Writing the digital future in this vital, growing market
More than 6,000 ABB customers, partners and other experts are gathered in Xiamen, China this week for ABB Customer World 2018. Under the theme “Let’s write the digital future. Together,” ABB is showcasing cutting-edge technology from each of its four divisions – Electrification Products, Power Grids, Industrial Automation, and Robotics and Motion. ABB is also introducing 20 new ABB Ability™ digital, connected solutions and the latest cloud platform to serve utilities, industry, and transport & infrastructure customers everywhere.
This year’s ABB Customer World features a special focus on vital trends that are transforming and strengthening companies, countries and communities around the world, including grid and industrial digitalization, smart factories and sustainable transportation.
Kicking off the conference was a keynote presentation from ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, highlighting ABB’s leadership role in China and discussing ways ABB is helping the country transform itself into a global, high-tech power – key goals of China’s 13th five-year plan and its “Made in China 2025” initiative. Spiesshofer also discussed how ABB is supporting customers across China build leadership positions in and sustainable solutions for advanced, digitally connected industries and contributing to major projects in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the ambitious infrastructure development and investment strategy across Europe, Asia and Africa.
Since the launch of ABB’s leading ABB Ability™ digital offering in China last year, ABB’s digital business in China has doubled in size as the company is supporting the digital transformation of many Chinese customers.
Also, presenting at ACW China was Madeline Gannon, known as the Robot Whisperer for her groundbreaking work on human-robot collaboration. Click here to learn more about Dr. Gannon.
ACW China capped a very busy few weeks for ABB in the country. Earlier this week, the company inaugurated its advanced innovation and manufacturing hub in Xiamen, a strong symbol of ABB’s ongoing commitment to China. The company also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the government of Guangdong to further deepen the collaboration in the fields of utilities, industry, transport and infrastructure. Last week, ABB signed a number of important framework agreements with customers at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. In October, the company announced a US$150 million investment in a new robotics “factory of the future” in Shanghai.
Earlier this year, ABB inaugurated a new Robotics Application Center in Chongqing, the company’s fourth such site in China. And in December 2017, it opened the ABB Shenzhen New Energy Technology Center, which carries out research and development for solar and electric-vehicle-charging solutions for use around the world. ABB has invested more than US$2.4 billion in China since 1992.
Xiamen was home to ABB’s first joint venture in China 26 years ago and has played a crucial role in the development of ABB in China, where the company now employs 18,000 people in more than 140 cities, including more than 2,000 in R&D.
