ABB’s electrification manufacturing plant in Bella Vista, located in Argentina’s Tucumán province, has achieved a major sustainability milestone under ABB’s global Mission to Zero programme. Bella Vista joins nearly 40 ABB manufacturing facilities worldwide that have achieved this milestone.
Operating for 53 years and employing more than 150 people, the Bella Vista plant engineers and manufactures miniature circuit breakers, residual current devices, contactors and capacitors for low-voltage applications across Latin America. These technologies are engineered to protect electrical systems, ensure safe operation, control loads efficiently and stabilise power networks, giving customers reliable performance, greater energy efficiency and long-term operational resilience.
Its Mission to Zero journey reinforces the site’s role as a regional benchmark for low-carbon, high-performance manufacturing. The site has reduced operational greenhouse gas emissions, measured in CO2 equivalent (CO2), by 97% compared to its 2019 baseline. In 2024, this equated to 530 tons of CO2e saved, roughly the annual emissions of 115 petrol-powered cars. This reduction was primarily enabled by renewable electricity use and onsite solar generation, supported by electrification, energy-efficient equipment and real-time digital energy management systems.
The transformation builds on long-term operational discipline. The Bella Vista site has held ISO 50001 energy management certification since 2013, making it one of the early adopters of structured energy management systems in Argentina. The facility also operates under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards, embedding quality, environmental management and safety into daily operations.
Today, the plant operates entirely on renewable electricity, with 15% generated onsite through solar photovoltaic systems and the remaining 85% sourced through I-REC certified renewable energy from the grid. Fossil fuel use has been eliminated from day-to-day operations.
Electrification extends beyond energy supply. The Bella Vista site has transitioned to full electromobility, including an electric vehicle fleet, onsite charging infrastructure and an electric delivery vehicle supporting logistics operations. Inside the facility, high-efficiency IE4 motors and LED lighting throughout the plant further reduce energy demand.
Energy performance is continuously optimised through digital energy management, using advanced analytics and AI-supported monitoring to provide real-time visibility into consumption and enable informed operational decisions.
Sustainability efforts extend beyond energy. Through its Zero Waste to Landfill programme, the site has achieved a waste diversion rate of 91%, diverting the majority of its 27 tons of annual waste from landfill. Waste streams are monitored through clear performance indicators to support continuous improvement.
“Bella Vista reflects our commitment to running operations that are both leaner and cleaner, because efficiency and sustainability must co-exist,” said Mike Mustapha, president of ABB electrification’s smart buildings division. “By combining renewable electricity, electrification and digital energy management, the team has significantly reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while improving performance. That is what Mission to Zero is about: decarbonising operations without compromising safety, quality or performance.”
Beyond environmental performance, this achievement strengthens ABB’s position as a trusted technology partner for large-scale projects in Argentina and Latin America, where verified sustainability credentials are increasingly becoming a requirement. The Bella Vista site demonstrates that clean operations, efficiency and competitiveness are reinforcing strengths.
The team is now advancing the next phase of its roadmap, including further building insulation improvements and more autonomous energy management capabilities to deepen efficiency gains and strengthen resilience. The Bella Vista plant now joins ABB’s growing global network of Mission to Zero sites, spanning regions including Europe, Asia, and the Americas, all advancing toward low-carbon, energy-efficient, and digitally enabled operations through electrification and automation.
For more information contact ABB South Africa,
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