Lightning strikes and electrical surges disrupt critical operations and cause billions of dollars in damage to structures and equipment each year. With growing reliance on electronics and data centres,
ABB is investing over £27 million in a greenfield facility in Nottingham to meet increased demand for Furse earthing and lightning protection solutions. The new ‘state of the art’ facility is expected to open in early 2025 and will integrate advanced technology, flexible automation, R&D and testing, and digital processes to boost production capacity and enhance efficiency and sustainability.
More than 100 employees will relocate to the new 9,500m
2 site from the existing 6,300m
2 ABB Installation Products Nottingham foundry, which has continually operated for over 100 years in the area where Furse originated in 1893. In addition to an expanded footprint, the site will be constructed in line with the BREEAM Excellent rating for sustainable building standards and include efficient equipment and technology, photovoltaic rooftop cells, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and processes centered on reducing waste and energy. The space will be designed to support collaboration and training, accelerate R&D, and drive automation to serve European customers and increase available inventory globally.
Worldwide, an estimated 1.4 billion lightning flashes occur annually, equal to over 42 strikes every second. Even indirect lightning strikes up to a km away can create transient over voltages and have devastating consequences such as fire, shock hazards, equipment damage and costly outages, resulting in downtime and financial losses.
Surge protectionFurse solutions from ABB Installation Products are engineered to provide reliable earthing, lightning risk, and electronic systems and surge protection, helping safeguard structures and the electrical systems within. The products are used in more than 20 countries across a broad range of applications and environments, from data centres and medical facilities to essential infrastructure, utilities and renewable energy.
Khalid Mandri ABB Installation Products Division president, said: “This important investment builds on 130 years of Furse technology, enabling us to remain at the forefront of earthing and lightning protection and deliver solutions that improve safety and reliability for our customers. As part of our global growth strategy, we continue to expand our capabilities and capacity, further strengthening ABB’s manufacturing footprint and supply chain and regionalising production of high-demand electrical solutions. Building this site in Nottinghamshire further reinforces our commitment to the industries we serve and to the community where we have operated for more than a century and where we want to continue to be a leading employer.”
The UK investment adds to nearly £129 million in ABB Installation Products global expansions and improvements since 2020 to increase manufacturing capacity, drive innovation and sustainability, and bring needed products closer to customers. ABB Installation Products currently has six European locations, in Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. The company currently employs employs 100 people in Nottingham who develop, test and produce a broad range of Furse solutions. The new campus will occupy nearly five acres in Fairham Business Park, within close proximity to ABB’s existing Wilford Road site and is accessible for employees, customers, suppliers and distribution partners.
SustainabilityAndrea Castella, ABB Installation Products Europe region leader, said: “We are continually advancing solutions across electrification, and the earthing and lightning protection lifecycle. Our new facility is a leap forward in design and technology, positioning us for the future while enabling us to preserve resources and reduce energy and water consumption aligned with circularity and sustainability priorities across ABB’s operations.”
Building on its long history of pioneering in electrification, ABB Installation Products creates solutions to safely connect and protect electrical systems that power businesses, cities, homes and transportation. With more than 200,000 products under 38 premium brand names, ABB Installation Products solutions are found wherever electricity is used around the world and in space.
ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimise how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on over 140 years of excellence, ABB’s more than 105,000 employees worldwide are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.