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Although their process automation business showed a slowdown, overall, ABB reported results that indicate that unless the mortgage credit crisis is protracted or becomes more ominous, the process industries may escape the worst of the soi disant recession we seem to be having. This may be whistling past the graveyard. It will be very interesting to see Siemens, Emerson, Honeywell and Invensys' numbers, and not just for third quarter, but for first quarter next year before deciding to relax.

From the press release:

From the press release:

ABB’s System 800xA integrates Iceland’s utilities into a single automation system
 
Zurich, Switzerland, August 7, 2008 -

Reykjavik Energy selected ABB to upgrade and integrate five utility automation systems - geothermal power plants, district heating, water and wastewater – into a single state-of-the-art 800xA extended automation system that will be operated from a central control room.
Reykjavik Energy is Iceland’s largest utility, providing almost 70 p...

In a press release this morning, ABB announced that they have sold 4000 System 800 xA installations since the product was introduced in January of 2004. I've reproduced the press release below. What I would like to know, that the press release doesn't say, is how many of those systems were new sales, either greenfield or complete rip-and-replace; how many were upgrades to existing installations of various ABB marques like Bailey, F&P, etc.; and how many were upgrades to competitive systems. ...

From the press release this morning: 

The Board of Directors of ABB Ltd. announced today that Joseph M. Hogan has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the ABB Group. Hogan is currently CEO of GE Healthcare, the global leader in medical diagnostic technology and biosciences, and is a member of the GE Senior Executive Council. He will join ABB on September 1, 2008.
Michel Demaré, ABB’s Chief Financial Officer, who has held the CEO position on an ad-interim basis since Februar...

Introduced at ABB Automation World in Houston, and now released... here's the press release, verbatim:

ABB releases cpmPlus Smart Client for System 800xA

Local Touch, Global Standards Key to Energy Project Success

What Is ExxonMobil's Take on the Economy and the Energy Sector?

ExxonMobil is the largest process industry firm in the world, so it is always interesting to hear the company’s thoughts on the state of the world economy. Of particular interest is ExxonMobil’s take on the intersection of the economy and the energy sector.

“We believe that worldwide energy demand will increase at an annual rate of 1.3% from 2005 to 2030,” said Neil Duff...

Innovation Requires Commitment to Collaboration

Collaborate Openly, Partner Aggressively and Innovate Continuously

“We’re taking and using customers’ deep insight into their businesses because innovation is at the intersection of insight and invention,” began John Brantley, general manager of IBM’s global chemical and petrochemical industries, in his keynote address at ABB Automation World this week in Houston. “This also is changing the nature and scope of innovation because open, multi-disci...

"Yet Again a Great Quarter

In his first appearance in North America since becoming CEO as well as CFO of ABB, Michel Demaré, who has a long history with Dow Chemical Company, talked about ABB’s commitment to collaboration. Of course, ABB’s most famous collaboration is with Dow, which added gravitas to Demaré’s remarks.

“And that is what I want to talk to you about today - the power of successful collaborations to drive prosperity, Demaré said. “I want to explain what I mean when I say that ABB...

"This is the part of the year I love the best," said ABB's Mark Taft, who is acting as MC for thr fifth straight year. 40,000 square feet of exibit space and close to 3500 attendees (almost 1000 more than last year) make this substantially larger than any previous ABB event.

In addition, ABB has partnered with the Make a Wish Foundation and is using the venue to raise funds for the Foundation. Taft announced that ABB will be a name sponsor of the Houston Marathon.

This year, the Automation Wor...