ABB Earns 2008 Global Low Voltage Electric Drives Company of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan
(Global growth-consulting company cites ABB's "outstanding ability to offer complete solutions for automation customers," in conferring Award)
SAN ANTONIO, TX, April 15, 2008 . . . ABB today earned the 2008 Global Low Voltage Electric Drives Company of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan for the Low Voltage Drives business segment of the company. Business development, competitive strategy, customer satisfaction, and leadership within a particular Industry Research Group (IRG) were contingencies Frost & Sullivan included in its evaluation; ABB's global Low Voltage Drives' business unit "is perceived to exhibit outstanding management and consistent growth," when evaluated against these measurements, the consulting firm noted.
Officially, this Company of the Year award is presented "in recognition of the company's successful efforts to penetrate horizontal and vertical markets of the low voltage drives domain," said Frost & Sullivan research analyst Deepthi Pamadiparthi. "ABB has demonstrated an outstanding ability to offer complete solutions for automation customers."
Global Focus on Horizontal and Vertical Markets Highlighted
Accepting the Award on behalf of ABB at the Westin La Cantera Resort here was Rick Hepperla, senior vice president and regional division manager, Automation Products, North America, and Aaron Aleithe, senior vice president and general manager of ABB Low Voltage Drives, based in New Berlin, Wisconsin. "Our ABB growth strategy includes a basis in serving horizontal markets, with an ever sharper focus on creating opportunities in key vertical markets," said Hepperla. "Frost and Sullivan's research in those markets is helpful in our benchmarking where we are globally. And this award is an indicator we continue to make progress."
When the global market continues to grow rapidly, as it has these last several years, measuring company performance and progress against the overall market is critical, according to ABB's Roelof Timmer, the global Automation Products marketing communications manager. "Input from Frost & Sullivan helps us formulate our marketing strategy," he said. "Market research is not an exact science, and we always use multiple sources, but knowledge of customer-buying behavior from Frost & Sullivan is helpful."
Such an acknowledgement, noted Timmer, "also is very motivating for all employees in ABB LV Drives -- not only for marketing and sales people but, also, for the personnel in operations, R&D, sourcing, and all the other functions that work together to meet the expectations of our customers. This award sharpens our resolve to lead."
"Customer Satisfaction" Called Out
It is especially satisfying for ABB to earn this global recognition at a company level, said Pekka Tiitinen, group vice president and head of ABB's global Low Voltage Drives business unit. "Two years ago, this drives business earned high marks for market and product leadership from this consulting group; so this award indicates we are gaining recognition for the broader business development, competitive strategy and leadership that drive out success with the product mix we offer in local markets around the globe."
Tiitinen also highlighted that "delivering customer satisfaction" was one of the key measurements Frost & Sullivan used to evaluate and identify recipients this year. "Making progress on that front is tremendously rewarding to this entire business," he said.
Award Calls Out Imperative of Thinking Green through Saving Energy
In presenting the award, Frost & Sullivan emphasized the focus ABB puts on helping customers to become more energy conscious - and then providing products that deliver energy savings and a more sustainable world. Here is how the consulting firm detailed ABB's contribution to energy awareness:
"Increasing customer awareness of energy savings offered by electric drives leads to increased adoption of electric drives. This is coupled with a challenge to provide products that are highly energy efficient. ABB addresses this challenge by its products that offer better energy savings, thereby helping its customers achieve better return-on-investments (ROI). Customers of the low voltage electric drives are not significantly aware of tangible benefits in deploying drives, consequently hindering the adoption rate of electric drives. ABB overcomes this challenge by offering software tools to its customers to understand and evaluate energy savings incurred from the time of installation. PumpSave and FanSave help to estimate, compare, and evaluate energy savings offered via installation of ABB's drives, when compared to conventional flow-control methods, thereby helping its customers to document and monitor savings."
ABB's Comprehensive Line-up Includes AC and DC Technology
Customer focus at the local market level - building and delivering drives customized to order - continues to help ABB earn double-digit growth year-over-year, according to Timmer. "Personnel from offices and factories that span from Shanghai to Bangalore, to Helsinki and New Berlin work tirelessly to understand the real needs of drives users -- and then create solutions to meet and exceed those needs." ABB also is distinguished in its commitment to serve customers with the most complete line of drives in the marketplace, including AC and DC drives.
The Frost & Sullivan banquet honored world-class companies for outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. An annual event, the banquet recognizes the quality and merit of distinguished individuals and companies.
ABB is the world's largest manufacturer of electric drives. In close co-operation with channel partners, ABB provides a complete line of energy-efficient electric drives and drive systems to a wide range of industries and applications. Products manufactured include AC and DC variable-speed drives from 120 W through 4.5 MW (0.16 to 6000 HP), and application-specific drive system solutions to meet diverse customer needs. This line of products is complemented with a comprehensive set of services to make sure customers get the highest possible return on their investments. Visit ABB at www.abb.com.
Frost & Sullivan, the Global Growth Consulting Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's Growth Partnership Services, Growth Consulting and Career Best Practices empower clients to create a growth focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit www.awards.frost.com
