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ABB tops automation services market share worldwide

08/08/2007

Houston, Texas, August 8 -- In a recently published study titled "Automation Supplier Provided Services Worldwide Outlook," industry analyst ARC Advisory Group ranked ABB in the leading market position in this rapidly growing market space. The study reports that the total worldwide market for these services was close to $14 billion at the end of 2006 and will increase by more than $10 billion over the next five years, to $24.9 billion in 2011. (a compound annual growth rate of 12.3%)

The growing shortage of skilled labor among end users was cited as a primary contributor to the expanding global services market. As the current automation workforce ages and retires, and the pool of potential replacement workers continues to shrink, end users will more frequently look to automation companies to provide expanded services and support.

"As the largest automation services supplier, ABB is riding the crest of this ever increasing market," said Larry O'Brien, Research Director for Process Industries, ARC. "With the wide range of traditional and expanded services it offers across the plant life cycle, ABB is well positioned to help its customers in all industries fill the engineering and resident knowledge gap that continues to widen as more experienced workers retire and leave the automation industry."

While project services and other traditional services were still in strong demand, services provided during the operational phase of the plant, such as asset management, condition monitoring, loop tuning, performance management and overall maintenance outsourcing services, contributed to much of the overall market growth. The ARC study notes that market shares of the leading suppliers are driven by the suppliers' strength in process automation.

"As the world's leading process automation supplier, ABB has dedicated resources that are committed to helping our customers meet and overcome their operational challenges throughout the life cycle of their automation installation," said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's Process Automation division. "As the need for expanded services continues to grow along with the worldwide shortage of skilled technical resources, we will be ready to meet this increasing customer demand with the service products, programs, expertise and experience that will keep their operations running efficiently and profitably."

According to ARC, mature markets such as North America, and Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa, currently constitute the bulk of the market for automation services. Going forward, the developing economies of China, the rest of Asia and Latin America will be increasing sources of services revenue growth and opportunity.