Local production of variable speed drives (VSDs) at ABB’s Peenya factory in Bengaluru has increased by around 25 per cent. This supports India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, allowing faster delivery and better customisation. The new line uses advanced automation to improve productivity, safety, and quality, in line with Industry 4.0 standards. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new line will help meet growing demand for drives that enable improved energy efficiency and productivity.

The new line will produce drives with large power ratings for a variety of industries, including buildings, data centres, water, cement and metals. With localised production, the line is expected to reduce lead times by up to 40 per cent, enabling delivery efficiency. The line is also equipped to deliver ‘made-to-order’ drives for the evolving needs of key industrial segments

“As we mark two decades of drives production in India, this expansion reinforces our strong commitment to advancing local production capabilities and delivering energy-efficient technologies for India’s industries,” said AR Madhusudan, Business Line Manager, Drive Products, ABB India. “With our focus on localisation, ABB India’s expanded and upgraded drives factory will cater to customers with greater reliability, speed and agility, leveraging cutting-edge automation.”

This ergonomically designed line has integrated robotics to automate the production of a key component that enable ABB drives to deliver high energy efficiency and reliability. The new line features a combination of advanced robotics and digital production monitoring technology, handling production of large batches with speed and precision and providing real-time visibility of operations. Aligning with Industry 4.0 standards, advanced sensor-based tools monitor and enable accurate placement of drive components, ensuring consistently high quality of drives. ABB’s drives factory has also deployed robotics to streamline the movement of assembled drives to further improve efficiency, reduce manual handling, and enhance safety.

“As India accelerates its sustainability goals, ABB drives are playing a crucial role in enabling energy efficiency in Indian industries. The latest expansion and upgrade of the drives factory in India reflects our focus on advancing local production and technology capabilities in line with the country’s growth ambitions,” said Tuomo Hoysniemi, Division President, Drive Products, ABB Motion. “By building stronger local ecosystems, we are helping industries become more energy efficient while improving customer proximity, enabling them to outrun – leaner and cleaner.”

The expansion comes as ABB marked 50 years of innovation and energy efficiency with VSDs globally and two decades of drives production excellence in India. From metros and airports to pharma, metals and beyond, ABB’s drives have played a key role in nation-building projects over the years. ABB’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 building globally.

ABB India has been at the forefront of advanced manufacturing for decades, pioneering innovations that redefine industry standards. The company has also set new benchmarks in energy efficiency with electric motors and drives, designed to deliver top performance even in hazardous conditions, underscoring its commitment to technological excellence and sustainable growth.