ABB in US$150m robotics expansion

Source: Xinhua | 2018-10-29

Shanghai’s government has signed an agreement for comprehensive and in-depth strategic cooperation with ABB, the world’s leading maker of robotics, in the fields of industry, energy, transport and infrastructure.

As an important part of the strategic cooperation signed on Saturday, and building on its significant, long-time presence in China, ABB announced that it would invest US$150 million to build the world’s most advanced robotics factory in Kangqiao, Shanghai.

The move will expand production capacity, increase efficiency, strengthen its leading position in robotics in China and better meet surging customer demand, the company said.

The 60,000-square-meter factory, just over 1 kilometer from ABB’s expansive China robotics campus, is due to begin operation by the end of 2020, creating the most sophisticated “factory of the future.”

“ABB will actively develop more technologies and solutions in digital, industrial Internet and artificial intelligence, and make contributions to the advancement of Shanghai’s high-end equipment manufacturing industry and the construction of a science and technology innovation center,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.