ABB’s New Strategic Chapter: Robotics Business to Embark on Independent Journey

We learned some shocking news: industrial giant ABB has made it official that it intends to put forward a historic motion at its 2026 Annual General Meeting – the demerger of its stalwart Robotics business as a standalone, publicly listed company. This strategic move is anticipated to be finalized sometime during the second quarter of 2026, when the newly named “ABB Robotics” (provisional name) will be set afloat on the stock market.

After due deliberation, the Board of Directors of ABB is convinced that this separation of businesses will usher in a golden era of growth for ABB as well as the soon-to-be-independent robotics business. A more focused governance and more agile capital allocation will evidently create more customer value, attract more top talent, and bring more rapid growth for both businesses. ABB will be more concentrated on its long-term strategy in the electrification and automation businesses, building and strengthening its leadership positions.

The Exceptional Strength and Standalone Value of the Robotics Business

ABB ‘s Robotics business is a market leader. Its intelligent automation solutions are helping customers across the globe dramatically enhance productivity, flexibility, and simplicity of operations, successfully fighting labor shortages and the demand for more sustainable operations. What makes this company so unique is that it boasts the broadest robotics platforms, including Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), advanced software and artificial intelligence technologies, combined with rich industry know-how, serving an extremely wide customer base of traditional and new industrial sectors. More interestingly, over 80% of its offerings and services contain software and AI technology, which certainly constitutes a very significant portion of its core competitiveness.

As ABB Chairman Peter Voser explained, ABB Robotics holds a leadership position in its market; however, its business and technological synergies with other ABB Group businesses are relatively limited, and their market needs and characteristics have a significant extent of divergence. So, we have sound reasons to believe that this separation will help unlock both the potential value of the ABB Group listed as well as that of the separately robotics business, leading to a win-win situation.

Solid Operations and Bright Prospects

ABB CEO Morten Wierod was happy to observe that ABB ‘s Robotics business has performed outstandingly in its peer group. The business has, since 2019 and under the ABB Way decentralized model of operation, delivered double-digit profit margin resilience in most of the quarters. Following a period of unusual order pattern volatility and pre-buys due to supply chain constraints, the market appears to have stabilized and has provided strong support for the business’s order growth.

Moving ahead, ABB Robotics will navigate the global market with a robust capital structure, intensive investment, secure cash flow, and a “local-for-local” business model. Its regional manufacturing hubs in Europe (Sweden), Asia (China), and the Americas (United States) will definitely help it achieve global service and responsiveness.

ABB ‘s Robotics business today employs approximately 7,000 people. The business for 2024 recorded revenues of $2.3 billion, or approximately 7% of ABB Group revenue, and an Operational EBITA margin of 12.1%. Subject to shareholder approval, the spin-off is planned to be executed through a share distribution, where shareholders in ABB Ltd. will receive shares in the new listed company (ie, “ABB Robotics”) proportionally to their existing shareholdings, as a dividend in kind.

ABB

ABB Industrial Automation is a global leader in providing safe, efficient, and sustainable industrial automation technologies and solutions. Below is a brief overview of ABB Industrial Automation’s business areas and product offerings:

Business Areas

1. Process Automation
   • Industries Served: Oil, gas, chemicals, mining, and power.
   • Solutions Provided: Enhancing production efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing emissions.
2. Discrete Automation
   • Industries Served: Automotive, electronics, food and beverage, and packaging.
   • Solutions Provided: Increasing production flexibility, shortening time-to-market, and lowering production costs.

Product and Solution Portfolio

• Controllers: Freelance 2000, Bailey NET 90
• I/O Modules: S800 I/O Series, S900 I/O Series, ADVANT OCS/800XA
• Drives: ACS, DCS
• Motion Control Modules: IRC, DMC
• Human-Machine Interface (HMI): TM, GP
• Other Modules: DSQC, IGCT/IGBT Module, communication, power, and safety modules

Revving Up Innovation: The Brand New Teamcenter X Makes a Grand Entrance

PLM was once a long-standing view as a big company tool. SIEMENS, though, has a different vision. Having realized that innovation powers companies of all shapes and sizes, SIEMENS unveiled new Teamcenter X releases — bringing world-leading SaaS PLM solutions to all. The new releases enable faster digital transformation and tighter cross-domain collaboration between mechanical, electrical, and electronics design groups to drive innovation forward.

Frances Evans, SVP Lifecycle Collaboration Software, SIEMENS, commented:
“This expansion of Teamcenter X further broadens SIEMENS’ vision to bring SaaS PLM to companies of all sizes. The new capabilities allow customers to get up and running fast and scale as needed.”
Her statement resonates with SIEMENS‘ firm conviction in empowering more businesses.

Workhorse Takes the Lead: Teamcenter X Powering a Zero-Emission Future

Workhorse Group Inc., a zero-emission commercial vehicle leader, has standardized on Teamcenter X to enable collaboration among design, engineering, and supply chain teams.

Workhorse CIO Jeff Mowry welcomed the move:
“Standardizing on Teamcenter X eliminated inefficiencies in our multi-CAD setup, saved us money, and provided increased security.”
He cited Teamcenter X’s key functionality in managing complex bills of materials and engineering changes — key to quicker electric vehicle production.

Mowry will offer further insights into Workhorse’s swift six-month Teamcenter X and NX X roll-out at SIEMENS‘ Realize LIVE Americas (June 2–5 in Detroit), recounting important tips on successful digital transformation.

Four Strong Editions: Find Your Best Fit

To address differing business needs, SIEMENS published four editions of Teamcenter X:

Teamcenter X Essentials:
Solution for mechanical design companies at the entry level. Easy to install, low admin costs, CAD data management, product structure management, 3D viewing and markup. Expands to scale.

Teamcenter X Standard:
Extends Essentials with easy change management, project planning, document control, reporting, and user-configurable setup.

Teamcenter X Advanced:
Introduces cross-domain collaboration between mechanical, electronic, and electrical designs. Introduces data management for E/E integration and classification.
Cloud-flexible, enterprise-class solution. Offers enterprise BOM, business system integration, MBSE, manufacturing planning, quality/compliance management, and industry-specific pre-configurations (industrial machinery, medical devices, semiconductors, etc.).

Final Thoughts

SIEMENS’ new Teamcenter X product family features a true commitment to innovation and accessibility. Startup or established industry giant, there’s a Teamcenter X edition ready to help power your digital transformation and cement your competitive edge.

The 3500/15 AC power module and DC power module are half-height modules and must be installed in the designated slot on the left side of the frame. The 3500 rack can contain any combination of one or two power supplies, AC and DC

Flow. Any kind of power supply can power the entire rack. When two power supplies are installed in the rack, the power slot at the bottom serves as the main power supply, while the other one in the upper slot acts as a backup supply. If installed,

The two power supplies are the main ones for backup.

Plugging or unplugging any power module will not stop the machine. The rack can operate normally as long as a second power supply is installed. The 3500/15 AC and DC power supplies accept a wide range of input voltages and convert them into acceptable voltages.

For others to use the 3500 module. The power supply that comes with 3500 includes the following series of mechanical protection systems:

General-purpose AC power supply

High-voltage direct current power supply

Low-voltage DC power supply

The output voltage provided by the system is proportional to the voltage. The distance between the probe tip and the observed conductive surface measures both static (position) and dynamic (vibration) values. The system is mainly applied to the vibration and position of fluid membranes

Measure the bearing machine, as well as the key phase * reference and speed measurement 3. The 3300 XL 8mm system offers the most advanced performance in our eddy current proximity sensor system. Standard 3300 XL 8mm 5

The system also fully complies with the mechanical configuration, linear range, accuracy, and temperature stability of the American Petroleum Institute (API) 670 Standard (4th Edition). All 3300 XL 8mm proximity sensor systems offer this

First-level performance and full interchangeability of supported probes, expansion cables and Proximitor sensors, no need to match or bench calibrate individual components.

Each 3300 XL 8mm sensor system component is backward compatible and interchangeable with other non-XI 3300 series 5mm and 8mm sensor systems components5. This compatibility includes 3,305 millimeters

Probe, used for applicatio

The Bently Nevada 3300/20 is a dual-thrust position monitoring system developed by Bently Nevada. The dual thrust position monitor detects thrust bearing faults early. It continuously measures and monitors

Two independent channels at the axial position related to the axial clearance of the machine.

The Hannover Messe 2025, held from March 31 to April 4 in Hanover, Germany, reaffirmed its status as one of the world’s largest industrial trade fairs. With over 4,000 companies participating, the event’s central theme, “Shaping the Future with Technology,” highlighted Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the key force driving transformation in the industrial sector.

Robotics, Logistics & Automation

At the Application Park, a series of live demonstrations showcased innovations in robotics, logistics, and automation, all with a strong AI focus:

• Inbolt introduced an AI-powered robotic guidance system that uses a 3D camera and advanced AI algorithms to improve efficiency.

• Conductix-Wampfler presented its Enduro charging contact series and WirelessCharger 3.0, both aimed at enhancing the operation of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) fleets.

• Blickle unveiled its ErgoMove 4000 system, a modular electric drive that can carry up to 4,000 kg loads at speeds of 2 km/h, reducing the physical effort required from human workers.

• Delta Electronics demonstrated the use of NVIDIA Omniverse to create digital twins for testing and validation before deployment in industrial environments.

Robotics Award 2025:

• Winner: Maple Advanced Robotics for their innovative AI-driven, no-code robotics programming platform.

• Runner-ups: Leverage Robotics and Mantis Robotics.

A special exhibit titled “Battery Use Case” featured a collaborative project among 10 exhibitors, demonstrating the future of EV battery production using humanoid robots and AI, from manufacturing to recycling.

Artificial Intelligence in Industry

Artificial Intelligence was applied in various domains across the industrial sector, showing its potential in several key areas:

• Predictive Maintenance and Inspection

  • Siemens, in collaboration with Roboverse Reply, introduced an AI-powered inspection solution integrated into COMOS Mobile Worker. This solution enables automated maintenance and inspection tasks to be managed centrally in real-time.

• Materials Research

  • Cusp AI presented an AI-based “search engine” for materials that simulates and predicts the properties of new molecules.

• Supply Chain Management

  • Elisa Indsutriq showcased sedAPta, an AI-based supply chain optimization platform capable of predicting customer demand, evaluating suppliers, and managing inventory to maintain an efficient supply chain.

• Workforce Support

  • Augmentir introduced Augie, a generative AI assistant designed to support frontline operations by providing real-time guidance to workers. This system is aimed at significantly reducing the time required to onboard new employees.

• Pharmaceutical Production

  • Siemens demonstrated several AI-powered technologies aimed at optimizing the pharmaceutical production process, including engineering, predictive maintenance, and production management tools. Siemens’ industrial copilots suite won the prestigious Hermes Award 2025.

• Energy Management

  • The Hermes Startup Award 2025 was awarded to ecoplanet for their AI-powered energy management platform, Cockpit, designed to help businesses monitor and optimize their energy consumption in real-time.

Innovation in Automation: Designing for Progress

Li Edelkoort, a prominent trend forecaster, famously said: “We will design out of hope and not out of fear.” This insight underscores humanity’s continuous drive to innovate, and automation today is a powerful manifestation of this hope, bringing together technology and human ambition to create a more efficient and secure world.

AI and Machine Learning: The Engines of Efficiency

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are at the forefront of improving efficiency in industrial automation. With AI-powered predictive maintenance, these technologies can foresee equipment malfunctions before they occur, ensuring smoother operations and minimizing downtime.

Autonomous Systems: Independent Machines at Work

The rise of autonomous systems is one of the most exciting aspects of automation. These systems function without human intervention, adapting to their environment in real time. Autonomous robots and vehicles are increasingly present in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing, contributing to a future that mirrors the worlds envisioned by science fiction.

Human-Machine Collaboration: Toward a Seamless Partnership

The integration of collaborative robots (cobots) into the workplace is another major step forward. These machines assist human workers with tasks that require both strength and precision, while humans provide the creativity and decision-making capabilities that machines lack. This evolving collaboration brings us closer to a state of technological harmony.

5G: Accelerating the Pace of Industrial Automation

The advent of 5G technology promises to take industrial automation to new heights. Offering speeds up to 20 Gbps, 5G enables real-time data processing, creating a faster and more interconnected manufacturing environment. This technology is key to unlocking the full potential of advanced IoT devices and sensors.

Subscription-Based Automation: Accessibility and Flexibility

Automation as a Service (AaaS) is revolutionizing how businesses access automation technologies. Through a subscription model, AaaS allows companies to adopt cutting-edge automation solutions with reduced initial investments, providing flexibility and scalability to meet changing needs.

Overview of Job Cuts

Siemens, the German multinational technology conglomerate, has announced plans to reduce its global workforce by more than 6,000 jobs by 2027. This decision follows a downturn in demand for products from its industrial automation and electric vehicle (EV) charging segments.

Impact on Industrial Automation Division

The industrial automation division, part of Siemens Digital Industries, will bear the brunt of the cuts, with approximately 5,600 positions being eliminated. This represents 8% of its total workforce of 68,000 employees. Around half of the job reductions will be in Germany, where Siemens has its headquarters.

Declining Demand and Competitive Pressures

The industrial automation sector, which is a major supplier of robotics and industrial software to factories, has faced significant challenges. Siemens cited a drop in demand from critical markets, particularly China and Germany. The company also acknowledged increased competitive pressures that have contributed to a decline in orders and revenue within the sector.

Job Cuts in EV Charging Business

In addition to the job cuts in industrial automation, Siemens also announced the elimination of 450 jobs in its electric vehicle charging business. The company explained that the limited growth potential for low-power charging stations was the primary reason behind these reductions. Siemens intends to shift its focus toward the development of fast-charging infrastructure, which it views as a more promising area for growth.

Financial Struggles and Profit Decline

This decision follows Siemens’ financial struggles, which were highlighted by a 46% slump in profits across its digital industries division. Despite once being the company’s most profitable segment, industrial automation has faced considerable difficulties in recent years.

Criticism of the Job Cuts

Juergen Kerner, vice-chairman of IG Metall and a member of Siemens’ supervisory board, criticized the job cuts, arguing that transformation should not be driven by downsizing. He emphasized that transformation should be achieved through positive change, further development, and employee training to adapt to new technologies.

Siemens’ Shift Toward New Technologies

Siemens, which has over 300,000 employees globally, has been undergoing a shift in focus from traditional industries to newer, more technology-driven areas. While the company aims to streamline its operations to align with these shifts, the job reductions have raised concerns about the human impact of such transformations.

ABB REM620A Motor protection and control device.REM620 is a dedicated motor management relay for the protection, control, measurement and supervision of medium- and large-sized asynchronous and synchronous motors in the manufacturing and process industry.

ABB’s remote I/O concept introduces a new way of extending the I/O capabilities of protection relays. The concept is aimed at increasing the hardware functionality of the protection relays, while still maintaining the relay’s compact design. This way remote I/O can be used, when it is needed. The information between the remote I/O units and the main protection relay is exchanged over the latest communication standard IEC 61850. This enables easy integration into the systems and is in line with the latest standards.

ABB’S POWER PROTECTION PHILOSOPHY：

Having delivered protection relays to more than 100 countries, ABB fully understands the need for diverse protection philosophies that meet local legislation, safety requirements and engineering practice. Therefore, ABB has developed a power protection philosophy that not only serves the specific needs and requirements of diverse power systems, but also creates confidence and peace of mind for both the power system owners and users.

The main purpose of a protection relay system is to recognize any abnormal power system condition(s), or abnormally operating system component(s). Based on the information gathered, the protection system will initiate corrective actions that return the system to its normal operating state. This provides a safe environment for all.

Protection relays are activated when something abnormal has happened in the power system; they do not prevent network faults from arising. Selecting the right protection functions and methods improves the performance and the reliability of the protection system, thus minimizing the effects of network faults and preventing the disturbance from spreading to the healthy parts of the network

Advantages of a complete protection system Close attention must be paid to operating speed, sensitivity, selectivity and reliability of the protection system. There is a strong correlation between the operating speed of the protectionsystem and the damage and danger caused by a network fault. Substation automation provides remote control and monitoring capabilities, which speed up the location of faults and the restoration of the power supply. Fast operation of the protection relays also minimizes post-fault load peaks. Together with voltage dips, post-fault load peaks increase the risk of the disturbance spreading to healthy parts of the network. The sensitivity of the protection must be adequate to detect relatively high resistance earth faults and short-circuits in the most distant parts of the network. Reliable selectivity is essential to limit the loss of power supply to as small a part of the network as possible, and to allow the faulted part of the network to be reliably located. Corrective actions can then be directed to the faulty part of the network, so that the power supply can be restored as quickly as possible.

The protection system must have a high degree of reliability. This also means that if, for example, the circuit breaker (CB) fails to operate, the back-up protection will clear the fault. Substation automation (SA) puts the operator in complete control of the substation. In addition, SA improves the power quality of the transmission and distribution network under normal operation, but especially in a disturbance situation and during substation maintenance activities. An SA or SCADA brings the full benefits of digital technology into protection and control of the networks. The protection relays are easily set-up and parameterized through easy and safe access from the operator’s workplace.