ABB and Red Hat are expanding their collaboration to develop next-generation process automation systems for process industries.
The expanded partnership aims to deliver more secure, modular, and scalable deployment of control applications within process industries, combining ABB’s automation expertise with Red Hat’s open source technology knowledge.
ABB, headquartered in Switzerland, is an electrification and automation technologies specialist, offering solutions that improve the efficiency, safety, and reliability of industrial operations.
For example, the company released a cobot (collaborative robot) in late 2024 for electronics, automotive, aerospace, and metal fabrication industries.
The expanded partnership aims to deliver more secure, modular, and scalable deployment of control applications within process industries
Red Hat, based in North Carolina, US, is a provider of enterprise open source software solutions, including Linux, cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies, supporting digital transformation across a range of industries.
The collaboration centres around ABB’s process automation system architecture, which is structured around two distinct yet interconnected environments: a secure control environment responsible for the stable, real-time management of essential processes, and a digital environment that enables the flexible and scalable deployment of advanced digital solutions.
Previously, the two companies worked together to enhance the infrastructure of ABB’s digital environment, supporting the deployment of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based applications without disrupting core control operations.
This latest development sees the collaboration extend into the control environment itself, with the aim of delivering consistent, stable, and secure operations that meet the stringent requirements of industrial applications.
This latest development sees the collaboration extend into the control environment itself
Built on Red Hat’s enterprise platforms, including Red Hat Device Edge and Red Hat OpenShift, the new dual-environment approach will enable customers to adopt technological innovations incrementally.
This strategy safeguards operational integrity and existing infrastructure investments while upholding high standards of cybersecurity.
Additionally, Red Hat’s open source technologies will provide a reliable and secure foundation for system lifecycle services within ABB’s process automation systems, facilitating long-term operational support.
The collaboration also aligns with global industry standards and frameworks, promoting secure, multi-vendor interoperability and supporting process industries in navigating digital transformation initiatives with confidence
Previously, the two companies worked together to enhance the infrastructure of ABB’s digital environment
This partnership represents a significant step in the development of future-ready, autonomous operations for process industries, combining industrial automation with digital capabilities to meet evolving operational challenges.
Francis Chow, VP and General Manager, Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System and Edge, said: “This extended collaboration with ABB marks a significant milestone for the industry at large, as we empower manufacturers with the tools and solutions they need to transform to better meet the demands of today’s increasingly complex industrial landscape.”
Stefan Basenach, Senior VP, Process Automation Technology at ABB, said: “Ongoing industry collaboration is essential to shaping the future of automation. Together with Red Hat, we’re advancing modular, scalable solutions that align with global frameworks and deliver long-term value to customers across process industries. The dual-layered architecture, built on open source platforms, creates a robust foundation for the industry to progress towards autonomous operations.”
