Peter Terwiesch, Member of the Executive Committee and President of the Process Automation Business Area at ABB Ltd, recently paid a visit to China, meeting with the local employees and the Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.
“Shanghai is one of the most important R&D, production, engineering and service bases for ABB in China, and I am very grateful to Shanghai for creating a first-class business environment. With our leading technology, innovations and expertise, ABB has a key role to play in empowering our customers in China to address some of their most important challenges, including industrial transformation and digitalization, as well as reaching the dual carbon goal. Our local teams are vital to this, serving some of the country’s – and indeed, the world’s – most demanding requirements. Our facilities in key locations such as Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou are the birthplace to some of the key technologies that contribute to driving the industrial transformation and digitalization,” said Terwiesch during the meeting with Mr. Frank Kong, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, on September 27.
Mr. Frank Kong introduced the situation of Shanghai's economic and social development as well as the construction of Five Centers which aims to develop Shanghai into a global center for economy, finance, trade, shipping and science and technology innovation. He said that the Yangtze River Delta is one of China's most dynamic economic hubs, and Shanghai, as the largest economic city in China and featuring openness, innovation and inclusiveness, is striving to create a first-class business ecosystem that is market-oriented, rule-of-law-oriented and internationalized. Shanghai is not only one of the most attractive destinations for foreign investment, but also a hotspot for MNCs to deploy their global industrial chain. We welcome ABB Group to deepen cooperation with Shanghai and achieve better development.
With China focus on achieving carbon neutrality through industrial transformation and sustainable development, ABB is well positioned to support local customers with its leading technologies, while leveraging global expertise and local know-how.
ABB’s Process Automation business offers a range of technologies and solutions for process and hybrid industries, including industry-specific integrated automation, electrification and digital solutions, control technologies, software and advanced services, as well as measurement & analytics and marine offerings. With a strong team of 1,500 people in China and factories and R&D labs located in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, the business supports industries that address a wide range of essential needs, from supplying energy, water and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market.
Many industries in China have placed digital transformation at the forefront of their agendas. With more than 70 percent of ABB’s R&D resources dedicated to digital and software innovations, and a robust ecosystem of digital partners, ABB is supporting customers in China to help them unlock insights hidden in operational data for better decisions and significant gains in productivity, reduced energy consumption and lower maintenance costs.
One example is the award-winning AquaMaster 4 Mobile Comms flowmeter, an Industrial IoT solution developed by ABB Measurement & AnalysisChina R&D team.
Earlier in June, ABB and China Telecom unveiled a joint digitalization and industrial IoT laboratory in Hangzhou, China to support manufacturing industries with end-to-end industrial IoT solutions. Through our partnerships and ongoing developments, ABB is also using AI as a tool for data analytics and looking at the new world of possibilities opened by generative AI.
With deep domain expertise and a complete portfolio for process automation, ABB is supporting industries to accelerate decarbonization and embrace renewables through automation and digital transformation in various projects globally as well as in China, such as BASF’s new Verbund site in Guangdong, Chinese hydrogen firm PERIC’s pilot plant for green hydrogen in Texas, Havfram Wind’s two new offshore wind turbine installation vessels built by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd., the first Chinese-built large cruise vessel, Adora Magic City, and China’s scientific expedition to Mount Qomolangma with ABB’s portable GHG emissions analyzer.
Terwiesch expressed his gratitude to China PA team’s great efforts for strong business performance at the Town Hall Meetings with local employees. This year marks the 20th anniversary of ABB's Marine business in China while its factory in Shanghai has delivered nearly 200 units of marine electric propulsion systems since its establishment 12 years ago to support the electrification and sustainable development of marine transport; the vehicle-based ABB MobileGuard™ Gas Leak Detection System has provided detection service and technical support for more than one million kilometers of pipelines for more than 150 gas companies across China; Paper quality control system plant in Shanghai is set to complete the production of its 700th product by the end of 2023. These achievements have casted one and another milestone in ABB Process Automation’s development in China.
China remains a promising market for ABB, and the company will continue its strategic focus of serving customers in the country with locally manufactured products and solutions, and support China’s long-term goal of low-carbon transformation and high-quality development. More ABB innovations will be unveiled at the sixth China International Import Expo which will be held in Shanghai early next month.
