Shanghai, September 9, 2005 - ABB, the leading power and automation technologies group, has announced it will move the headquarters of its global robotics business to Shanghai, reflecting market trends and the strategic importance of the company's operations in China.
"China is becoming the power engine of economic development. We need China to play a more and more important role in our global business operations," said Fred Kindle, president and CEO of the ABB Group.
ABB migrated one of its robotics production lines from Europe to Shanghai in March this year, and also set up an R&D center there. One month ago, ABB celebrated the 200th industrial robot rolling off the production line in Shanghai. The robots are now widely used for material handling, picking, packing, palletizing, welding, painting, gluing, sealing, and assembling in various industries like motor, IT and manufacturing automation.
Statistics indicate that the average growth rate of automotive industry worldwide is two percent while China foresees 15 percent for 2005. Driven by tremendous demand, both local and abroad, China's electronics industry is reportedly growing at a speed greater than any other region in the world.
"Automation technologies like robots are helping Chinese industry improve efficiency and productivity to a high degree," said Anders Jonsson, newly-named head of the $1.4 billion (2004 revenues) Robotics division. He is also a new member of the ABB Group Executive Committee.
Mr Jonsson was the head of the ABB Automation Technologies Division in China before this announcement. "The shift of the robotics business to Shanghai officially takes effect January 1, 2006," he said.
ABB is a market leader in robotics with more than 120,000 robots installed worldwide. China is home to ABB's third robot production unit, after Norway and Sweden.
In early 1970s ABB was first to develop the all-electric, microcomputer controlled industrial robot. Today, in the automotive, metal fabrication, foundry, plastics and consumer industries, ABB's wide range of products and solutions help pave the way for optimized production.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 103,000 people worldwide. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including manufacturing, R&D, sales and service, with 8,000 employees, 24 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 30 cities. To know more about ABB, visit www.abb.com.cn.