ABB Automation World Wraps up Record Week in Houston
Event draws 3,400 from across industry and gives $80,000 to local charity
Houston, May 2, 2008 - ABB, the leading automation and power technology company, wrapped up its annual Automation World event this week in Houston. Over 2,400 customers and technology partners from a wide range of industries attended workshops on topics ranging from the latest in process control systems to the increasing demand for engineers and the future of the power grid.
"Automation World is the largest event globally that ABB hosts during the course of a year," notes Michel Demare, Interim CEO and Chief Financial Officer of ABB Group, Ltd. "It provides a forum not only for us to connect with our customers and channel partners, but for them to connect with each other."
The event also raised nearly $80,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation®. On Sunday, ABB hosted a walk/run fundraiser and during the conference attendees made donations at a golf simulator for a chance to win a custom motorcycle from Orange County Choppers. All employee donations were matched by the ABB Foundation, the company's U.S. philanthropic arm.
On Tuesday, ABB also announced it is sponsoring the ABB Team Challenge at next year's Chevron Houston Marathon.
"This city is of particular importance to us because we have a growing presence here and many of our customers are located here as well," says Enrique Santacana, President and CEO of ABB Inc., the company's U.S. entity. "We wanted to do something to connect with the local community, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Chevron Houston Marathon were a good fit."
ABB Automation World 2009 will be held March 24-26 in Orlando, Florida.
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.
About ABB
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs more than 110,000 people. The company's North American operations, headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, employ about 12,000 people in 20 manufacturing and other major facilities.
For more information, please contact:
Bill Rose
ABB Media Relations Manager
Power Products & Power Systems, North America
919.807.5743
www.abb.us
