From Krakow to Hanover – a journey of innovation
A long and rich history as an academic center, Krakow has transformed itself into a leading hub for technology and research
A neo-Renaissance palace complex built in 1874 stands in the heart of the architecturally rich southern Polish town of Krakow. Originally a stately private residence, these beautiful surroundings have for 20 years been home to the ABB Corporate Research Center (CRC) in Krakow, one of seven ABB CRC’s worldwide. Historically known as one of most culturally significant cities in Poland, as well as having a long and rich history as an academic center, Krakow has transformed into a leading hub for technology and research.
This year, Poland is the official partner country of the Hanover Fair, the world’s largest industrial fair, where ABB will be showcasing its innovative technologies, including some that were jointly developed at our CRC in Krakow.
Established in 1997, ABB’s Krakow CRC has been at the forefront of the city’s tech transformation. Behind the building’s stately exterior lies a sleek, state-of-the art research center, developing innovative technologies for industry. The center’s team of researchers, in collaboration with counterparts at ABB’s other CRC’s, have achieved globally-applicable breakthroughs that include power and power electronics devices, unique power system algorithms, microsensors, miniaturized electronic circuits for industry and sensors and diagnostic tools.
The center is able to tap into Krakow’s tradition of academic excellence, with numerous universities, over 200,000 students and plenty of research institutes located nearby. Many of the researchers at the center are Polish, having studied in the area. They are also engaged in promoting science among the local community by taking part in annual events such as the Science Festival and Researchers Night.
In the area of sustainable mobility ABB has been pioneering technology for energy efficient public transport. ABB’s ENVILINE ERS is an innovative system recovering train braking energy for urban metro systems. The technology has been designed by Krakow CRC scientists with the assistance of engineers from Aleksandrów Łódzki where the company has its center of manufacturing and competence for power electronics. ENVILINE ERS wayside Energy Recuperation System has been installed earlier this year on a metro line in Istanbul, which is used by over 450,000 passengers daily, reducing the total power consumed by the traction transportation system by as much as 30 percent.
The latest digital technologies and innovations supporting the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the area of sustainable mobility, process control and automation and diagnostics are being presented at Hanover. As part of the newly launched ABB Ability™, the company’s industry-leading portfolio of digital solutions, ABB Remote Diagnostic Service for Marine is an analytical and predictive approach to vessel maintenance. The RDS concept was designed in Corporate Research Krakow and further development is also supported by SDC (Software Development Center) based in Krakow too.
To learn more about how our pioneering research continues to shape the future please visit us in Hanover from April 24 to 28. Hall 11, Stand A 35.