ABB to Build New Manufacturing Site
- Published: March 18, 2015
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND/HOUSTON, TX | ABB, supplier of power and automation technology, will invest $30 million in building a new manufacturing site and expanding its customer experience center for its Low Voltage Products division in the Memphis, TN, area.
The investment will initially create more than 200 jobs, the company says, with a further 100 jobs expected to be added over the next five years. ABB's total workforce in the Americas has tripled over the last five years to about 20,000 as the company has expanded across the region, including its $3.9 billion purchase of Memphis-based electrical components maker Thomas & Betts in 2012.
The manufacturing, R&D, and training investment will support the Low Voltage Products business to expand its ABB products offering alongside the Thomas & Betts portfolio to offer a broad range of electrical connection, protection, and distribution solutions and technical support offerings.
Brian Herington, Americas Region Division Head for ABB Low Voltage Products, says, “We have successfully integrated two organizations now; building on the distribution and marketing strengths of Thomas & Betts and the technology heritage of ABB. We grew our electrical business by more than 8 percent in 2014, in the United States. This investment supports the increasing demand for the ABB portfolio. The combination of ABB and Thomas & Betts really is more than the sum of the two parts. We have exciting growth plans and intend to ensure that we build on our reputation as the supplier of choice in this market.”
The new facility will be located in the Memphis area and will represent more than 120,000 sq ft (11,100 sq m). Products from across the company’s low voltage product portfolio will be assembled there, including what is said to be the world’s first integrated breaker and power manager, Emax2, alongside other breakers, switches, power distribution systems, modular enclosure and DIN rail products, and control products including our new soft starter solution.
In addition to the new facility, ABB will invest in a new customer experience center at its existing Memphis location, which is now the Americas headquarters for the division. The business will upgrade its training suite to accommodate the requirements of its expanding product portfolio and commitment to best in class technical support and training.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
