Automated Production Supports Electrical Distribution Cabinets

STRIEBEL & JOHN manufactures electrical distribution cabinets and metering systems used in residential and commercial building installations. Increasing electrification, expanding metering requirements, and the integration of digital energy systems have raised demand for flexible distribution cabinets that support faster installation and reliable system integration.

To address these evolving requirements, the company introduced the ComfortLine cabinet series in 2020. The product range includes small distribution boards as well as meter and wall cabinets designed to support modern electrical installations and future smart metering infrastructure.

Since its market introduction, the product family has experienced sustained demand. At the Sasbach production site, more than one million ComfortLine cabinets have now been manufactured. The one-millionth unit was produced on the same production line that began operating when the series was launched.

Sebastian Smolka, Managing Director of STRIEBEL & JOHN in Sasbach, states: “Over one million ComfortLine cabinets represent an important milestone for our site. It shows how well-designed products, efficient processes and continuous investment in manufacturing reinforce each other.”

Expansion of automated production capacity
To respond to market growth and rising installation requirements, STRIEBEL & JOHN invested in a second automated production line in 2022. Both lines are designed for flexible production planning, high assembly speed, and stable manufacturing processes.

The expansion allows the company to increase output while maintaining consistent product quality. The two lines remain fully utilized, reflecting continued demand from electrical installers and building infrastructure projects.

Automation plays a key role in maintaining efficient production workflows and ensuring repeatable manufacturing processes for large volumes of distribution cabinets.

Automated packaging improves efficiency and workflow
Automation was also introduced in the final stages of production. The entire packaging process for the ComfortLine series has been fully automated, replacing previous manual steps.

This transition improves process stability while reducing manual workload for employees. At the same time, automated packaging contributes to shorter production cycle times and more predictable logistics processes.

For installers, the cabinet design itself also supports faster installation. Features such as multiple flexible cable entry points, a quick mounting system for pre-assembly, and a modular interior configuration enable easier integration of smart metering systems and future technical upgrades. These design characteristics help increase installation speed while reducing potential installation errors in increasingly complex electrical systems.




Sustainable manufacturing at the Sasbach site
The Sasbach facility has more than 65 years of manufacturing history and has been part of ABB since 1993. As part of ABB’s global Mission-to-Zero initiative, STRIEBEL & JOHN is gradually transforming the site’s production processes to reduce operational emissions.

Sasbach is one of 37 ABB locations worldwide that have significantly reduced their operational carbon footprint. Approximately 3,410 photovoltaic modules installed on the roofs of office buildings and production halls generate more than 1,500 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually.

This renewable energy production avoids roughly 550 tons of CO₂ emissions each year. Additional modernization measures—including upgraded heating systems, planned energy storage installations, and efficiency improvements—are expected to reduce emissions by a further 3,786 tons of CO₂.

Through these investments, STRIEBEL & JOHN aims to strengthen resource-efficient manufacturing while maintaining regional production, product quality, and long-term industrial value creation at the Sasbach site.

Prepared with AI assistance and edited by an industrial journalist, Maria Brueva.

www.abb.com