You only turn 100 years old once, which is why ABB Germany took this anniversary as an opportunity to offer its employees a gigantic festival as part of the anniversary celebrations. The aims of the event: to strengthen the team spirit of the employees in the various group branches, to enhance loyalty to the company - and simply to have fun.

In order to contrast the anniversary to traditional "birthday celebrations", a uniform motto ("ABB TourFutur") was created for all celebrations of the year, with the festival on the Mannheim Maimarkt site as the highlight. From the very beginning, the employees were involved in the planning of the celebration through the company newspaper, e-mail and circular letter. Promoters visited the subsidiaries to draw attention to the spectacular event. The event itself aimed to combine information and entertainment, fun and games for a good cause in an excellent way and to present the ABB Group touchable.

More than 20,000 ABB employees arrived relaxed and in a good mood in countless buses and several DB special trains from all over Germany. On the over 70,000 square meter Maimarkt area, a variety of play stations, the largest Ferris wheel in the world, an extensive catering offer, walking acts as well as information and entertainment offers on three stages provided a great atmosphere in bright sunshine. In the early evening, the first highlight was the big ABB show with many artists and a specially composed ABB song. The thrill was guaranteed by the live broadcast of the international football match between Germany and England, entertaining and professionally moderated by an ex-national player. And at the end of the evening, a furious firework display created a goose-bump atmosphere among the visitors, who were happily brought home safely in their special trains and buses - accompanied by the ABB Earworm "Reach for the Future" and the memories of a party of superlatives.