ABB Targets Downstream with New Houston Plant

June 5, 2015

A new analytical systems integration facility, for refineries and petrochemical plants, continues the supplier’s ongoing investment in the U.S. Gulf region

Aaron Hand,

Aaron Hand

Like many other automation suppliers, ABB is continuing expansion in the Houston area, going after the booming downstream oil and gas industry with a new facility that will build fully integrated analyzer shelters.

As much as people might be concerned about the state of the upstream oil and gas industry amid falling oil prices, downstream action is better than ever. And all eyes seem to be on Houston lately as automation suppliers look to take advantage of increasing business in the U.S. Gulf region. Siemens made a similar move in April, expanding its Houston operations for analytical system integration.

ABB’s new 40,000 square foot analytical systems integration facility will manufacture integrated shelters containing analyzer systems for oil refineries and petrochemical plants. “This new facility is part of ABB’s continued expansion to serve our customers in this region and in the oil, gas and chemical industries, to provide them with the local resources, proven technology and access to global expertise they need to help achieve their production and system performance goals,” said John Quirke, analytical systems integration site manager.

The facility will provide complete analytical solutions, from initial engineering through system manufacturing, testing, field startup and support. Continuous emissions monitoring systems will include options from ABB’s line of more than 50 analyzer products, including gas chromatographs, continuous liquid and gas analyzers, as well as Reid Vapor Pressure, TDL and FTIR analyzers for integration into larger systems.

ABB has recently announced several new investments in the Gulf region, which is a major hub for energy, oil, gas, chemical and petrochemical industries in the U.S. Earlier this year, ABB held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new 75,000 square foot level measurement factory in Baton Rouge, La., and opened a new service office near Lake Charles, La. ABB also opened its new Automation and Power Center in Houston, showcasing products for utility, industry and infrastructure companies to increase their productivity and energy efficiency while maintaining safety and reliability.

The analytical systems integration facility is part of ABB's Measurement & Analytics business unit.

About the Author

Aaron Hand | Editor-in-Chief, ProFood World

Aaron Hand has three decades of experience in B-to-B publishing with a particular focus on technology. He has been with PMMI Media Group since 2013, much of that time as Executive Editor for Automation World, where he focused on continuous process industries. Prior to joining ProFood World full time in late 2020, Aaron worked as Editor at Large for PMMI Media Group, reporting for all publications on a wide variety of industry developments, including advancements in packaging for consumer products and pharmaceuticals, food and beverage processing, and industrial automation. He took over as Editor-in-Chief of ProFood World in 2021. Aaron holds a B.A. in Journalism from Indiana University and an M.S. in Journalism from the University of Illinois.