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ARC says ABB has biggest slice of process automation system market pie

01/29/2008

Houston, Texas, January 29, 2008-- In a recently published study, “Automation Systems for the Process Industries,” ARC Advisory Group ranked ABB in the leading worldwide market position in the broad process automation market. In this new report, ARC includes DCS, PLC, SCADA systems, safety systems, AC drives, general motion controls, software and machine safeguarding systems sold to the process industries.

The study forecasts that the total worldwide market for automation systems in the process industries, which was $30 billion in 2006, will grow by a compounded annual growth rate of 9.6% by 2011,to over $47 billion.

Increasing pressures from globalization are driving process manufacturers to improve plant performance in ways that would be inconceivable without modern process automation systems and business processes, according to the report. While globalization expands opportunities for these manufacturers, it also intensifies the challenges they face—they need to act quickly and with agility to emerging market opportunities and improve financial performance, all while dealing with a shrinking base of educated and well-trained personnel.

“As the market share leader, ABB is very strong and has a lot to offer. Its ongoing success will come from continuing to provide its customers with sustained and measurable benefits from automation for a path to continuous improvement for business performance and profitability,” said Larry O'Brien, research director for process industries, ARC. “ABB’s continued focus on delivering automation solutions that provide reduced cost of ownership, increased productivity and reduced risk is a good fit with today’s increasing focus on business value.”

In addition to being the leading global supplier, ABB also was the top supplier in key global verticals, such as oil and gas, pulp and paper, and also in the EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa) region. ABB was also the top supplier to the cement, pharmaceutical and pulp and paper industries in the Asian market, with sizeable market shares in all other process industries.

In the study, ARC takes a look at the leading indicators shaping the growth of the global automation marketplace, from capacity utilization to productivity and industrial production, and how these will affect the market in the coming years. Despite troubles in the US and Canadian economies, the global outlook for automation and manufacturing remains bright. Higher energy prices continue to contribute to increased capital investments and large project backlogs for oil, gas and refining companies. The pharmaceutical and biotech industries remain strong, and growth in Asia and other developing regions remain high. Asia remains the center of growth, but the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America continue to show strong growth as well.