The upgraded centre will offer theoretical and practical hands-on training in drives and automation. It can accommodate up to 80 people for conferences and meetings, and there are break-out meeting rooms and a coffee lounge for more casual sessions. There is also a new classroom for hands-on training using flexible hardware stations, and a drives training area for developing skills in installing and servicing large drives.
ABB says that the centre and training courses will help to develop its rapidly-growing motion control business. Its motion training programme has been rewritten and extended and now includes online e-learning, as well as theoretical and practical training. Courses can also be tailored to suit specific groups of trainees, or particular customer applications.
The courses are aimed at sales staff, application engineers and service personnel and will cover VSDs, drive services, motion products and Mint programming. Initially the centre will train around 150 people a year, with the numbers expected to increase over time.
ABB’s solar inverter business, PowerOne, will also base its training in Bristol.