ABB announces recent breakthroughs in power and automation technologies
January 2004
News
Online technology briefings launched
Johannesburg, 18 November, 2003 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has announced that the group's spending on research and development was US$ 799 million (4,5% of revenues) in 2002.
ABB has launched two online technology briefings on a number of its technology breakthroughs on its Web site ( www.abb.com).
"We have been working successfully for more than 100 years in power and automation - a history steeped in technology - and despite market fluctuations, we have always maintained a stable portfolio of research programmes," said Markus Bayegan, ABB's chief technology officer.
This year's power technologies briefings include strategic overviews on power grid technologies that can help utilities prevent blackouts, a new generation of circuit breakers, new polymer materials and new software.
In automation technologies, the briefings include a new 'sensitive' robot, a breakthrough fieldbus plug, special web-imaging technology and environmentally superior mini-drives.
ABB runs 10 research programmes internationally in two core areas: power technologies and automation technologies. Each global laboratory combines research units in the US, Europe and Asia. ABB is building up its R&D activities in India, Singapore and China.
In South Africa, ABB relies much on the group's global technology but has developed technologies in the mining industry such as for mine winders, and retrofit medium voltage switchgear.
"ABB's commitment to research and development provides our customers with leading quality products which we customise and engineer to offer local solutions," says Carlos Poñe, CEO, ABB South Africa.
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. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120 000 people.
ABB in southern Africa ( www.abb.com/za) employs close to 2800 people and has operations in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ABB South Africa manufactures and supplies power and automation technology products and specialises in electricity infrastructure and industrial automation projects.
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