ABB plans to spin off Robotics Division
ABB on Thursday announced that it will launch a process to propose to its Annual General Meeting 2026 to decide on a 100 percent spin-off of its Robotics division. “The intention is for the business to start trading as a separately listed company during the second quarter of 2026,” the company said.
Peter Voser, Chairman of ABB, said: “The board believes listing ABB Robotics as a separate company will optimize both companies’ ability to create customer value, grow and attract talent. 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.”
Morten Wierod, CEO of ABB, added: “ABB Robotics is a leader in its industry and there are limited business and technology synergies between the ABB Robotics business and the remainder of 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.”
The ABB Robotics division has approximately 7,000 employees. With 2024 revenues of $2.3 billion it represented about 7 percent of ABB Group revenues and had an Operational EBITA margin of 12.1 percent. The company operates through its local-for-local set-up with regional manufacturing hubs in Europe (Sweden), Asia (China) and the Americas (United States).
According to statement released by the company, “If shareholders decide in favour of the proposal, the spin-off is planned to be done through a share distribution, whereby ABB Ltd.’s shareholders will receive shares in the company to be listed (working name ‘ABB Robotics’) as a dividend in-kind in proportion to their existing shareholding.”
As from the first quarter of 2026, the Machine Automation division, which together with ABB Robotics currently forms the Robotics & Discrete Automation business area, will become a part of the Process Automation business area. 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.
