Swedish-Swiss company ABB Robotics has announced the opening of a new robotics packaging and logistics headquarters in Georgia, US.

This facility will serve as a dedicated hub for the company’s robotic solutions to support the logistics of the packaging industries. 

Located in the city of Alpharetta in the north of Atlanta, the new site will be a centre for ABB to collaborate with its customers and integration partners.

It will allow ABB to design and develop next-generation AI-powered robots to help its US industry partners in addressing the demand of their customers.

This ecosystem will further help in building resilience while allowing US consumers to remain competitive, the company said.

In addition, the new centre will provide training to the company’s employees, customers, as well as integrators for developing new skills required to operate, programme and maintain robots in logistics and packaging applications. 

ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation president Sami Atiya said: “Our new facility, supported by our manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, will help us meet this need [of demand] by providing our customers with the latest, AI-enabled robotic solutions that improve their flexibility and productivity, while strengthening their resilience and ability to operate more sustainably.”

The new specialist robotics centre has been built using a $22m investment and is expected to create more than 70 jobs.

This investment reinforces ABB’s commitment to meet the rising demand for automation in the US.

The facility will operate alongside ABB’s other specialist centres, including its life sciences and healthcare laboratory in Texas, a manufacturing facility in Michigan, and the research and development lab in California. 

ABB Robotics Consumer Segments & Service Robotics managing director Daniel Navarro said: “The rising expectations of consumers for greater choice and faster delivery is causing companies to look at more flexible and efficient ways to produce and distribute their products.

“At the same time, a growing labour shortage is hampering their ability to make the necessary changes, particularly when it comes to meeting the demands of omnichannel distribution.

“Smarter automation and AI-enabled robots can help to address this challenge and energise the changes society demands.”