Swedish-Swiss automation engineering and software company ABB has opened a multi-million euro global research and development centre for the pulp and paper industry in Dundalk.
The Zürich-based firm expects the facility, which will host its new quality control system, to create 30 jobs in research, engineering and sales over the next five years. The project is supported by taxpayers through grant aid from IDA Ireland.
According to ABB, new ideas and products will be piloted at the centre and potentially developed into applications for efficiencies in papermaking, including solutions for measuring, adjusting, optimising and controlling quality.
ABB aims to develop products that respond to global trends and can meet the industry's sustainably goals, estimating that the quality control system has the potential reduce annual waste by 2% or more per paper machine.
The centre has technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), collaborative robots and AR/VR for training and field service delivery, and it also has a training hub for skills development.
In Association with
“This new centre represents ABB’s proud heritage and presence in Ireland, which is extremely important to us,” said Michael Kerley, global technology manager for ABB Pulp & Paper.
“In addition to being a hub for technological innovation in the pulp and paper industry, the new centre will play a vital role in creating up to 30 high-level job opportunities over the next three to five years, thereby bolstering the talent pool in Ireland and supporting the local economy.”
The Dundalk site is one of ABB's four main Pulp and Paper R&D centres globally, joining facilities in Bangalore, Singapore and Stockholm. It will also serve as a sales and service office for ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation.
“ABB’s Pulp and Paper business grows year on year, and this investment into our Quality Control Systems development will allow us to sustain our global market leadership and push the industry forward for the next generation of papermakers,” said Joachim Braun, president of process industries at ABB.
“With Ireland ranked in the top 10 EU countries for innovation and boasting the fourth-highest international share of workforce in the EU, it is the perfect location for our new R&D site. From this base, we will continue to advance the future of the industry and pioneer new technologies to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
ABB employs around 180 people across five locations in Ireland, including more than 40 who work in R&D. Recruitment to fill the new positions is ongoing.
“This is a very welcome investment in Louth and the wider region and is an endorsement of the area as an excellent place for businesses to thrive and grow,” said Minister for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation Dara Calleary.
"The government is hugely supportive of any new innovations that help us reach our goal of protecting the future of our planet."
"ABB has been a leading employer in Dundalk for 40 years,” said Mary Buckley, interim CEO of IDA Ireland.
“This new R&D centre is a significant expansion and is very much aligned to IDA Ireland’s Sustainability pillar that is central to our current strategy. I wish ABB every success with this multi-million-euro investment.”
Photo (from left): ABB executives William Dannelly and Stefano Cinquina, minister Dara Calleary, Mary Buckley, and ABB's Joachim Braun and Michael Kerley.
