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ABB, which had recently set up its dedicated engineering and operations centre in Bangalore, is planning to set up similar centres in other parts of the country.
The centre is a vital resource base for ABB units across the world. Its main scope of operations include the development and execution of system and engineering solutions to support automation activities across the ABB group.
Announcing this, Dinesh Paliwal, a member of ABB's group executive committee and chairman of ABB India said: "The Bangalore centre has witnessed phenomenal growth in a short period of time and we plan to set up similar centres in other parts of India."
This centre will enable ABB to further leverage the significant intellectual capital, technical skills and competitive cost structure offered by India, for the combined benefit of the ABB Group.
In addition to these expansion plans, ABB India is awaiting privatisation of the transmission and distributions businesses of the electricity boards.
Said K Rajagopal, senior VP & chief financial officer, ABB India: "We are pretty strong in the T&D business and we are interested in offering total maintenance solutions for any private player picking up stake in the ESCOMs (Electricity Supply Companies). This in turn might result in us picking up stakes in these entities."
The engineering and operations centre in bangalore will initially target a phased build up to around 500 man-years of engineering and systems support to other ABB operations, over the next few years.
The centre will focus on activities including project-based engineering services, material cost migration to high-productivity countries, enabling systems for supply chain management and information technology, as well as development projects.
A multinational team from ABB's automation business will facilitate exchange of technology between the new centre and other ABB units as well as help foster best practices.
Paliwal added that ABB India already has 200 man-years of experience and "this has encouraged our expansion plans further". This expansion in part of the $100 million comprehensive three-year investment programme in India.