ABB unit looking at 'significant potential' for growth in nation

Global automation and electrification leader ABB is doubling down on its commitment to China, forging closer collaborations to accelerate the digital transformation of the nation's energy and industrial sectors, a top executive said.

"Among the sectors ABB Energy Industries, a division of ABB, is supporting in China, such as power, water, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, we see varying levels of momentum," said Anders Maltesen, president of ABB Energy Industries in Asia.

"ABB believes there is still significant potential for growth, especially in areas driven by policy and funding for energy efficiency," he said.

"We see significant opportunities across several energy sub-sectors in China — especially in power, water and pharmaceuticals. Some areas, such as energy efficiency and process optimization, show growth potential in the country."

ABB Energy Industries has been actively involved in oil and gas, hydrogen, petrochemicals, as well as carbon capture and storage initiatives in China, focusing on automation and digitalization, particularly on advanced process control and real-time monitoring.

Maltesen said that among all the sectors served by ABB Energy Industries, the chemical sector is particularly promising.

Currently, the energy sector, especially the chemical industry, faces numerous data challenges and ABB Energy Industries' technologies and solutions are well-equipped to assist traditional industries in enhancing data availability, security and transparency, he said.

This support is essential for driving and facilitating the transformation of process industries toward smarter and more sustainable practices. The company has been expanding cooperation with local Chinese enterprises implementing full automation systems for their chemical operations, which Maltesen believes gives ABB a great opportunity to scale up its solutions across China.

ABB and the Instrumentation Technology and Economy Institute (ITEI) announced in April the building of a new laboratory aimed at bolstering China's industrial transformation through advanced automation technologies.

The laboratory will focus on compatibility testing, technology demonstrations and training, and collaborate with partners across the industry chain to facilitate the intelligent and sustainable development of global industrial communication technology.

"This partnership with the ITEI aims to advance process automation — making manufacturing more intelligent, streamlined and autonomous," said Maltesen.

"Through this lab, we'll be able to test and verify how these devices transmit data in real time and contribute to autonomous decision-making in industrial environments. This collaboration also helps us explore how to make the industrial internet of things more effective and scalable."

According to Ouyang Jinsong, director of the ITEI, standardizing industrial communication technology is pivotal for strategic industrial advancements.

This partnership will accelerate technological upgrades and product innovation for domestic enterprises, fast-tracking the implementation of Ethernet-APL technology, thus driving forward China's smart industrial transformation, he said.

China's dedication to expanding high-standard opening-up is a significant confidence booster for foreign businesses like ABB Energy Industries, said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

As for the current economic climate in China, ABB Energy Industries remains optimistic about growth prospects, particularly in sectors like chemicals, water and pharmaceuticals.

Maltesen also pointed to China's ambitious energy policies and cross-border collaborations as key drivers for growth. He highlighted China's push for regional interconnectivity across Asia, aligning with ABB's strategy of providing scalable and adaptable solutions.

Looking to the future, ABB anticipates autonomy, data utilization, artificial intelligence and machine learning to be transformative forces in China's energy sector.

The company is positioning itself to leverage these trends, enabling customers to optimize operations, predict maintenance needs and move toward fully autonomous systems.

Maltesen expressed strong optimism about China's trajectory in renewable energy and decarbonization, noting the country's massive investments in solar and wind power and the significant improvements in grid infrastructure.

"China is on an incredible journey toward building a cleaner, more sustainable energy future," Maltesen concluded. "And ABB is proud to support that transition through smart infrastructure, advanced technologies and long-term partnerships."