{"id":578132,"date":"2024-03-13T06:00:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T10:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/?p=578132"},"modified":"2024-03-13T15:26:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T19:26:00","slug":"abb-expands-robot-production-and-training-in-auburn-hills-mich","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therobotreport.com\/abb-expands-robot-production-and-training-in-auburn-hills-mich\/","title":{"rendered":"ABB expands robot production and training in Auburn Hills, Mich."},"content":{"rendered":"
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ABB has expanded production, staff, and training space in Auburn Hills, Mich. Source: ABB<\/p><\/div>\n

ABB Ltd. today opened its renovated U.S. robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Mich. The company said the site will support ABB Robotics\u2019 development and production of leading systems in and for the Americas.<\/p>\n

ABB added that it is investing in long-term growth in the U.S. market, which it predicted will experience an 8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The company<\/a>, which is based in Sweden and Switzerland, said this is its third global robotics factory expansion in three years across China, Europe, and the Americas and is part of its efforts to strengthen its “local-for-local” footprint.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe opening of our refitted state-of-the-art U.S. robotics headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., is a significant part of our global growth story, reaffirming our commitment to industry leadership in the U.S.,\u201d stated Sami Atiya, president of ABB\u2019s Robotics and Discrete Automation Business Area<\/a>. \u201cRobotics and AI are essential tools for companies in addressing critical labor shortages, localized supply chains, and the need to operate more sustainably.”<\/p>\n

“The advances in AI-driven software and hardware make our robots more accessible to a wider range of businesses, enabling them to increase resilience and become more competitive,” he added. “America is now the world\u2019s second-largest robotics market, and our production facility will help ABB support existing customers, as well as new growth sectors across the U.S. and the Americas region.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"SITELearn from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and many more.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Auburn Hills gets four enhancements<\/h2>\n

With a 30% increase in space, the $20 million<\/a> Auburn Hills facility will support ABB\u2019s efforts to be a strategic partner for its growing customer base.<\/p>\n

“We had our first manipulator roll off the line in 2016, and ABB is still the first major robotics company to manufacture systems in the U.S.,” said John Bubnikovich, president of ABB’s U.S. Robotics Division. “We want this and our other competence centers to get closer to customers, to understand their needs and requirements from a segment standpoint.”<\/p>\n

He told\u00a0The Robot Report<\/em><\/a> that the expanded facilities include four key parts: a Customer Experience Center, training space, more flexible production, and modernized employee workspaces.<\/p>\n

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From left: Marc Segura, John Bubnikovich, and Sami Atiya cut the ribbon opening ABB’s new facility. Source: ABB<\/p><\/div>\n

Customer Experience Center<\/h3>\n

Bubnikovich said ABB’s new Customer Experience Center will “showcase its latest and greatest technologies.” It will also provide a venue for ABB to collaborate with educational institutions and customers on digital and AI-powered automation.<\/p>\n

“Robots used to be complicated and needed a lot of people to deploy, but it’s now easier,” Bubnikovich said. “Education and outreach are critical factors to growth. An SME [small-to-midsize enterprise] can now effectively apply robots without an army of engineers.”<\/p>\n

New training center<\/h3>\n

While ABB had already trained 5,000 staffers and users to date, the expansion will increase the number of people going through application and robot training, he said.<\/p>\n

Complete with a new training center, the Ann Arbor facility will educate more than 5,000 workers and students each year. In addition to capitalizing on the concentration of technical skills in the community, ABB said it will train workers with no prior experience or degree with the skills needed to build a successful career in the robotics and automation industry.<\/p>\n

“There will be something for everyone — from basic robot programming to advanced applications like painting,” said Bubnikovich.<\/p>\n