ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has today opened a new advanced manufacturing facility in Senatobia, Mississippi, to produce electrical components for the US market. The 85,000-square-foot facility will produce ABB Tmax XT, the smallest and most technologically advanced molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs). The plant will also manufacture the company's Emax2, the world's first integrated air circuit breaker (ACB) and power manager. These breakers for the US market were previously manufactured overseas.
This facility will also produce a wide range of protection and control products. These are used on a variety of industrial, commercial and municipal electrical applications. Some examples are data centers, solar and wind renewable energy, manufacturing plants, food processing facilities, and water and wastewater facilities.
The plant will create 200 new jobs by the third year of operation, with another 100 jobs expected to be added by the fifth year.
Local and state officials attended the grand opening event, including Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, and from ABB's Electrification Products division, managing director of the Protection and Connection business, Giampiero Frisio and executive vice president for North America, Franklin Sullivan. The event was also attended by ABB customers from around the country.
"We will be manufacturing products here specifically for the U.S. market using advanced manufacturing methods," said Frisio. "This investment was made in the surrounding Memphis area to have our production facility close to our U.S. headquarters. As a pioneering technology leader, we aim to have the broadest portfolio to make doing business easier for our customers."
In the last ten years, ABB has invested $10 billion in the U.S. and is the only manufacturer of MCCBs in America for American customers.
"Advanced manufacturing is a major economic driver for Mississippi. I thank the ABB team for strengthening the state's position as a leader in this sector by locating its new advanced technology manufacturing operations in Tate County," Gov. Bryant said. "'Made in Mississippi' is a stamp of quality worldwide, and the skilled workforce found in North Mississippi will ensure the company enjoys many years of success in Senatobia."
With an on-site engineering team, the Senatobia facility has the capability to design and produce custom enclosed control assemblies consisting of the complete line of ABB electrification protection and control products.
ABB, with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, has selected Memphis as the U.S. ABB Electrification Products Division headquarters. Memphis also is the global headquarters for the Electrification Products Installation Products Business Unit, which includes Thomas & Betts, acquired by ABB in 2012.
The Mississippi Development Authority and the Tate County Economic Development Foundation provided assistance in support of the project for infrastructure needs and workforce training.
About ABB
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people. The company's North American operations, headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, employ about 20,000 people in multiple manufacturing, service, engineering and other major facilities.
