In 2025, ABB marks 100 years of operations in the United States – a milestone that underscores a century of innovation, collaboration, and transatlantic partnership between Switzerland and the U.S. What began as a pioneering industrial venture has evolved into one of the strongest examples of Swiss investment driving American technological and economic progress.

A Century of Innovation and Cooperation

Founded in 1925 as the American Brown Boveri Electric Corporation, ABB’s roots in the U.S. stretch back to the early days of electrification. With significant Swiss investment, the company established manufacturing facilities along the East Coast and in the Midwest, including operations linked to the New York Ship Building Company in Camden, New Jersey. These plants transitioned from shipbuilding to producing turbines, generators, and traction equipment – innovations that helped power American industry and modern infrastructure.

The partnership between Swiss engineering excellence and American industrial strength deepened through the decades. In 1963, ASEA – one of ABB’s predecessor companies – designed and built the Pacific Intertie, the first U.S. High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission system. The link, still in use today, connected Oregon’s hydroelectric resources to Southern California, setting a global standard for efficient, long-distance power transmission.

ABB in its modern form was established in 1988 through the merger of Sweden’s ASEA and Switzerland’s Brown, Boveri & Cie. The new company quickly became a global leader in power and automation technologies. In the United States, this merger solidified ABB’s role in advancing cleaner energy, electrification, and industrial automation – areas that continue to define its U.S. operations today.

A Long-Term Contributor to the U.S. Economy

Over the past century, ABB has become deeply embedded in the American economy. Its continued investments reflect a strong commitment to domestic manufacturing, workforce development, and sustainable growth. Recent announcements totaling $230 million in new U.S. manufacturing and R&D initiatives aim to expand capacity in key sectors such as utilities, data centers, and grid modernization – areas vital to the nation’s clean energy transition.

These initiatives are not only advancing technology but also creating hundreds of new jobs. ABB currently employs approximately 17,000 people across the United States, operating nearly 40 facilities in 20 states and maintaining nine major research and development centers. About 75-80% of the company’s U.S. revenue comes from products manufactured domestically – a testament to its long-term investment in local talent and production.

In 2024, ABB generated roughly $9 billion in U.S. revenue, accounting for about 27% of the ABB Group’s total sales. This makes the United States ABB’s largest market, reflecting both the scale of its operations and the strength of Swiss-American industrial cooperation.

ABB’s strong commitment to workforce development – through apprenticeships based on the Swiss model, as well as early-career development and career-readiness programs – further reinforces this contribution by preparing the next generation of manufacturing professionals and helping to build a resilient, future-ready U.S. workforce.

Building the Future Together

Throughout its history, ABB has embodied the enduring partnership between Switzerland and the United States – uniting Swiss innovation and precision with American ingenuity and scale. The company’s century-long presence highlights how international collaboration can drive economic opportunity, technological progress, and sustainability.

As ABB looks to its next hundred years in the U.S., its story serves as a great example of how global companies can anchor deeply in local communities – creating jobs, investing in innovation, and building the infrastructure that powers modern life.

From electrification and automation to renewable energy and digitalization, ABB’s U.S. journey reflects a shared commitment to shaping a smarter, more sustainable future – one that continues to bridge Swiss and American strengths for generations to come.

We congratulate ABB on reaching this significant milestone!