ABB to Spin Off Robotics Division as Independent Company in 2026

ABB, an industrial robot supplier and manufacturer, announced plans to spin off its robotics division, ABB Robotics, into a separately listed company on Thursday. The decision will be proposed to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting 2026, and the company is expected to begin trading independently in the second quarter of 2026.

Following the spin-off, ABB’s Machine Automation division will be integrated into the Process Automation business area to leverage technology synergies. 

According to Peter Voser, chairman of the board of directors of ABB, the move aims to optimise both companies’ ability to create customer value, grow, and attract talent. “The board believes listing ABB Robotics as a separate company will optimise both companies’ ability to create customer value, grow, and attract talent,” he explained. 

ABB Robotics, a leader in the robotics industry, has shown strong performance, especially in intelligent automation solutions aimed at improving productivity, flexibility, and sustainability. The division currently generates $2.3 billion in revenue and represents about 7% of ABB’s total revenue. 

In its Q1 2025 results on Thursday, the company reported revenues of $7,935 million for the quarter, reflecting a 1% year-on-year growth. On a comparable basis, revenues rose by 3%.

Morten Wierod, CEO at ABB, further clarified that the spin-off would allow both ABB Group and the new robotics company to better focus on their distinct market needs. “There are limited business and technology synergies between ABB Robotics and the remainder of ABB divisions,” he said.

The spin-off will be structured as a dividend in kind, with ABB shareholders receiving shares in the new robotics company in proportion to their existing holdings. This move comes after a period of market stabilisation and significant performance resilience from ABB Robotics. 

In a previous interview with AIM, Sami Atiya, president of robotics and discrete automation business at ABB, expressed how the company has taken a measured, value-driven approach to AI innovation, which is delivering results across multiple industries.

The company operates globally with approximately 7,000 employees and a solid cash flow profile, supported by regional manufacturing hubs in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The robotics division focuses on intelligent automation solutions, including autonomous mobile robots, software, and AI. ABB continues to focus on electrification and automation with a workforce of around 1,10,000 employees worldwide.