ABB, a leader in power and automation technologies, plans to move its approximately 350 power products and power systems employees from the 940 building to the new Alliance One building, currently under construction, on NC State University's Centennial Campus. ABB's Corporate Research Center will remain on floors one and two at 940, which will be refreshed to improve collaboration, upgrade the labs and allow for future growth in power electronics.
"This announcement comes on the heels of President Obama's announcement of a manufacturing innovation institute that will inspire collaboration between seven universities and labs and 18 companies, including NC State and ABB," said a spokesperson. "The institute aims to improve wide bandgap semiconductor technologies to improve efficiency in power electronic devices, including industrial motors, electric power equipment and consumer electronics. Several innovations will be developed and tested for possible commercialization."
"This move into a larger building on Centennial creates a real center of power engineering innovation on campus and further highlights our commitment to innovation, creating jobs, nurturing local engineering talent and growing our North American headquarters here in North Carolina," said Greg Scheu, President and CEO of ABB Inc. and Regional Manager of North America. "We have had a long, close relationship with NC State, as we have worked together to develop the area's engineering and computer science talent. In fact, ABB's Power Products and Power Systems division was one of the first tenants on Centennial Campus."
"NC State and ABB have long partnered to advance engineering and computer science programs at the university, and this move will further strengthen those opportunities," said NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson. "The impact that a move like this generates on job creation, academic advancements and economic development cannot be overstated. This is the 'university of the future,' where researchers, students, faculty and business work together to solve real-world problems."
In addition to being one of the original tenants on Centennial Campus in 1991, ABB recently donated $632,000 to NC State's electrical and computer engineering department. The gift established the ABB Distinguished Professorship in Electrical Engineering, the ABB Power Engineering Scholarship program, a faculty support and development fund and a lecture series, all focused on power engineering, a field that deals with the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power, as well as the electrical devices connected to those systems.
ABB employs nearly 2,000 throughout North Carolina, including 700 in the Triangle. Other locations include Asheville, Hickory, Huntersville, Kings Mountain, Marion and Pinetops. The company employs 30,000 throughout North America.
The company has signed a 10-year lease for the Alliance One building on the research park and technology campus and is expected to move into its new offices in 2015.
For more information contact:
ABB Inc.
Power Products & Power Systems, N.A.
940 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-807-5743
www.abb.com
NC State Centennial Campus
www.centennial.ncsu.edu