ABB has announced an investment of approximately $200 million over the next three years to expand its medium-voltage manufacturing capabilities across Europe. The investment aims to increase production capacity, accelerate the transition to next-generation power distribution technologies, and strengthen supply for customers modernizing their power infrastructure, including utilities, industries, and rapidly growing data center markets.
According to the International Energy Agency, electricity’s share of final energy consumption is projected to increase from around 20 percent today to nearly 30 percent by 2030, underlining the growing need for grid expansion and modernization.
Morten Wierod, Chief Executive Officer of ABB, said the investment will strengthen the company’s medium-voltage manufacturing and technology capabilities in Europe while supporting customers as electricity demand continues to rise and power grids evolve. He added that the demand is being driven by structural trends such as grid modernization, renewable energy integration, data center expansion, and the transition toward sustainable technologies. The investments are also expected to help ABB expand production capacity, improve product availability, and reduce lead times for customers in Europe and other global markets.
As part of the investment plan, ABB will establish a new $100 million manufacturing facility in Dalmine, Italy, to meet increasing demand for air-insulated and SF₆-free switchgear and breakers. An additional $100 million will be allocated toward capacity expansion projects at manufacturing facilities located in Rakovski, Bulgaria; Vaasa, Finland; Ratingen, Germany; Skien, Norway; and Przasnysz, Poland. These facilities will scale the production of technologies including gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), vacuum interrupters, and relays to support more reliable and resilient power distribution networks.
The program further builds on ABB’s recent investments in its UK and Hungary operations. In Kecskemét, Hungary, ABB invested approximately $15 million to enhance research, development, and production capabilities for connector technologies, strengthening medium-voltage network reliability and expanding its grid resilience solutions portfolio for utility and renewable energy customers.
In Nottingham, UK, ABB invested around $35 million to expand the production of earthing and lightning protection technologies designed to protect critical infrastructure, buildings, data centers, communication systems, and transportation networks from lightning strikes and electrical surges.
The company stated that these investments reflect ABB’s continued focus on strengthening resilient manufacturing capabilities for technologies that support and protect the evolving power grid.
