Lily Sawyer is an in-house writer for EME Outlook Magazine, where she is responsible for interviewing corporate executives and crafting original features for the magazine, corporate...
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ABB is investing USD$200 million across Europe to expand medium-voltage manufacturing capabilities, supporting grid modernisation, renewable integration, and rising electricity demand driven by digital infrastructure growth.
As electricity demand accelerates worldwide, ABB is strengthening its position at the forefront of grid transformation with a major USD$200 million investment programme across Europe.
Announced from Zurich, Switzerland, the initiative will expand the company’s medium-voltage manufacturing footprint over the next three years, enhancing production capacity for next-generation electrical distribution technologies.
The investment comes as utilities, industries, and data centres increasingly modernise infrastructure to support electrification, renewable integration, and sustainable energy systems.
According to the International Energy Agency, electricity’s share of final energy consumption is projected to rise from approximately 20 percent today to nearly 30 percent by 2030, intensifying pressure on global power grids and accelerating demand for resilient energy infrastructure.
“This USD$200 million investment will strengthen ABB’s medium-voltage manufacturing and technology capabilities in Europe and support customers as electricity demand increases and the grid evolves. Demand is being driven by major structural trends, from grid modernisation and the integration of renewables to data centre growth and the transition to more sustainable technologies. These investments will help us expand capacity, improve availability, and shorten lead times for customers in Europe and beyond, empowering them to adapt to the changing energy landscape.”
At the centre of the programme is a new USD$100 million manufacturing facility in Dalmine, Italy, which will support growing demand for air-insulated and SF₆-free switchgear and breakers.
The facility forms part of ABB’s broader strategy to accelerate the adoption of cleaner and more efficient power distribution technologies, particularly as utilities and industrial operators seek to decarbonise operations while maintaining grid reliability.
A further USD$100 million will be directed toward capacity expansion projects across existing ABB facilities in Rakovski, Bulgaria; Vaasa, Finland; Ratingen, Germany; Skien, Norway; and Przasnysz, Poland.
These sites will scale production of technologies, including gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), vacuum interrupters, and relays, all of which play a critical role in delivering reliable and resilient power distribution networks.
SUPPORTING THE ENERGY TRANSITION
The latest investment programme also builds upon ABB’s recent manufacturing expansion initiatives elsewhere in Europe.
In Kecskemét, Hungary, the company invested approximately USD$15 million to enhance research and development alongside production capabilities for connector technologies. The expansion is designed to improve medium-voltage network reliability and strengthen ABB’s portfolio of grid resilience solutions for utility and renewable energy customers.
Meanwhile, in Nottingham, UK, ABB invested around USD$35 million to expand production of earthing and lightning protection technologies. These systems are increasingly vital for safeguarding critical infrastructure, including data centers, communications networks, transportation systems, and commercial buildings from lightning strikes and electrical surges.
Together, the investments underscore ABB’s long-term commitment to developing resilient manufacturing capabilities that support the evolving needs of modern power grids.
ENGINEERED TO OUTRUN
With more than 140 years of history and approximately 110,000 employees worldwide, ABB continues to position itself as a global leader in electrification and automation technologies.
Through its engineering expertise and digitalisation capabilities, the company supports industries seeking greater efficiency, productivity, and sustainability while navigating the rapid transformation of the global energy landscape.
As electrification accelerates and infrastructure demands intensify, ABB’s latest European investment programme signals a clear intention to remain at the forefront of the technologies powering the next generation of grids.
This article was produced by the editorial team at EME Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
Outlook Publishing delivers industry insights, company stories, and sector coverage across manufacturing, mining, construction, healthcare, supply chains, food production, and sustainability.
EME Outlook provides ongoing coverage of organisations and developments shaping industries across Europe and the Middle East.
Lily Sawyer is an in-house writer for EME Outlook Magazine, where she is responsible for interviewing corporate executives and crafting original features for the magazine, corporate brochures, and the digital platform.
