ABB opens modernized robot plant in the US

The approximately 20 million US dollar expansion reaffirms ABB's commitment to long-term growth in robotics in the US, where ABB management expects annual growth of 8 percent between 2023 and 2026. The company is also expanding its robotics and automation capabilities and creating an additional 72 jobs. This third expansion of a robot factory - after China and Europe - reflects ABB's efforts to increase local production.

The expansion of the Auburn Hills robotics plant, which opened in 2015, reflects the company's focus on the US market and its commitment to further investment in Michigan. It was funded with a 450,000 dollar performance-based grant from the Michigan Business Development Program. ABB capitalizes on the region's unique concentration of skilled workers and provides workers with no prior experience or degree access to training in the skills they need for a successful career in the robotics and automation industry. ABB Robotics has invested a total of $30 million in four U.S. locations since 2019. The latest investment in Auburn Hills is part of ABB's previously announced 170 million dollar investment in its electrification and automation businesses in the US.

Sami Atiya, Head of ABB's Robotics and Factory Automation business, comments: "AI and robotics are essential tools for companies seeking solutions to tightening labor shortages, localized supply chains and more sustainable manufacturing and logistics. Thanks to advances in AI-driven software and hardware, our robots are becoming a viable option for more and more companies to increase resilience and competitiveness. The Americas is now the second largest robotics market in the world, and our expanded manufacturing footprint will help us support existing customers and new growth sectors in the US and across the Americas."

Streamlining supply chains in the USA

The Auburn Hills plant has been expanded by 30 percent to enable ABB to serve a growing customer base as a strategic partner for robotics. The company plans to develop and manufacture next-generation robots at the site. In the new Customer Experience Center, ABB will showcase its hardware and software solutions and work with customers to advance digital and AI-powered automation technologies.

Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, added: "ABB's technology supports the production of electric vehicles, medical devices, electronics and even baked goods around the world. Today's expansion of ABB's robotics headquarters will streamline the supply chain and reduce delays in production while building on ABB's longstanding investment in local workforce development and hands-on training. We will strive to attract additional world-class investments to Michigan."

ABB Robotics US headquarters to support other US locations

The expanded facility will also support ABB Robotics' Packaging and Logistics Hub in Atlanta, Georgia, the Lifesciences and Healthcare Hub at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, and the AI Research Lab in San Jose, California. The integrated new training center is expected to train more than 3,000 workers and students each year in the skills they need to succeed in the new era of AI-powered automation.

John Bubnikovich, Head of ABB Robotics in the US, said: "We look forward to better supporting our customers, expanding our role as a major employer, and driving the transformation of society and industry towards a more productive, sustainable future."