ABB, a Switzerland-based company operating mainly in robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment and automation technology areas, has announced plans to invest $20m (€18.58m) to increase production at its existing facility in Auburn Hills in the US state of Michigan.

The expansion, which will increase the factory’s production capacity, will create 72 new jobs. Construction on the project is expected to be completed in November 2023. The move is supported by a $450,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

ABB was created in 1988 when two companies that dates back to the late 19th century – Sweden’s Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget and Switzerland’s Brown, Boveri & Cie – merged to form ASEA Brown Boveri, which was later abbreviated to ABB. The modern day company is headquartered in Zürich.

Auburn Hills is located around 55km north of Detroit and has a population of approximately 25,000. It hosts the the Oakland Technology Park, which houses the likes of Chrysler and EDS, and is widely regarded to be one of the more prosperous towns in the the state of Michigan.