Such power systems are an important contribution to the energy revolution and a sustainable future. They are used for reliable distribution of electricity and production of renewables like solar and wind power. Since the first SafeRing/SafePlus switchgear saw the light of day in the mid-1980s at ABB in Skien, the factory has manufactured one million such systems at an estimated value of NOK 25 billion.
"This milestone is a huge success for ABB as a workplace and the shift towards greater sustainability," said Ken Isaksen, local business line manager for ABB’s Electrification Distribution Solutions business line in Skien. “The fact that the export share is around 80 percent is very gratifying.”
Sales and export have rocketed he explains: “We have doubled manufacturing over the last five years. This year, we will export switchgear worth one and a half billion NOK. Now, 100 countries are on the customer list and we see growth particularly in the wind power industry. In fact, every fifth wind turbine in the world features switchgear from ABB in Skien.”
Isaksen says that a year's production of the switchgear would constitute a wall 20 kilometers long if they were placed side by side.
The global market position reveals world-class production. According to Isaksen, a complete value chain, from innovation to service, under the same roof, plays a crucial role.
“A high level of automation and very skilled operators are vital. At the same time, a comprehensive value chain, from research and development to manufacturing, sales and service, provides important synergies. When the environments for development and production can work closely together, an unbeatable combination occurs,” he explains. “Our technology center, for example, has 40 development engineers from all over the world with leading expertise in materials technology, chemistry, physics, mechanics, electronics, power and digitalization.”
With 650 employees, ABB is the Skien municipality's largest private workplace. The company develops, manufactures and exports electrical equipment for power distribution.
ABB offers products and services that make a decisive contribution toward greater sustainability in industry. Over half of ABB's worldwide revenues are generated by technologies that combat the causes of climate change. The company’s goal is to increase this contribution from 57 percent in 2018 to 60 percent by 2020.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a technology leader that is driving the digital transformation of industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB has four, customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by the ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com
