infrastructure, driving efficiency and sustainability worldwide.

History

The company was established in 1988 from the merger of ASEA, founded by Ludvig Fredholm in Sweden, and BBC Brown Boveri, founded by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri in Baden. This union, orchestrated by Percy Barnevik and Ulrich Bremi, created one of the world's largest engineering conglomerates. Major early projects included supplying high-voltage direct current systems for projects like the Itaipu Dam and expanding rapidly into Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The early 21st century saw significant portfolio shifts, including the sale of its nuclear power business to Westinghouse Electric Company and the divestiture of its power grids division to Hitachi in 2020, sharpening its focus on industrial automation and robotics.

Products and services

The company's portfolio is centered on electrification and automation technologies. Its electrification segment produces a wide array of components including circuit breakers, switchgear, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and solar inverters. The robotics and discrete automation division, largely built on the legacy of acquired companies like General Electric Industrial Solutions, manufactures industrial robots, machine automation solutions, and collaborative robots used in automotive assembly and electronics manufacturing. The process automation unit provides control systems, measurement instruments, and marine propulsion systems for industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, and shipping.

Corporate structure

Organized into four primary business areas, the company operates under a decentralized model with a strong regional presence. These divisions are Electrification, Process Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, each led by an executive committee member reporting to CEO Björn Rosengren. The Board of Directors is chaired by Peter Voser, former CEO of Royal Dutch Shell. Major operational entities include ABB Ability, its unified digital platform, and the ABB Robotics division headquartered in Västerås, Sweden. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zürich and the Nasdaq Stockholm in Sweden.

Operations and markets

With a footprint in over 100 countries, the company maintains significant research and manufacturing facilities in Germany, the United States, China, and India. Key operational hubs include its Campus Baden in Switzerland for power electronics and the Shanghai robotics factory, one of its most advanced. It serves critical markets in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, with major projects such as providing automation for the Gotthard Base Tunnel and grid connections for North Sea wind farms. The Motion division supplies high-efficiency motors and drives to sectors like mining and water treatment, while its E-mobility unit is a leading provider of charging stations across networks like Ionity.

Technology and innovation

The company is a leader in integrating operational technology with information technology, primarily through its ABB Ability digital ecosystem. This platform utilizes artificial intelligence and analytics for predictive maintenance in industries from steelmaking to data centers. Its robotics division, with a history dating to the launch of the IRB 6 robot, now pioneers collaborative robots like YuMi used in consumer electronics assembly. Significant R&D efforts are directed toward energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and industrial IoT, with major centers at the ABB Corporate Research lab in Västerås and partnerships with institutions like the ETH Zurich and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Category:Companies listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange Category:Engineering companies of Switzerland Category:Robotics companies Category:Companies based in Zürich