Yesterday, ABB opened the new “Emotion” multipurpose building at its Untersiggenthal location in an event attended by employees, politicians and the media. The new CHF 45 million center of excellence is ABB’s largest investment in Switzerland in over a decade. Following a two-year construction period, employees from research and development, sales and service, and project management and engineering are now moving into the building. It offers 500 modern workplaces and is a shining example of collaboration, innovation and sustainability.

Attractive working conditions 

ABB is reaffirming its commitment to attractive, modern working conditions and responding to the increasing need for flexible office space and the desire to promote social interaction. Employees will be able to share ideas and information and enjoy productive encounters with colleagues during the course of everyday working life.

“This investment will help us reinforce ABB’s presence in Switzerland and invest in high-growth technologies of the future. The new multipurpose building is an important step in positioning us as the employer of choice and attracting the best talent and most experienced workforce in an age marked by skill shortages. We want to offer our employees a world-class environment that promotes innovation, pioneering spirit and sustainability,” said Nora Teuwsen, Country Holding Officer, ABB Switzerland.

Commitment to Switzerland as a business location

The new building underscores ABB’s 130-year presence in Switzerland and its investment in the key strengths of the Baden region. “ABB’s Untersiggenthal location is an impressive success story that clearly illustrates the constructive interaction between politics, business, education and research,” said Stephan Attiger, Councilor of the Canton of Aargau, Head of the Department of Construction, Transport and Environment. “This location is a prime example of the high-tech canton of Aargau’s ability to offer the most fertile ground for innovation and technological progress, and how global success can be a product of local origin.”

Global center of excellence for power electronics

Untersiggenthal is where ABB develops and manufactures efficient and sustainable solutions for motion technology in the areas of industrial processes, infrastructure and railways, as well as for applications in the field of renewable energy generation. “Our new building is not just a symbol of our connection to the Baden region, but also an important step in strengthening our global center of excellence for power electronics. This key technology will help us boost energy efficiency and sustainability in future-focused markets like mobility, industry and renewables. We are proud that our Motion business area will make a meaningful contribution to these efforts,” said Adrian Rothenbühler, Head of ABB Switzerland’s Motion business.

Power electronics are tailored to specific applications to enable the highly reliable and efficient conversion of power into the desired form. They are used in traction converters for trains, e-buses and trams as well as in converters for wind or hydropower stations or in variable speed drives for motors that enable significant energy savings and quality improvements. ABB has successfully built and expanded its Power Electronics business from Untersiggenthal over the years. The location’s success is clearly reflected in the close to 300 new jobs created over the past five years.

New construction in the spirit of sustainability

ABB aims to enable a low-carbon society, preserve resources, and promote social progress. The “Emotion” building shows ABB Switzerland’s commitment to implementing this strategy. It was built with more than 2,200 cubic meters of zirkulit®, a recycled concrete that also captures CO2. The building meets the Swiss Minergie standard and features modern building automation technologies to increase comfort and energy efficiency. The energy supply is provided by solar energy from photovoltaic systems installed on neighboring buildings and by hydropower from the region. Heating and cooling are ensured by heat pumps that can extract energy from the groundwater.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 140 years of excellence, ABB’s 105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.

Source and image credit: ABB