ABB Unveils $60 Million Tech Investment for US Market

HOUSTON (March 14, 2017)—ABB unveiled its latest electrical innovations for the U.S. market, resulting from research and development, and operational investments of more than $60 million, according to a statement from the company. The investments for power distribution and protection, and residential circuit protection, complete ABB's portfolio extending its broad range of installation products from Thomas & Betts, the business ABB acquired in 2012, the company said. ABB said this effort builds on the $10 million investment to localize production in Senatobia, Mississippi, for a range of electrical components and systems previously manufactured overseas. The new 85,000-square-foot manufacturing plant, which opened in October 2016, currently employs more than 100 local employees and the company plans to increase the number to 300 in the next five years. In total, with additional investments in the sales team, logistics and other product development, ABB has invested more than $100 million in the U.S. market alone following its $3.9 billion purchase of Thomas & Betts. “With the expansion of our portfolio, we continue to show our strong commitment to our U.S. customers. ABB now has a complete offering of electrical solutions from a simple installation product such as a Ty-Rap™ through full electrical systems up to the medium-voltage substation,” said Tarak Mehta, president of Electrification Products division. “We now have the most competitive and technically advanced range in our industry and will continue to invest in innovation and people to support our customers here.” “ABB is committed to bringing its reliable, smart, and green power products and solutions to the U.S. market. We will continue to work to expand our portfolio here in the U.S. in line with the increasing market demand,” said Greg Scheu, president of ABB in the Americas. “Investing in R&D and manufacturing strengthens our competitive position and enables us to improve the value we offer our customers. This latest investment makes ABB an even stronger force in the electrical industry.”