Feature

Extreme weather drives opening of new Nottingham factory

ABB will open a £27m state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the UK to meet the growing demand for electrical protection as extreme weather surges globally.

26/09/2025 16:22:41

ABB has opened a new manufacturing and R&D facility in Nottingham, UK, to expand research and development and production of its Furse earthing and lightning solutions.

These advanced products help safeguard critical infrastructure against lightning strikes and electrical surges, preventing costly damage and disruption. The £27 million investment will enable ABB to meet growing demand from customers who want to protect data centres, buildings, renewable energy systems, and communications and transportation hubs.

The new 8,800m2 manufacturing and R&D facility is over 35 percent larger than the previous local ABB office and factory, which operated for over 130 years.

The R&D, lab and testing centre, along with a collaboration area and dedicated section for ABB’s Furse Surge Protection Device (SPD) product range, will become a global centre of excellence for lightning protection technologies, developing new solutions as safety and performance requirements continue to evolve.

“The increased frequency and intensity of severe weather events with lightning strikes, along with urbaniSation, and more stringent building and data centre safety requirements, are driving demand for advanced earthing, lightning and surge protection solutions,” said Andrea Castella, Europe Region Leader, ABB Installation Products.

“The investment in our new Nottingham facility is part of ABB’s broader strategy to drive innovation and sustainability, expand manufacturing, and shorten supply chains to bring production and R&D closer to customers.”

More than 100 existing employees have relocated to the new purpose-built facility at Fairham Business Park, which produces and distributes millions of Furse components annually to more than 60 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and APAC.

The site integrates the latest technologies for sustainable operations, bringing together ABB’s digital and renewable energy solutions to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

With approximately 1,700 employees in the UK, ABB has more than 20 manufacturing, distribution and operational facilities across the country. The £27 million investment in ABB’s new Nottingham facility was first announced in June 2024.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.