ABB announced it is accelerating its growth strategy in the United States by investing approximately $170 million in manufacturing, innovation and distribution operations to address increased demand for electrification and automation products and support current clean energy transition and reshoring trends.
“The United States is critical to ABB’s success as a market that will continue to grow and benefit from our product portfolio that enables the transition to a more energy-efficient future,” said Björn Rosengren, CEO of ABB. “Currently, 85% of ABB’s sales in the U.S. are from products produced locally, which provides customers with a more secure supply chain and keeps good-paying manufacturing jobs in America.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act is triggering investment in clean energy and supporting businesses that can produce technology locally,” said Michael Gray, U.S. Country Holding Officer of ABB.
The U.S. federal government projects real gross domestic product to increase 2.5% in 2023, average 2% annual growth between 2024-2028, and is projected to grow 2.3% per year between 2029-2032. ABB says this projected GDP growth, combined with an estimated global EV infrastructure investment of more than $1 trillion by 2040, gives ABB the confidence to continue investing. ABB projects 25% of global EV infrastructure investment will take place in the US.
Projects underway in the US that are part of ABB’s announced investments include:
- New Berlin, Wis.: A new Drives and Motion Services manufacturing facility is being built to increase ABB’s U.S. production capacity of industrial electric drives and provide additional customer services. This facility will manufacture a range of AC variable frequency drives and controls which reduce energy consumption in buildings and industrial applications in the US market. The nearly $100 million greenfield investment is expected to be completed in late 2024 and is replacing a neighboring existing facility, which employs approximately 720 workers. ABB projects around 100 new jobs will be added over the next three years.
- Memphis, Tenn.: A $3 million Installation Products Research and Development Lab and Innovation Center to accelerate development of new products.
- Atlanta, Ga.: Opening of a packaging and logistics facility for end-to-end robotic automation solutions in warehouse and distribution, retail and logistics industries. This $2 million investment will open in 2023 and create approximately 15 jobs.
- Albuquerque, N.M.: A $40 million investment in a new facility to manufacture Elastimold underground cable accessories to support strengthening a more sustainable US electrical grid. The investment will create 55 new jobs and will be completed by 2024.
- Auburn Hills, Mich.: This $20 million investment is an expansion of ABB’s North American robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility. The expansion will create 72 jobs and be completed by the end of 2023.
- Lehigh Valley, Pa.: A $4 million+ investment to open a new Installation Products Division Northeast Distribution Center in 2023. The investment will create more than 100 jobs and is expected to help reduce delivery times of high-demand electrification products to contractors by up to 50%.
- Columbia, S.C.: Opening of a new electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility to build up to 10,000 chargers per year, ranging from 20kW to 180kW in power. This ABB E-mobility investment will create over 100 jobs.
Since 2010, ABB has invested $14 billion in US plant expansions, operational improvements, state-of-the-art equipment, products, and people, making it the company’s largest market. With approximately 20,000 employees in more than 40 manufacturing and distribution facilities, ABB is investing, growing and serving customers across America through industries that create jobs, encourage innovation and achieve a more productive, sustainable future.
