The groundbreaking ceremony was witnessed by Johan Sterte, Governor of Västmanland, residents of the Finnslätten community, representatives of customers and suppliers, builders, local politicians, ABB employees and regional partners. A contemporary memorial container inspired by the "Ottar" time capsule at ASEA's headquarters a century ago was also unveiled during the ceremony.

The park will be built into a European robotics technology hub and is scheduled to be completed and put into use in the fall of 2027. The investment will consolidate Sweden's position as a leading industrial country and make Västerås a European robotics technology center. The construction of the park is an important milestone in the realization of the long-term strategy of localized production and innovation.

The new campus is an important part of the strategy to meet the long-term growth demand in the field of robotics and automation. It will become a modern facility integrating manufacturing, R&D, customer training center and testing functions. It will replace ABB's existing robotics facility in Västerås and provide European customers with collaborative robots, industrial robots and digital solutions equipped with artificial intelligence.

The park will provide ABB Robotics employees with a modern and vibrant working environment, and the entire construction process will implement the concept of sustainable development. The facility will be equipped with a sustainable energy system consisting of solar panels, battery energy storage systems, ground source heat pumps, free cooling devices and energy wells, and it is expected that energy consumption will be reduced by 50% compared with the current level.

YLAB Larssons Construction is a Swedish family business with a rich history and strong values. Founded in 1977, the company has continued to grow since its inception and now has the capacity and resources to undertake a wide range of construction projects. Its business scope is wide-ranging, covering commercial premises, logistics and trade-related buildings, as well as small service projects for private customers. The company focuses on building good relationships with customers, with integrity, quality and service as its core values, and is committed to providing customers with reliable and satisfactory construction solutions to ensure that customers are guaranteed in terms of time, economy and quality. In addition, the company also emphasizes the creation of sustainable and high-quality construction projects, combining innovative thinking with rich experience, and has made a positive contribution to the development of construction in southern Sweden. In the ABB Robot Park construction project, YLAB Larssons, as the general contractor, was responsible for the construction of this large and complex project, demonstrating its strong strength and professionalism.

"This is one of the largest and most complex construction projects we have ever undertaken. We are honored to have such close cooperation and trust from ABB. Together we will create a high-quality, modern and sustainable building that will play a key role in the future of industry," said Joacim Larsson, Project Leader at YLAB.

ABB is a globally influential electrical and automation multinational company. It was formed in 1988 by the merger of Sweden's ASEA and Switzerland's BBC, and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Its business is extensive, covering electrification, automation, motion control, robotics and discrete automation, process automation and other fields. Its product range is rich, including various controllers, robots, electrical equipment and related software, which are widely used in many industries such as energy, chemicals, electricity, manufacturing, transportation, etc. At present, ABB has branches in more than 100 countries around the world, with about 110,000 employees, business all over the world, and its shares are listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).

“Our roots run deep in Västerås – it’s not only the birthplace of ABB Robotics, but also the place where we are investing in our future. With the Robotics Campus we are creating a world-class platform for innovation and growth ,” said Susanne Timsjö, Head of ABB Robotics Northern Europe. “It will be a hub for technology and production, but also a centre for collaboration with customers, partners, academia and society. We are embarking on an exciting journey together.”

As a global leader in robotics and mechanical automation, ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation is the only company that can provide fully integrated solutions for robots, autonomous mobile robots and mechanical automation. All products are controlled by its value-added software. We help companies in various industries such as automobiles, electronics, and logistics to improve their competitiveness, enhance resilience, flexibility and efficiency, and promote customers' transformation to interconnected and collaborative factories of the future to achieve more efficient and sustainable operations. The division has more than 100 branches in 53 countries around the world and has 11,000 employees.

The construction of the new robotics park will further promote the development of the Finnslätten region, which is working with Westinghouse Electric, Hitachi Energy, Alstom and other companies to build Sweden's leading industrial cluster and shape future sustainable technology solutions.

As a key move in ABB's strategic layout in the field of robotics in Europe, this park, which integrates cutting-edge technology and sustainable concepts, will not only become a new landmark of Swedish industrial innovation, but will also provide a replicable "Västerås sample" for global smart manufacturing transformation through technology integration and ecological synergy. With the countdown to its completion in 2027, this land carrying the vision of Industry 4.0 is starting with the foundation of the building, writing a new chapter in how robotics technology will reshape the future industrial landscape.