ABB's first 100 robots manufactured in China

Shanghai, China, July 26, 2005 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, today celebrated the first 100 robots manufactured in China. ABB marked the robotic milestone in its workshop in Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone outside Shanghai. The shining star of the event was "LILY," the 100th robot produced by ABB in China.

"We primarily make robots in China for the automotive and electronics industries," said Per-Vegard Nerseth, head of Manufacturing Automation for ABB in China. "For example, our robots paint and manufacture everything from mobile phones, to iPods and General Motors cars."

Nerseth said the objective for ABB's robot production in China is to increase competitiveness by delivering faster while increasing customer productivity. "We are much more competitive by manufacturing robots in China than we ever were by shipping from Europe. Our quality is the same, and after-sales service personnel are much closer to the customer."

Statistics indicate that the average increasing rate of automotive industry worldwide is two percent while China foresees 15 percent for 2005. Driven by tremendous demand, both local and abroad, China's electronics industry is reportedly growing at a speed greater than any other region in the world.

A market leader in robotics with more than 120,000 robots installed worldwide, ABB built the production line in March 2005 with the support from teams in Norway and Sweden. China is home to ABB's third robot production unit, after those two countries.

The robots currently serve both the China market and customers in Asia Pacific and Europe. Nerseth said automation technologies like robots are helping Chinese industry improve efficiency and raise productivity.

In the early 1970s ABB was first to develop the all-electric, microcomputer controlled industrial robot. Today, in the automotive, metal fabrication, foundry, plastics and consumer industries, ABB's wide range of products and solutions help to pave the way for optimized production.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impacts. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 102,000 people worldwide. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including manufacturing, R&D, sales and service, with 8,000 employees, 23 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 30 cities. To know more about ABB, visit www.abb.com.cn.