A successful year for ABB

The company has expanded and diversified with the establishment of a global vessel information and control organisation tasked with developing automation solutions for marine applications. The new organisation forms part of the company’s growth strategy in the run up to 2015.

Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division, said: “While maintaining our leading position as electrical power and propulsion system supplier in offshore drilling, passenger vessels, LNG tankers and other market segments, ABB will expand our offering to include marine automation and advisory systems based on our solid industry experience and cutting edge technology.”

With the enforcement of new environmental regulations, there is an ever increasing demand for efficient vessel information and control systems with the emphasis on helping ship operators to get better at efficient energy use and lower fuel consumption – which ABB are keen to take advantage of.

In 2011, the company sold a total of 350 automation, vessel management and control systems of various types for a wide range of vessels including drill ships, jack-up drilling rigs, and offshore support and passenger vessels – with after sales care delivered by 22 ABB marine service centres internationally.