ABB

ABB Ltd is one of the world's largest industrial automation and robotics companies, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. With a history spanning over 140 years and approximately 110,000 employees globally, ABB operates across electrification, motion, process automation, and robotics divisions, serving customers in utilities, industry, transport, and infrastructure.

The company was formed in 1988 through the merger of Sweden's ASEA (Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, founded 1883) and Switzerland's Brown, Boveri & Cie (founded 1891). Both parent companies had pioneered electrical engineering and industrial automation, with ASEA launching one of the world's first industrial robots, the IRB 6, in 1974.

ABB's Robotics division, with 2024 revenues of $2.3 billion and approximately 7,000 employees, represents about 7% of ABB Group revenues. The division manufactures a wide range of industrial robots for applications including welding, assembly, painting, palletizing, and material handling. Notable innovations include the FlexPicker delta robot for high-speed picking and the YuMi collaborative robot.

In a significant strategic move announced in 2025, ABB Group agreed to divest its Robotics & Discrete Automation division to SoftBank Group Corp. for $5.375 billion, with the transaction expected to close in mid-to-late 2026. This marks a major reshaping of ABB's business portfolio as the company focuses on its core electrification and automation businesses.