Global rise in extreme weather drives £27m ABB investment in new Nottingham factory

These advanced products help safeguard critical infrastructure against lightning strikes and electrical surges, preventing costly damage and disruption. The £27m investment will enable ABB to meet growing demand from customers who want to protect data centers, buildings, renewable energy systems, and communications and transportation hubs.

The new 8,800sqm manufacturing and R&D facility is over 35% larger than the previous local ABB office and factory, which operated for over 130 years. The R&D, lab and testing centre, along with a collaboration area and dedicated section for ABB’s Furse Surge Protection Device (SPD) product range, will become a global centre of excellence for lightning protection technologies, developing new solutions as safety and performance requirements continue to evolve.

"The increased frequency and intensity of severe weather events with lightning strikes, along with urbanisation, and more stringent building and data centre safety requirements, are driving demand for advanced earthing, lightning and surge protection solutions," said Andrea Castella, Europe region leader, ABB Installation Products. "The investment in our new Nottingham facility is part of ABB’s broader strategy to drive innovation and sustainability, expand manufacturing, and shorten supply chains to bring production and R&D closer to customers."

More than 100 existing employees have relocated to the new purpose-built facility at Fairham Business Park, which produces and distributes millions of Furse components annually to more than 60 countries across Europe, the Middle East and APAC. The site integrates the latest technologies for sustainable operations, bringing together ABB’s digital and renewable energy solutions to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

With approximately 1,700 employees in the UK, ABB has more than 20 manufacturing, distribution and operational facilities across the country. The investment in ABB’s new Nottingham facility was first announced in June 2024.

Building on its long history of pioneering in electrification, ABB Installation Products creates solutions to safely connect and protect electrical systems that power businesses, cities, homes and transportation. With more than 200,000 products under 40 premium brand names, ABB Installation Products, formerly Thomas and Betts, solutions are found wherever electricity is used around the world and in space.

www.abb.com