Industrial automation giant ABB plans to list the new company in the second quarter of 2026.
Zürich-based automation products manufacturer ABB will launch a process to propose to shareholders a 100 percent spin-off of its robotics division.
“The board believes listing ABB Robotics as a separate company will optimize both companies’ ability to create customer value, grow and attract talent,” said ABB Chairman Peter Voser. He says both companies will benefit from a more focused governance and capital allocation. “ABB will continue to focus on its long-term strategy, building on its leading positions in electrification and automation,” Voser said.
ABB Robotics provides intelligent automation solutions to a global customer base to solve operational challenges including labor shortages and the need to operate more sustainably. It’s robotics platforms include autonomous mobile robots, software and AI combined with proven domain expertise to a broad range of traditional and new industry segments. More than 80 percent of the company’s products are software or AI enabled.
Morten Wierod, CEO of ABB, says there are limited business and technology synergies between the ABB Robotics business and other ABB divisions, with different demand and market characteristics. “We believe this change will support value creation in both the ABB Group and in the separately listed pure play robotics business,” he said.
ABB said in a press release that the new robotics company will be listed with a strong capital structure, is well invested with a solid cash flow profile and operates through its local-for-local set-up with regional manufacturing hubs in Sweden, China and the U.S.
The robotics division has about 7,000 employees, with 2024 revenues of $2.3 billion, which made up about 7% of ABB Group revenues.
If shareholders vote in favor of the proposal, the spin-off is planned to be done through a share distribution. ABB Ltd.’s shareholders will receive shares in the company to be listed (its working name is ABB Robotics) as a dividend in-kind in proportion to their existing shareholding.
In the first quarter of 2026, the Machine Automation division—which is currently combined with ABB Robotics to form the Robotics & Discrete Automation business—will become a part of the Process Automation business, where ABB says its other divisions will benefit from technology synergies for software and control technologies. The Machine Automation business holds a leading position in the high-end segment for solutions based on PLCs, IPCs, servo motion, industrial transport systems and vision and software.
The intention is for the new robotics company to start trading as a separately listed company during the second quarter of 2026.
