ABB Robotics has won the contract to supply Nobia – the leading kitchen specialist in Europe – with robots for their new factory in Jönköping, Sweden. By securing the contract, ABB Robotics furthers its expansion into new industry segments, helping to make production more efficient and sustainable.
“ABB’s contribution to Nobia’s new state-of-the-art factory clearly illustrates how we, can help companies unlock flexible automation to transform their business, supporting with unique global industry expertise and innovative, tailormade products,” said Andrea Cassoni, Managing Director, General Industry, ABB Robotics. “Here, our robotics solutions are enabling fast mass-production of customized kitchens, meeting consumers’ increased demand for tailored and personalized product choices”.
The supply of ABB robots enables Nobia to achieve its vison for more flexible and higher automated manufacturing that’s capable of producing customized products at scale. By taking on the dull, dirty and sometimes dangerous tasks, the range of robots enable Nobia’s workers to take on safer, more rewarding work. The robots included are IRB 7600, ideal for heavy applications, IRB 4600, a general-purpose robot that increases production capacity and improves productivity, and IRB 6700, the highest-performance robot in the 150–300-kilogram class which, on average, takes about 2.5 tons per day off the shoulders of an employee. The robots enable the factory to produce customized cabinets with 75-80% higher efficiency (time) in comparison to non-automated processes.
Combining ABB’s technological leadership in automation, with Nobia’s segment insights and knowledge of their customers’ needs, the companies will create even more flexible and digitalized manufacturing processes in the future. Together, the companies strengthen the competence development within automation for the region around Jönköping. In the local area, ABB Robotics will support and educate Nobia’s existing and future employees as well as students at Jönköping University and neighboring Linköping University. The training will be held in ABB Robotics’ recently opened training center in Jönköping.
“We are very excited about this partnership with ABB. We are building a future-proof, high-capacity factory that will support our leading position. It is a real game changer for the whole industry. The factory will manufacture customized, made-to-order kitchens at the highest speed and at the same time highest possible quality. The unique combination of technique solutions combined with our expertise will enable us to offer kitchens with leading design, and sustainability performance to customers in the Nordic region. To achieve this we will utilize ABB’s market leading technology for highly automated and flexible processes, and extensive logistics consolidation,” said Jon Sintorn, CEO, Nobia.
The region around Jönköping is characterized by extensive tradition, know-how, and expertise in manufacturing. The factory will be fully operational in the course of 2024, to become one of Europe’s most modern kitchen factories.