ABB (www.new.abb.com) is to acquire AB Rotech, a privately owned company with headquarters in Bursa (Turkey) and nearly 20 years’ experience in robotic welding solutions and services for the automotive industry.

The companies agreed to not disclose the value of the acquisition, which is subject to regulatory clearance and
is expected to ‘close’ later this year.

This will boost ABB’s robotic welding solutions offering and capability in the growing automotive sector, which — according to the International Federation of Robotics — remains the world’s largest robotics market (with a record 21% growth in 2017).

Moreover, Turkey’s production of cars and commercial vehicles is expected to grow faster than its Gross Domestic Product, due to the country’s increasing focus on exports.

Per Vegard Nerseth, managing director of Robotics at ABB, said: “This acquisition strengthens our position as the ‘partner of choice’ for automotive OEMs and Tier One suppliers in Turkey and beyond.

“It further strengthens our leading robotic solutions and customer relations, which is a clear competitive differentiator of ABB.”

AB Rotech has been an ABB system integrator under the latter’s Authorised Value Provider programme and has grown to become a well-established national robot integrator in the automotive sector.

Located near one of the largest Turkish automotive hubs, AB Rotech offers robot solutions based on arc, spot and laser welding; it also offers machining and tooling capabilities.

When the acquisition closes, AB Rotech will become part of the robotics business of ABB’s Robotics and Motion division — and a new regional application centre focusing on welding solutions for the automotive industry in Turkey and South Eastern Europe.