n NEWS ABB IS SELLING ITS robotics division to the giant Japanese investor SoftBank Group (SBG) for $5.375bn. In doing so, it has decided not to pursue its earlier plan to spin off the business as a separately listed company. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026. The ABB Robotics division has a workforce of around 7,000 and revenues in 2024 of $2.3bn – about 7% of ABB’s total revenues. Last year, it had an operational EBITA margin of 12.1%. The business is a leader in its sector, but the ABB board felt that there were limited business and technology synergies with the rest of its operations, which have different demand and market characteristics. Softbank has earmarked AI robotics as one of four “essential” sectors in which to invest and expand. The other three are AI chips, AI data centres and energy. It is also investing in companies at the forefront of generative AI. SBG expects the ABB acquisition to strengthen its AI robotics business “significantly”. It says the business is a globally recognised brand, known for its reliability and high performance, supported by extensive sales channels and customer relationships. SBG believes it is “well-positioned to reignite the robotics business’s growth”, particularly through investment in cutting-edge technologies such as AI. The robotics platform will complement SBG’s existing robotics-related investments – which include SoftBank Robotics Group, Berkshire Grey, AutoStore Holdings, Agile Robots and Skild AI – and will help to accelerate innovation in AI robotics and drive progress towards “artificial super intelligence” (ASI). “SoftBank’s next frontier is physical AI,” explains SBG’s chairman and CEO, Masayoshi Son. “Together with ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse ASI and robotics – driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward.” “SoftBank will be an excellent new home for the business and its employees,”says ABB’s CEO, Morten Wierod. “ABB and SoftBank share the same perspective that the world is entering a new era of AI-based robotics and believe that the division and SoftBank’s robotics offering can best shape this era together. ABB Robotics will benefit from the combination of its leading technology and deep industry expertise, with SoftBank’s state-of-the-art capabilities in AI, robotics and next-generation computing. This will allow the business to strengthen and expand its position as a technology leader in its field.” ABB’s chairman, Peter Voser, reports that Softbank’s offer for the robotics division was “carefully evaluated by the board and executive committee and compared with our original intention for a spin-off. It reflects the long-term strengths of the division, and the divestment will create immediate value to ABB shareholders. Our ambitions for ABB are unchanged and we will continue to focus on our long-term strategy, building on our leading positions in electrification and automation.” Following the deal, ABB will change its reporting structure and will operate in three business areas. From this quarter, the robotics division will become a “discontinued operation”. At the same time, ABB’s machine automation division, which together with ABB Robotics currently forms the Robotics & Discrete Automation business, will become a part of the process automation business. Sami Atiya, president of ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business and member of its executive committee, will leave ABB by the end of 2026. He will step down from the executive committee at the end of 2025 and will continue to support the robotics business and the carve-out process in 2026 as a strategic advisor. September 2025 www.drivesncontrols.com 8 ABB has one of the broadest ranges of industrial robots in the sector ABB sells its robotics division to Japan’s SoftBank for $5.375bn EVENTS Digital Manufacturing 2Day 22 October, 2025 MTC, Coventry A one-day event at the Manufacturing Technology Centre dedicated to the technologies, strategies, and people driving the digital transformation of manufacturing. The theme is: Navigating and Mastering Digital Transformation. In addition to presentations by expert speakers and panel sessions, the event will include an exhibition. https://mtcevents.co.uk/upcomingevents/digital-manufacturing-2day Advanced Engineering 2025 29-30 October, 2025 NEC, Birmingham The organisers says that Advanced Engineering is the only UK event connecting all industrial ecosystems, driving high-value manufacturing and supply chain solutions. There will be more than 400 exhibitors, and five forums hosting talks by more than 150 speakers. Additions this year include an SME village, an electronics zone and an expanded composites pavilion. www.advancedengineeringuk.com SPS 2025 25-27 November, 2025 Nuremberg, Germany The SPS (Smart Production Solutions) automation show returns to its traditional late November slot following several years of taking place earlier in the month. Last year, the event attracted 51,291 visitors and 1,114 exhibitors. The organisers are expecting an increase in UK visitors this year, pointing out that many of the exhibitors are multinationals already active in the UK. https://sps.mesago.com/nuernberg/en.html Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 26 3–5 February, 2026 Farnborough, UK The regional event is expected to attract more than 500 exhibitors from a variety of sectors including mechanical engineering, electronics, electrical engineering and production hardware. More than 10,000 visitors are likely to visit the Farnborough site where they can hear talks from over 50 experts, as well as attending the exhibition. www.southern-manufacturingelectronics.com/en Hannover Messe 2026 20-24 April, 2026 Hannover, Germany The industrial mega-show returns to its North German venue and is expected to attract around 4,000 exhibitors (including more than 300 start-ups) from the engineering and digital industries, as well as the energy sector. AI will be a common thread, playing a key role on many stands. There will be three main exhibition areas: Automation & Digitalisation; Energy & Industrial Infrastructure; and Research & Technology Transfer. The partner country for 2026 is Brazil. www.hannovermesse.de/en
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