# ABB

**Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/abb  
**Vertical:** Robotics  
**Subcategory:** General  
**Tier:** Emerging  
**Website:** global.abb  
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-22

## Summary

Zurich industrial automation (NYSE: ABB) at $2.3B robotics revenue divesting to SoftBank for $5.375B (closing mid-to-late 2026); 140+ year history refocusing on electrification and motion control competing with Siemens for industrial automation.

## Company Overview

ABB Ltd is a Zurich, Switzerland-headquartered industrial technology company — publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ABB) and SIX Swiss Exchange — providing electrification, motion control, process automation, and (pending divestiture) robotics solutions to utilities, industrial manufacturers, transportation, and infrastructure operators globally with approximately 110,000 employees. Formed in 1988 through the merger of Sweden's ASEA (founded 1883, launched the IRB 6 industrial robot in 1974) and Switzerland's Brown Boveri (founded 1891), ABB is undergoing a major strategic transformation: in 2025, ABB announced the divestiture of its ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation division (2024 revenue $2.3 billion, ~7,000 employees) to SoftBank Group Corp. for $5.375 billion, with the transaction expected to close mid-to-late 2026 — separating the robotics business to focus ABB on core electrification and motion segments.

ABB's industrial technology portfolio addresses the electrification infrastructure and industrial motion control needs of global energy transition and manufacturing: electric utilities deploy ABB high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems to move renewable power from generation sites to urban demand centers; data centers install ABB power distribution and UPS systems for the AI infrastructure build-out; industrial manufacturers deploy ABB frequency drives and motors (Motion segment, $7B+ revenue) that reduce industrial motor energy consumption by 20-50% through variable speed control; and process industries use ABB process automation systems (DCS, advanced process control) for chemical, oil and gas, and mining operations. ABB's robotics division (YuMi cobot, FlexPicker delta robot, IRB 6-axis articulated robots) serves automotive, electronics, and food manufacturing automation.

In 2025, ABB competes in the industrial automation, electrification, and robotics market with Siemens (XETRA: SIE, industrial automation, $72B revenue), Schneider Electric (EPA: SU, energy management and automation, $38B revenue), and Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR, automation technology, $19B revenue) for global utility, manufacturing, and infrastructure electrification and automation platform adoption. The $5.375 billion SoftBank robotics divestiture (announced 2025) realigns ABB toward its highest-margin electrification and motion control segments while giving ABB Robotics access to SoftBank's AI and autonomous systems investment portfolio. The 2025 strategy focuses on growing the data center and EV charging infrastructure electrification segment (where the AI and electrification capex supercycle is driving ABB's fastest-growing revenue), building the industrial software integration (ABB Ability digital platform connecting equipment to analytics), and managing the robotics divestiture close for mid-to-late 2026.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is ABB?
ABB Ltd is a global leader in industrial automation and robotics, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. With approximately 110,000 employees, ABB provides electrification, motion, process automation, and robotics solutions to customers worldwide.

### When was ABB founded?
ABB was formed in 1988 through the merger of Sweden's ASEA (founded 1883) and Switzerland's Brown, Boveri & Cie (founded 1891), creating one of the world's largest electrical engineering companies.

### What is ABB's revenue?
ABB reported annual revenue of $32.85 billion in 2024, with the Robotics division contributing $2.3 billion (approximately 7% of total revenues).

### Is ABB selling its robotics business?
Yes, in 2025 ABB announced an agreement to divest its Robotics & Discrete Automation division to SoftBank Group for $5.375 billion. The transaction is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.

### What robots does ABB manufacture?
ABB manufactures a wide range of industrial robots including articulated robots for welding and assembly, SCARA robots, FlexPicker delta robots for picking and packing, and YuMi collaborative robots for human-robot collaboration.

### Where is ABB headquartered?
ABB is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with operations and subsidiaries in over 100 countries worldwide.

### How many employees does ABB have?
ABB employs approximately 110,000 people globally, with about 7,000 in the Robotics division specifically.

### What was ABB's first robot?
ASEA (ABB's predecessor) launched the IRB 6 in 1974, one of the world's first industrial robots, pioneering the company's leadership in robotics automation.

## Tags

b2b, hardware, automation, manufacturing, public

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*Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-22.*