ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 130,000 people.
Technology leadership, global presence, application knowledge and local expertise are key factors in order to offer products, systems and services that enable, ABB's customers, to improve their business in terms of energy efficiency, reliability of networks and industrial productivity.
ABB was born in 1988 from the merge of two leading European industrial Companies: the Swedish ASEA, founded in 1883, and the Swiss Brown Boveri, founded in 1891, which acquired the oldest electromechanical Italian company in 1903, Tecnomasio Italiano, founded in 1863. In Italy ABB gathered the legacy and the experience of most of the electromechanical Italian sector and of important companies who have contributed to the industrial history of the Country such as Ercole Marelli, SACE, Officine Adda and Ansaldo Trasformatori.
ABB is organized in five divisions called Power Products, Power Systems, Discrete Automation and Motion, Low Voltage Products and Process Automation and in eight regions: North America, South America, Northern Europe, Central Europe, Mediterranean, India, Middle East & Africa (IMA), North Asia, South Asia. In every region there is a regional hub.
ABB is listed in New York (NYSE), Zurich (Virt-x) and Stockholm (Stockholm Exchange).
- Orders in 2010: $32,681 million dollars
- Revenues in 2010: $31,589 million dollars
ABB in Italy
ABB Italy operates in Italy with 5.550 people (up to 31.12.2010) in several operational units concentrated in North and Central Italy. In 2010 exports revenues represented 56 percent of the turnover.
- Orders in 2010: 2,242 million euros
- Revenues in 2010: 2,462 million euros
Italy is the
hub for Mediterranean region which includes, besides Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, the Balcanics, Malta, Israel Lybia and Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia).
Power Products
Power Products are the key components to transmit and distribute electricity. The division incorporates ABB's manufacturing network for transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, cables and associated equipment. It also offers all the services needed to ensure products' performance and extend their lifespan.
Power Systems
Power Systems offers turnkey systems and services for power transmission and distribution grids, and for power plants. Substations and substation automation systems are key areas. Additional highlights include flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS), high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems and network management systems. In power generation, Power Systems offers the instrumentation, control and electrification of power plants.
Discrete Automation and Motion
This division provides products, solutions and related services that increase industrial productivity and energy efficiency. Its motors, generators, drives, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), power electronics and robotics provide power, motion and control for a wide range of automation applications.The leading position in wind generators and a growing offering in solar complement the industrial focus, leveraging joint technology, channels and operations platforms.
Low Voltage Products
The Low Voltage Products division manufactures low-voltage circuit breakers, switches, control products, wiring accessories, enclosures and cable systems to protect people, installations and electronic equipment from electrical overload. The division further makes KNX systems that integrate and automate a building's electrical installations, ventilation systems, and security and data communication networks.
Process Automation
The main focus of this ABB business is to provide customers with products and solutions for instrumentation, automation and optimization of industrial processes. The industries served include oil and gas, power, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, metals and minerals, marine and turbocharging. Key customer benefits include improved asset productivity and energy savings.
Highlights
Within the Group, ABB Italy (
www.abb.it) has worldwide technological leadership for low voltage moulded case and air circuit breakers, low voltage residual current devices, pressure sensors and transmitters, medium voltage air insulated switchgears and medium voltage breakers. Moreover ABB Italy has worldwide responsibility of R&D for automation systems products in power generation systems, of development, production and sales of MV asyncronous motors (explosive atmosphere, slip ring and large induction motors) and of the Global Technical Service Center for motors and generators. It is a center of excellence for turn-key plants in the oil and gas field and for advanced automation solutions. ABB Italy invests 2,3% of revenues in R&D.
The principles of the business of ABB Italy
To build value, leadership and performance in ABB, responsibility, respect and determination are crucial. Take responsibility and act with respect and determination is the way to ensure the development of ABB's traditional points of strength: technology leadership, pioneering spirit and ability to be at home in any market.
The key to success lies in the ability of ABB’s people to understand and apply the business principles, collected in a Code of Conduct, which demonstrates the commitment to act in an ethical manner with integrity and respect in every situation, while respecting the rights of persons as individuals
Sustainable development
Our commitment to sustainable development comes from a clear strategic planning that enables us to deliver today, answers to customers seeking products and services with high energy efficiency and environmental performance. The attention to environmental issues and the focus on resource saving, allowed us, over the past two years, also to significantly increase our efficiency. In our business, we aim to reach excellence in management systems covering quality, environment, safety and ethics. We want to give to all employees a safe working environment where people feel gratified and meet society’s expectations on corporate social responsibility.