ABB Group

ABB Group is a multinational corporation based in Zürich, engaged in manufacturing power, automation, motion, and robotics technologies. The company provides a range of products, systems, solutions, and services; this includes a focus on power transmission, distribution, and power-plant automation serving the electric, gas, and water utilities. The corporation has over 105,000 employees and operates in over one hundred countries.

ABB operates four businesses supported by a portfolio of digital solutions:

• Electrification
• Process automation
• Motion
• Robotics and discrete automation

The corporation operates through numerous country/region based subsidiaries.

ABB was formed in 1988 through the merger of its predecessor companies, ASEA and BBC (Brown Boveri Cie). ABB began operations on January 5th, 1988 with headquarters in Zurich. The new group began with revenues of $17 billion and 160,000 employees around the world. The name ABB is an acronym of ASEA Brown Boveri, after its predecessor companies.

ASEA dated back to 1883, when Ludvig Fredholm established Elektriska Aktiebolaget in Stockholm, manufacturing electrical lighting and generators. In 1890, Elektriska Aktiebolaget merged with Wenströms & Granströms Elektriska Kraftbolag, forming Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, later shortened to ASEA.

BBC began in 1890 when Charles EL Brown and Walter Boveri established Brown, Boveri & Cie in Baden, Switzerland. Brown, Boveri & Cie was the first company to transmit high-voltage power.