ABB sets sights on 'designed in China'(2)

"The best way of getting more energy at low cost without environmental impact is energy efficiency, which is smart grids, is energy conservation, avoiding waste, intelligent control of the flow of energy, eliminating all the losses, as most of the energy is still lost in unnecessary processes. One of the prominent examples is that people always use uncontrolled motors instead of speed controlled electrical motors," said Von Grunberg.

ABB's motors and drives, observing the highest energy efficiency standards in the world, generate solid business for the company and help customers cut energy consumption. In China, with only the motors and drives delivered to customers in the past 14 years, ABB was able to save 138 billion kilowatt/hours of electricity, which is enough to satisfy the power needs of 1.94 billion people for one year (based on the power consumption level of Beijing residents in 2010).

During its recent annual Automation World event in Shanghai, ABB showcased its energy efficiency solutions for various industries, customized renewable energy solutions for wind and solar power, and many other automation technologies, solutions and services, under the theme of Industrial Upgrade and Service.

"ABB is committed to supporting the industrial upgrade of its Chinese customers by improving their energy efficiency, automation penetration and productivity," said Facchin. "ABB has comprehensive offerings and a proven track record for the automation of the manufacturing and process industries in China."

China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) calls for a migration from a resource-intensive economy to a high-efficiency and low-carbon-based economy. Industrial upgrading, mostly realized through automation, is playing a key role in the process.

ABB's energy-efficient solutions have supported many projects throughout China. In 2012, ABB provided Majialiang coal mine in Shanxi province with two sets of mine-hoist systems, the largest of their kind in China, helping improve operational efficiency while reducing shutdown time by 70 percent and energy consumption by 28.4 percent.

An ABB multi-drive solution for Huaxin Cement - China's oldest cement company whose products were used in the Three Gorges and Danjiangkou dams - is saving 1.6 million kwh of electricity a year on a conveyor application at the company's showcase production plant in Hubei province.

Industrial upgrading depends not only on automation penetration but also advanced service. As a global leader of power and automation technologies, ABB offers a series of advanced service concepts and solutions, from traditional maintenance to a full service, to help customers achieve the best value-added asset management.

"For us, service is extremely important in our 2011-15 strategy, and it takes first place in increasing customer satisfaction because, if you make sure that you serve the products that you have installed, you can more easily guarantee that they function, as well as improving customer satisfaction," said Von Grunberg.

He added: "Closeness to customers helps us to sell the next stage of the product. Service itself can be a profitable business and service can carry over slumps in production."

Q: How do you spend your weekend amid your busy schedule?

Hubertus von Grunberg,chairman of ABB Group

A: I mostly work during weekends.

What are your hobbies?

Music and motorcycles.

What is your motto?

Success.

Who is your icon?

None.

What is your favorite book?

Medical Surgeon. That's how I started my first business.

What is the quality you most admire in a man?

Good character.

What is your most treasured possession?

My family.

What kind of "green" lifestyle do you have?

Saving power when not needed.

What's your impression of Chinese cities? Are there any places you have not visited but want to explore?

I have visited many Chinese cities on customer trips and for business meetings. I hope to have time for sightseeing someday.

What's the best way to break the ice with a Chinese businessman you've met for the first time?

To be honest and make him/her trust me.

Give three words to describe your impression of Chinese businessmen.

Aggressive, fast, delivering.

What kind of experience has shaped your thoughts the most?

Winning.

As a foreign adviser to the Beijing mayor, what kind of inspiration did you get from meeting him regarding business strategy?

Acting fast, being open, trying to get something from others. The speed of implementation is what I want to take home. It's an important experience and it allows me to say at home it can be done and I'm just coming back from a country that proves that nothing is impossible.

A good team is one that expects challenges.

What's your method for keeping a team willing to accept challenges?

Finding the right people and keeping them well. You need to pay the right salary. But payment for aggressive people, the best you can find, is just one element of the satisfaction. The other elements are making your people like the job, be proud of their job, providing an opportunity for a career, for moving on, for getting higher.

For our best people, they need to know they can move up.