Specifically, ABB Germany with its 10,770 employees was able to increase sales across all divisions last year by 6% from 3.22 billion euros to 3.40 billion euros. Operating earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (operating EBITA) amounted to 234 million euros, up 12% on the previous year (210 million euros). Incoming orders increased even more strongly - by 14% to a total of 3.37 billion euros (previous year: 2.94 billion euros). While domestic business remained roughly at the previous year's level, international business increased significantly. This was primarily due to a number of larger projects.

One of ABB's largest orders in 2015 was the NordLink project with a total volume of around 900 million US dollars. ABB Germany also participated in this project. NordLink will connect the Norwegian and German power grids using high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission. With a route length of 623 kilometers, the line will be the first HVDC connection between Norway and Germany and will go into operation in 2020. A consortium consisting of the energy supply company Statnett, the transmission system operator TenneT and the development bank KfW commissioned ABB to supply the two HVDC converter stations and the cable system for the German sector.

Development in the divisions

According to ABB, the Industrial Automation and Drives division recorded a 5% increase in order intake compared to the previous year. It amounted to EUR 477 million compared to EUR 453 million in 2014. However, due to the lower order backlog at the beginning of the year, sales were around 4% lower than in 2014, at EUR 484 million (2014: EUR 504 million).

At EUR 475 million, incoming orders in the Process Automation segment were 20% higher than in the previous year (EUR 396 million). According to the company, "Metals and Mining" in particular performed well and the marine sector also picked up again. A lack of incoming orders from 2014 caused sales here to fall by 5% from EUR 431 million to EUR 410 million.

The Low Voltage Products division developed positively across the board. Both incoming orders and sales increased by 3% to € 935 million and € 936 million respectively.

Power Engineering Products recorded incoming orders of EUR 848 million, an increase of 11% compared to EUR 766 million in the previous year. Sales rose by 8% and amounted to EUR 801 million compared to EUR 740 million in the previous year.

This leaves the Energy Technology Systems division: Incoming orders here amounted to 639 million euros (2014: 444 million euros), an increase of 44%. Turnover rose by 19% from 664 million euros to 792 million euros.