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History of ABB
ABB, together with its predecessor companies, has a history of innovation excellence stretching back more than 130 years. Innovation has been in our DNA since we were founded to take advantage of a new technology called electricity. Since then we have continued to push the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. In this video to celebrate our proud heritage, we take a look at some of the ABB technologies – including automation and digitalization - that have transformed society and industry and are helping us move to a more productive, sustainable future.
Milestones
2020
ABB Ability™ Genix Industrial Analytics and AI Suite combines the power of data management, domain knowledge, technology capabilities and implementation expertise. The suite helps to make timely, accurate, insight-driven decisions to achieve a high degree of optimization and control.
2019
ABB revolutionizes the low-voltage switchgear: The bus plate technology combined with the connectivity of the
ABB Ability™ platform mark the next innovation leap, making ABB’s NeoGear the safest option for operators, maximizing efficiency and reducing costs for digitalized industries.
2018
ABB joins the FIA Formula E Championship as the series' title partner to form the newly-named ABB FIA Formula E Championship. The race series serves as a competitive platform to test and develop e-mobility-relevant electrification and digitalization technologies.
2017
ABB launches ABB Ability™, its industry-leading digital solutions offering, connecting customers to the power of the Industrial Internet of Things. ABB Ability™ turns data insights into the direct action that "closes the loop" and generates customer value.
2015
ABB introduced the world’s truly collaborative robot: YuMi®. The innovative human-friendly dual arm robot with breakthrough functionality unlocks vast global additional automation potential in industry.
2012
ABB develops a hybrid DC breaker suitable for the creation of large inter-regional DC grids. This breakthrough solves a technical challenge that has been left unresolved for over a hundred years and was perhaps one of the main influencers in the 'war of currents'.
2010
ABB links the Xiangjiaba hydropower plant in southwest China to Shanghai about 2,000 km away with an UHVDC connection with a capacity of ±800 kV and 7,200 MW of power.
2008
NorNed, the longest submarine HVDC cable in the world at 580 km, links the power networks of Norway and the Netherlands with a transmission capacity of 700 MW.
2005
ABB delivers electricity through a DC (direct current) link originating 70 km away on land to a gas platform in the North Sea, helping avoid annual emissions of 230,000 tons of CO2 and 230 tons of NOX.
2004
ABB launches its Extended Automation System 800xA providing a process automation system that has since been installed at thousands of applications delivering continuous productivity improvements.
2002
ABB links the AC networks of South Australia and Victoria with the world’s longest underground transmission. ABB also linked Conneticut and Long Island with the world’s first extruded HVDC submarine transmission.
2000
ABB delivers world’s first commercial high-voltage shore-to-ship electric power, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships berthed at the Swedish port of Gothenburg.
1998
ABB launches the FlexPicker, a delta robot uniquely designed for the picking and packing industry. Today, it's the leader in state-of-the-art high speed robotic picking and packing technology.
1990
ABB launches Azipod, a family of electric propulsion systems that are fixed to the outside of ships providing both thrust and steering functions. They increase maneuverability, efficiency and the space available on board.
1988
ASEA and BBC merge to form the new company, with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The new group, which started operations on Jan. 5, 1988, had revenues of $17 billion and employed 160,000 people around the world.
Before the ASEA and BBC merger
ASEA
1986
ASEA employs 71,000 people and reported revenues of $6.8 billion and income after financial items of $370 million.
1978
ASEA launches one of the first industrial robots.
1972
ASEA builds the first nuclear power plant in Sweden and goes on to build nine of the country’s 12 reactors.
1963
ASEA achieves a major technological breakthrough with the introduction of an improved thyristor able to handle substantially more electrical current than existing devices
1954
ASEA installs the world’s first HVDC transmission line, providing 20 MW, 100 kV to the Isle of Gotland over a distance of 96 km.
1953
ASEA is the first company in the world to manufacture synthetic diamonds.
1952
ASEA designs and installs the first 400 kV AC cable – a 70 m low pressure oil-filled (LPOF) cable connecting an underground power station (built to withstand an atomic bomb) to the Swedish grid.
1942
ASEA builds the world's first 120 MVA, 220 kV transformer in the Stockholm Elverks Värtanstation.
1932
ASEA builds the world’s largest self-cooling transformer rated at 2,500 kVA (kilovolt ampere).
1926
ASEA supplies locomotives and power converters for the new Stockholm to Gothenburg railway.
1893
ASEA builds the first three-phase transmission system in Sweden.
1890
Elektriska Aktiebolaget merges with Wenströms & Granströms Elektriska Kraftbolag to form Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, later shortened to ASEA.
1889
Jonas Wenström invents the three phase system for generators, transformers and motors.
1883
Ludvig Fredholm establishes Elektriska Aktiebolaget in Stockholm as manufacturers of electrical lighting and generators.
BBC
1986
BBC employs 97,000 people and reported revenues of $8.5 billion and an income after financial items of $132 million.
1984
Installation of the first of nine BBC generators in the world’s largest hydroelectric power station at Itaipú in South America.
1978
BBC starts production of bipolar semiconductors at its dedicated Lenzburg semiconductor facility.
1971
BBC builds the most powerful transformer in the world at 1,300 MVA (megavolt ampere).
1969
BBC develops the first gearless cement drive in the world.
1965
BBC builds the first 110 kV GIS (gas-insulated switchgear) allowing circuit breakers to operate safely in a confined space.
1953
The first data transmission at carrier frequency is performed by BBC over a 735 kV high-voltage line to the power station control unit.
1944
BBC develops the first high-speed locomotive with drive shafts fitted exclusively in bogies.
1943
BBC builds the first 110 kV high-speed air blast circuit breaker.
1939
BBC builds the first combustion gas turbine for generating electricity.
1933
BBC obtains the patent for turbine rotors constructed from individual steel disks that are welded together.
1901
BBC builds the first steam turbine in Europe.
1893
BBC supplies Europe’s first large-scale combined heat and power plant producing alternating current.
1891
Charles E. L. Brown and Walter Boveri establish Brown, Boveri & Cie in Baden, Switzerland. Shortly afterward, Brown, Boveri is the first company to transmit high-voltage power.