ABB, a leading robotics and automation company, has announced plans to invest $280 million in a new Robotics Campus in Västerås, Sweden. The investment aims to expand production capacity by 50%, meet growing customer demand, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve resources.
Construction of the 65,000 square meter campus is scheduled to begin in 2024. The new facility will replace nine separate buildings that ABB has been using since 1974. The consolidation into one campus will strengthen cross-functional synergies and establish Västerås as an automation cluster, allowing close proximity to customers, suppliers, academics, and partners.
The Robotics Campus will include a new factory, offices, a research and development center, an experience center, and a training center for customers and visitors. It will also feature autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to transport materials and products within the facility.
This investment is part of ABB’s broader strategy to distribute AI-enabled collaborative and industrial robots across Europe. The continent’s market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% until 2027. By having the new Robotics Campus in Sweden, ABB aims to maintain rapid lead times, reduce transportation time, and lower its carbon footprint.
The construction of the campus will align with ABB’s 2030 Sustainability Targets, including goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve resource preservation, and achieve carbon neutrality in its operations. The building materials and construction processes will be designed with sustainability in mind, and solar panels will be installed on the roof.
ABB also plans to offer digital solutions at the Robotics Campus to support its local for local production strategy and facilitate collaboration with customers and partners for further automation solutions.
Björn Rosengren, CEO of ABB, emphasized that the investment is driven by customer demand and projected market growth. He highlighted that 95% of the robots ABB sells in Europe are already manufactured in the region. The new Robotics Campus will further strengthen ABB’s capabilities in serving European customers.
Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation Business Area, stated that the investment comes at a favorable time for robotics and automation. The new campus will play a crucial role in supporting ABB’s European customers as they invest more in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) due to industry reshoring, sustainable supply chain initiatives, and labor shortages.
The Robotics Campus in Sweden will be located at the birthplace of ABB Robotics’ innovation. ABB developed the world’s first commercial all-electric robot nearly half a century ago. The new Research and Development (R&D) center at the campus will focus on developing new digital and AI-enabled technologies, making robotics more accessible across various industries.
In summary, ABB’s investment in the new Robotics Campus in Sweden reflects its commitment to meeting customer demand, expanding production, and advancing automation. The state-of-the-art facility will facilitate the development and distribution of AI-enabled robots, while also contributing to sustainability goals and strengthening collaboration with customers and partners.
