Switzerland’s ABB is investing significantly into the Canadian market, the Zurich-based electrification giant announced this week.
The global cleantech firm has unveiled an investment of $130 million into Canadian-based research, development, and manufacturing of its electrification solutions.
Industry is facing fluctuating energy costs and an insecure energy supply while demand for electrification continue to increase. ABB partners with utility, industrial, and commercial customers across industries to manage energy and electrical infrastructure as strategic operational assets in a smart and sustainable way.
The investment—the largest in Canada to date from ABB—will fuel the completion of a 340,000 square foot manufacturing and R&D facility in Quebec.
The new Montreal facility, replacing smaller and less efficient operations in Iberville and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, marks a production capacity increase of more than 30%, according to a statement from ABB, which noted that more than 80% of solutions sold in Canada by ABB are made or assembled domestically from locally sourced materials such as 100% Canadian steel and aluminum.
“Our investment will support our future growth in Canada, as demand increases with customers focused on grid resilience, power distribution, and renewables, and in new transportation, buildings and infrastructure projects,” stated Khalid Mandri, President of ABB Installation Products.
The new site, situated in the South Shore region of Montreal, is expected to open by the end of 2025.
The building will integrate clean, energy-efficient electrical equipment and heating systems to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon emissions by 95% when compared with the two old facilities, according to a statement from ABB.
The project is also being financially supported through funding to the tune of $16M from Investissement Québec, a company established in 1998 by the National Assembly of Quebec to favour local investment.
Mandri says ABB has thus far invested around US$275M into Canadian operations.