Industry Optimized

Automation keeps the world’s most essential industries running safely and reliably. But how can industries modernize without disrupting operations?
In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott speaks with Per Erik Holsten, President at ABB's Energy Industries division, and Joachim Braun, President at ABB's Process Industries division, about how industries can adopt new capabilities while protecting the core of their operations. They discuss Automation Extended, ABB's approach to separating core control from digital innovation, enabling customers to modernize at their own pace while maximizing existing investments and minimizing disruption.
We also hear how this works in action from Matthijs Zwart at Vitens and Jenny Gotthardsson at Södra Cell.
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As mining moves deeper underground to access new deposits, operations are becoming more complex. Underground depths introduce greater challenges around energy efficiency, thermal management, safety, and system reliability. Yet this evolution also presents opportunity.
In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott speaks to John Manuell, Global Business Unit Manager for Hoisting, Process Industries division, ABB. They discuss how depth changes the rules of engineering, what this means for energy and system design, and why technologies such as electrification, integrated power systems and automation are becoming essential to maintaining safe, consistent, and efficient operations underground. We also hear from Gary Poxleitner, Mining Engineer at SRK on what going deeper means in practice: the operational challenges, and how mines are adapting their systems to work reliably and safely at greater depths.
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Digital innovations and AI are transforming industrial workplaces, paving the way towards autonomous operations. But how do we balance the expectations of the next generation with the needs of existing employees – and give industrial operators practical ways to accelerate digital adoption?
In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott speaks to David Lincoln, Digital Lead at ABB’s Measurement & Analytics division. Together they discuss how to upskill today’s workforce to become truly digitally native – confident, capable, and ready to master the tools shaping the future of industry. We also hear from students at Imperial College London on what they expect their future work environment to look like.
Thank you to Dr Colin Hale and Imperial College London for inviting us to the Carbon Capture Pilot Plant and to Baikai (Carleo) Zhu, Leo Fa and Golden (Xiao Xuan) Goh for sharing their insights.
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With global electricity demand on the rise, the need for reliable power is becoming increasingly critical. Nuclear power is fast emerging as a critical part of this future infrastructure, with small modular reactors, or SMRs, gaining particular attention.
Scalable, flexible and able to provide consistently high load factors, SMRs are emerging as an important technology for a reliable, low-carbon energy system.
In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott speaks to Jacob Stedman, CEO of Blykalla, and Elova Ryegard, Nuclear Expert, Energy Industries at ABB. Together they discuss what a low-carbon future might look like, how SMRs can complement both renewable and conventional nuclear energy sources and why they’re increasingly seen as a practical pathway to expanding low-carbon energy capacity.
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Digitalization is transforming the shipping industry - but its true power lies in supporting human expertise.
Technology helps crews when navigating routes - it enables them to make smarter, safer, and more effective decisions. But how can digital tools empower human talent without overshadowing it?

In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott sits down with Jesper Lögdström, CEO of Oversea Fleet Support, to explore real-world examples where digital platforms and expert insight work hand-in-hand in the maritime industry.
Discover how shore-based experts and vessel crews collaborate, act on data, and drive safer, more efficient shipping - proving that technology is at its best when it supports human judgment, not substitutes it.
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