ABB opens new facility to support increasing demand for cabling

Following a significant site investment and multi-year expansion, ABB Installation Products has opened its John Austin Showroom and Collaboration Centre within its Coleshill, UK facility, to accelerate next generation electrical cable and conduit solutions.

The facility brings together research and development engineers, product training specialists, operations and customer service to collaborate with customers on cable management and protection products for heavy-duty vehicle, rail and infrastructure, commercial construction, marine and data centre applications.

Named for ABB employee, John Austin, who was a pioneer in electrical conduit design and helped establish international industry standards, the showroom honours his 50-year legacy of innovation. The dedicated space includes product displays of custom solutions to support ideation and training, while driving designs that address the evolving needs of sectors such as original equipment manufacturing (OEMs), e-mobility and transportation. ABB Installation Products’ investment in the Coleshill facility, including high-capacity equipment such as an advanced vacuum corrugator, has helped boost production capacity by 35% to meet increased demand for ABB Adaptaflex flexible cable protection solutions and Harnessflex specialist conduit systems. In addition to expanded lines and increased efficiency, automated coiling systems and laser printing have helped remove hazardous waste from the printing operation.

“From heavy-duty electric vehicles to electrification solutions for global transportation networks and data centres, many sectors we serve are experiencing significant change. Our new John Austin centre allows us to work side-by-side with our customers and partners to develop solutions that span the entire product lifecycle and address current and future needs,” says Andrea Castella, General Manager for Europe and AMA, ABB Installation Products Division. “Integrating capabilities under one roof streamlines the development process, positioning ABB to anticipate and respond to a dynamic market and growing need for cable management and protection solutions.”

The facility features a state-of-the-art lab and equipment to create prototypes and conduct comprehensive assessments, including simulating corrosive and demanding environments and other extreme conditions.

The centre is located at the ABB Cable Management Products building in Coleshill.