The campus will become ABB Robotics’ product hub in Europe, providing customers with artificial intelligence collaboration and industrial robots.

ABB has announced a $280 million investment to expand its manufacturing operations in Europe and establish a new advanced ABB Robotics Europe campus in Vistes, Sweden. The campus will become ABB Robotics’ product hub in Europe, offering customers AI collaboration and industrial robots, as well as digital solutions that support flexible automation, as part of the company’s “local-to-local” production strategy. The new campus is scheduled to open in late 2026, replacing the site’s existing robotics facility.

CEO bjrn Rosengren said, “Customer demand and expected market growth are driving our investment in the new campus. “Following significant investments in China and the United States, the new facility in Sweden will strengthen our ability to offer locally manufactured products to European customers in a growing market.” Today, about 95 percent of ABB’s robots sold in the region are manufactured here. This is a strong commitment not only to our ‘local to local’ strategy, but also to all our robotics customers in Europe.” ABB CEO bjrn Rosengren said: “Customer demand and expected market growth are driving our investment in the new campus. “Following significant investments in China and the United States, the new facility in Sweden will strengthen our ability to offer locally manufactured products to European customers in a growing market.” Today, about 95 percent of ABB’s robots sold in the region are manufactured here. This is a strong commitment not only to our ‘local to local’ strategy, but also to all our robotics customers in Europe.”

ABB’s investment in the Vestes Robotics Campus will strengthen its global leadership position in robotics and automation. With the plant, ABB will expand its capacity by 50 percent and strengthen its ability to supply the European market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7 percent by 2027. Upon completion of the campus, ABB will have invested $450 million in three robotics facilities since 2018, including a large Shanghai facility to serve customers in Asia and an Auburn Hills facility to support the Americas.

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“This is a great time to invest in robotics and automation. This new campus is an important part of our global growth story and key to supporting our European customers as they accelerate their investment in robotics and artificial intelligence due to industrial reshoring, the shift to more sustainable supply chains and chronic labor shortages, “said Sami Atiya, president of ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation business area. “Our robotics campus will help us serve our customers more effectively and support new and existing industries such as automotive, electronics, logistics, healthcare, e-commerce and pharmaceuticals to unlock the full potential of automation.”

ABB’s new campus will work closely with customers and partners to develop robotics and automation solutions in a safe and functional environment. Customers will be able to test their solutions in the field and experience the latest automation innovations. In addition, employees, visitors and students can participate in an open and active campus, both during and after business hours.

Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics, said: “Our new sustainable plant in Sweden will be located at the cradle of global innovation in ABB robotics, starting nearly 50 years ago when ABB developed the world’s first commercially available fully electric robot. In our new R&D center, we are focused on developing new digital and artificial intelligence technologies to make robots increasingly easy to use, while lowering the barriers to application across all industries.”

The 65,000m 2 campus will be a modern workplace for ABB Robotics’ 1,300 employees in the region, including a new factory, offices, a research and development center, an experience center and a customer and visitor training center. The new facility will also employ autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) as key components for transporting materials and products between warehouses, assembly stations and assembly departments. Scheduled to begin in 2024, the building will replace nine separate buildings that have grown organically since 1974 and currently make up Sweden’s robotics business, thus further strengthening cross-functional synergies.

By building a campus in Vasteros, ABB continues to integrate the region into one automation cluster, maintaining a significant distance from customers, suppliers, academia and partners. The park will provide a unique opportunity to grow the ecosystem while maintaining fast delivery cycles, reducing transit times and reducing the carbon footprint. It also further allows ABB to leverage the capabilities that ABB Robotics has developed in Sweden over the past 50 years.

The campus will be built in line with ABB’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to achieve carbon neutrality in ABB’s operations by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resource conservation. To support this, the choice of building materials and the construction process will be considered, as well as the use of solar panels on the roof.