Links production facility with new R&D center
Shanghai, China, March 10, 2005 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, said today its first robot has rolled off the production line in Shanghai.
"Our new robot line increases our competitiveness by allowing us to deliver faster for Chinese customers," said Per Vegard Nerseth, head of ABB’s Manufacturing Automation business in China. "In addition, our new local team can quickly respond to requests for spare parts and after sales service.
"The first two paint robots are for Flextronics Dongguan, and we have also received the order from InterSmart Robotics Systems to supply our first five general robots produced in China."
The high-tech robot line is designed to produce 1,200 units per year. It will primarily serve Chinese customers, but Nerseth says it will eventually serve other customers throughout Asia.
"The robotics industry is changing rapidly, and we feel like we are ahead of the curve here in China, in terms of production and related R&D, both in Shanghai and at the new R&D center opening in Beijing later this month." ABB’s robotics-related R&D work in China will center on mechantronics.
A market leader in robotics with more than 100,000 robots installed worldwide, ABB built the new production line with support from teams in Norway and Sweden. China is home to ABB’s third robot production unit, after those two countries.
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. ABB in China (www.abb.com.cn) employs around 7,000 people in 27 companies and sales offices in 30 major cities.