ABB India Expands Energy-efficient Drives Manufacturing Footprint

Bengaluru, India – ABB India, a leader in electrification and automation, expands its production footprint with a new line for variable speed drive modules at the Peenya factory in Bengaluru. Supporting the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ program, the enhanced facility strengthens local manufacturing to meet domestic and global demands. The company also aims to double production capacity by 2025, with local manufacturing offering customers faster access to products, customization, and quick serviceability. The new line will produce drives ranging from 75-250 kW and will cater to all major industrial segments.

The company’s variable speed drives are used to control the speed of electric motors to match the actual demands of the process to improve energy efficiency and performance in any industrial application or any building globally. When added to the existing motor of a pump, fan, or compressor, a drive can typically reduce power consumption by up to 25 percent. Part of the integrated campus that houses the company’s corporate office and other businesses’ factories, this new production line aims to meet the growing demand of domestic and global customers. With local manufacturing, customers in India will now have faster access to the products, their customization options, and quick serviceability. The expansion will also strengthen the local supplier ecosystem for ABB's low-voltage AC drives portfolio.

Variable speed drive supports critical national infrastructure projects such as ventilation for Atal tunnel and COVID-19 vaccination manufacturing for pharma units. ABB drives are part of the HVAC solutions that have been installed for the prestigious Statue of Unity project. The hospitality industry across the country also deploys ABB drives to optimize energy consumption.

The new line of production is ergonomically designed with position, angle, and torque control and a programmable fastening system. This facility is designed for effective utilization of available space for better productivity and enhanced safety and is equipped with an expanded precision testing facility. The expanded facility also employs skilled technicians/engineers, which includes over 50 percent women workforce on the production line. Despite their great energy saving and performance improving potential, currently only about 23 percent of the world’s motors are paired with a drive. Hence, this factory will play a key role in enabling businesses and industries at large to adopt energy-efficient technologies and help achieve carbon-neutrality.

AR Madhusudan, President, Drive Products, ABB India, commented, “This expansion demonstrates our commitment to innovation, delivering world-class sustainable products and solutions for the Indian market, as well as enriching the local supplier base.” He further continued, “At a time when India is globally playing a leading role in clean energy, drive products represent the leading technology of energy efficiency, termed as the first fuel of clean energy transitions. ABB drives manufactured in India will contribute to the country’s energy efficiency journey and its goals across industries, buildings, and infrastructure.”

To this end, Vesa Kandell, Global Head - Operations, Drive Products, ABB, added, “As a result of systematic development activities, I am happy to be witnessing this great opening ceremony with the customers and key suppliers. Team has done an excellent job, and we are ready to take even further growth steps together.”

Image Source: ABB Ltd