Business Philosophy
The company’s business philosophy is to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the manufacturing industry by supplying products and systems for flexible automation as well as by offering local service. An important part of this business philosophy is the establishment of a partnership with distributors and customers.

Brief Corporate History
The company was founded in 1973. In 1974, the first industrial robot was launched, the IRB 6, and a large-scale export effort was initiated.
The 1980s were characterized by a rapid development of robot technology, during which time, for example, the arc-welding and painting robots were introduced. Between 1989 and 1993, a number of companies were acquired, including the Industrial Robot Division of Milacron in Cincinnati, U.S.A.— which manufactures robots for spot-welding—and ESAB Robotics Europe and Americas, which specializes in arc-welding systems.

Business & Operations
The company develops, designs, and manufactures robotics systems for such operations as welding, assembly, painting, machine tending, packaging, palletizing, and general material handling. It is a world leader in this field.

Product Development
ABB Flexible Automation has development centers in North America, Europe, and Japan, employing more than 200 design engineers in the areas of software, mechanics, and control technology. The consumer-goods industry is a priority area. Product development takes place in Consumer Goods System Houses in Europe, Australia, and the U.S.A. in close collaboration with customers.

Ownership
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ABB Asea Brown Boveri Group.

Organization
The manufacture of robots takes place in Norway, France, Sweden, and Switzerland. The company has sales companies in more than 30 countries around the world. These sales companies are responsible for marketing, sales, and service in their respective countries.

Market
The market consists of industrial corporations in most of the application areas. The auto industry and its subsuppliers represent the single biggest market. Strategic efforts, directed towards the manufacturers of consumer goods, have just begun. In total, there are more than 60,000 ABB robots in the world market.

Number of Employees
Of the total of 5,000 employees, 900 are in the U.S.A., 600 in France, 800 in Germany, 30 in Italy, and 60 in Switzerland.

Turnover
The annual turnover amounts to approximately US$ 1.4 billion.

Headquarters
ABB Flexible Automation
Schaffhauserstrasse 418
CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Phone +41 1 318 1092
Fax +41 1 318 1088

President
U.S.A.: Silas Nichols
Italy: Paolo Leone
Germany: Olle Jarleborg
Switzerland: Hanspeter Wilt
France: Fabrice Dejoux

For further information, please contact:
ABB Flexible Automation Inc.
Ann Smith, Marketing Communication Manager
2487 South Commerce Drive
New Berlin, WI 53151
Phone (414) 785 8532
Fax (414) 785 0342
http://www.abb.se/robotics/welcome.htm

ABB Flexible Automation
Mats Skoglund, Marketsegment Manager, Consumer Goods
S-721 68 Västerås, Sweden
Phone: +46 21-34 42 99
Fax: +46 21-34 41 88
E-post: mats.skoglund@serop.mail.abb.com
http://www.abb.se/robotics/welcome.htm