ABB robotics hub to drive productivity in Southeast Asia

LEADING power and automation technology group, ABB, inaugurated its Regional Robotics Packaging Application Hub in Singapore on 24 July. The centre will provide value-added engineering solutions, including hardware and software, to food and beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer electronics, and solar photovoltaics manufacturing industries in Southeast Asia. It has been designed to be a live learning and collaborative environment to harness engineering talents with the help of training industry partners and educational institutions.

“These are exciting times where robotics automation is revolutionising the face of manufacturing,” said Haider Rashid, head of ABB in Singapore and the South Asia region. “We are looking forward to sharing our know-how and helping companies to become even more cost competitive while meeting the highest standards of productivity and quality, and we are excited about making a difference to industries in the region.”

Singapore: Future of manufacturing  

Investments such as the ABB robotics centre are a step toward making Singapore the manufacturing hub. “Singapore is embarking on the Future of Manufacturing initiative to position ourselves as the leading advanced manufacturing hub in the region,” said Lim Kok Kiang, assistant managing director at the Singapore Economic Development Board. “As part of the initiative, we are encouraging the manufacturing sector to co-create and implement future manufacturing solutions in Singapore, leveraging technologies such as advanced robotics and automation, additive manufacturing and ICT solutions. ABB is a major power and automation solutions investor in Singapore, and its Regional Robotics Packaging Application Hub will be a major boost for our advanced manufacturing ambitions.”

An extension of ABB’s Robotics Application Centre that was set up in 2010, the new 600 square meter workshop features demo units for picking, packing and palletizing processes. The facility will allow end customers, channel partners and ABB to run trials with actual products, assemble robotics systems and conduct factory acceptance tests before delivery.