Digital technology company ABB has announced a significant investment of $280 million to construct a state-of-the-art robotics campus in Västerås, Sweden. The campus will serve as the central hub for ABB Robotics’ European operations, providing customers with collaborative and industrial robots equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, as well as digital solutions for flexible automation.
The new facility will replace the existing nine separate buildings that have been used for ABB’s robotics operations since 1974, consolidating operations into a single modern workspace. Spanning 65,000 square meters, the campus will house offices, a research and development (R&D) hub, an experiential center, and a training venue for both customers and visitors.
One notable feature of the campus will be the integration of autonomous mobile robots, which will efficiently transport materials and products throughout the warehouse, assembly stations, and assembly departments.
According to Björn Rosengren, ABB CEO, the decision to invest in the new campus was driven by customer demand and projected market growth. ABB is committed to serving its European customers with locally manufactured products, with approximately 95% of the robots sold in the region already manufactured in Sweden.
This investment is expected to strengthen ABB’s position as a global leader in robotics and automation. It will increase production capacity by 50% and enhance the company’s ability to meet the growing demands of the European market.
The robot campus will foster close collaboration with customers and partners, offering them the opportunity to test and experiment with their automation solutions on-site. Furthermore, the campus aligns with ABB’s sustainability targets for 2030, focusing on achieving carbon neutrality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Construction of the new robotics campus is set to begin next year, with an expected opening date of late 2026.
Sources:
– ABB Robotics. (n.d.). ABB to build new robotics factory in Sweden. Retrieved from [source]
– ABB Robotics. (2022, January 18). ABB to build new $280 million robotics factory in Sweden. Retrieved from [source]