ABB's motor manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas, employs around 1,250 people and has undergone a transformation driven by the need to automate (and in particular, digitalize) more of its operations. The initiative was paired with an equally important one: bringing employees along for the ride.

Electric motors consume more than one-third of the world’s energy, and the number of motors in operation is expected to double by 2040. In the United States, pumps are responsible for 40% of the total industrial motor system’s electricity consumption. Motor standards have been in place for decades; yet, there is a growing demand to achieve greater efficiencies as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) continues to investigate new standards on wire-to-water and wire-to-air efficiency. In response, equipment manufacturers are turning to new motor technologies to achieve the highest system efficiency possible.

The shareholders of ABB have approved all the proposals by the company’s Board of Directors at its 2021 Annual General Meeting. Due to the extraordinary circumstances and in line with applicable Swiss COVID-19 legislation, shareholders were not able to attend the meeting in person but could exercise their shareholder rights via the independent proxy who represented 59 percent of the issued share capital.

The Tennessee Green Star Partnership is a voluntary environmental leadership program designed to recognize industries in the state that are committed to sustainable practices.

In a new whitepaper published today, ABB reveals potential for significant energy efficiency improvements in industry and infrastructure enabled by the latest and most high-efficiency motors and variable speed drives. ABB calls on governments and industry to accelerate adoption of the technology to help combat climate change.

In celebration of the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science, February 11, this year we continue our own Women in Science series, profiling talented ABB employees with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educations, who are leading in their fields, across the businesses, around the world.

ABB's motor manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas, employs around 1,250 people and has undergone a transformation driven by the need to automate (and in particular, digitalize) more of its operations. The initiative was paired with an equally important one: bringing employees along for the ride.

Electric motors consume more than one-third of the world’s energy, and the number of motors in operation is expected to double by 2040. In the United States, pumps are responsible for 40% of the total industrial motor system’s electricity consumption. Motor standards have been in place for decades; yet, there is a growing demand to achieve greater efficiencies as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) continues to investigate new standards on wire-to-water and wire-to-air efficiency. In response, equipment manufacturers are turning to new motor technologies to achieve the highest system efficiency possible.

The shareholders of ABB have approved all the proposals by the company’s Board of Directors at its 2021 Annual General Meeting. Due to the extraordinary circumstances and in line with applicable Swiss COVID-19 legislation, shareholders were not able to attend the meeting in person but could exercise their shareholder rights via the independent proxy who represented 59 percent of the issued share capital.

In a new whitepaper published today, ABB reveals potential for significant energy efficiency improvements in industry and infrastructure enabled by the latest and most high-efficiency motors and variable speed drives. ABB calls on governments and industry to accelerate adoption of the technology to help combat climate change.

In celebration of the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science, February 11, this year we continue our own Women in Science series, profiling talented ABB employees with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educations, who are leading in their fields, across the businesses, around the world.

Fourth quarter performance was solid. Order developments in the fourth quarter were driven by good growth in short-cycle product areas, led by China. Significant large order5 wins in Industrial Automation were a highlight. Subdued services activities tempered the result. Operating margins in Electrification and Motion expanded year-on-year, aided by broadly stable volumes and good cost mitigation, while performance in Industrial Automation and Robotics & Discrete Automation was held back by negative mix effects and in Industrial Automation, specific project charges. Actions taken to improve long-term profitability, strengthen ABB’s financial flexibility and de-risk the balance sheet are also reflected in this quarters’ results.

Improvements in efficiency, sophisticated drives, and internet connectivity all help make electric motors more versatile than ever. Motors are getting more efficient, durable and versatile. And that’s not even the best part. Electric motors of all kinds, and the drives that operate them, have made considerable progress over the past few decades in terms of how they use energy and how they can be used themselves. Perhaps the most intriguing is how they can be made to yield information, about themselves and the equipment they power, through the Internet of Things (IoT).

Motors are the driving force of industrial production. New approaches to motor monitoring, alignment, testing, and connections are saving time and costs while improving safety. At the same time, energy-saving motors and intelligent drives are boosting efficiency and performance while facilitating troubleshooting.

Since 1926, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has set standards for motors used in North America. NEMA regularly updates and publishes MG 1, a book that assists users in the proper selection and application of motors and generators. It contains practical information concerning performance, efficiency, safety, testing, construction and the manufacture of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) motors and generators. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) defines the standard for electric motors for the rest of the world. Similar to NEMA, IEC publishes Standard 60034-1, the motors guide for the global market.

Pressure on the mining industry to make the development of new facilities financially attractive to investors is increasing. Ensuring a profitable operation by maximizing productivity is certainly an important part of that process. Prospective ways to boost productivity include increasing production rates, reducing production costs or extending the lifespan of existing assets.

For the last 5 years, Edge Factor has celebrated MFG DAY across North America by helping our communities inspire students, parents, educators, and community leaders with the Rock MFG Day Kit. The Edge Factor high impact media helped take the students on an exciting journey “Behind closed doors” to meet the teams of manufacturers as well as learn about the technology they use to build the world around us.

The Baldor-Reliance® EC TitaniumTM is a highly efficient motor paired with a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) that enables the use of advanced motor control algorithms for higher efficiencies across the speed and load range than traditional EC (electrically commutated) motor solutions. By utilizing a drive to control motors, up to 40% energy savings are achieved.

Quick disconnect, or QD bushings, are a concentric shaft attachment method allowing easy installation and removal of v-belt sheaves, sprockets, and couplings.

ABB has extended the scope of applications for ABB Smart Sensors with a new generation design for motors in hazardous areas. Chemical and oil and gas customers can now benefit from cost-efficient condition monitoring in a wide variety of applications.

Dodge Taper-Lock bushings are an economical, compact, and torque-dense shaft attachment method used in v-belt sheaves, synchronous and roller chain sprockets, and couplings.

Globally, demand for electricity will grow faster than for any other form of final energy. Thus, emissions will keep rising, unless we start doing something different. This global electricity demand growth is expected to double by 2040. With electric motors consuming an estimated 1/3 of the world’s electricity… that number is expected to be the equivalent to adding an electricity market the size of China.

In 2019, ABB introduced Dodge® Food Safe mounted ball bearings, which are bearings designed to withstand caustic, high-pressure cleaning and sanitation processes. They are the first industrial bearings to achieve the IP69 water protection rating without the use of an end cover, and they are the only bearings to carry a warranty against failure due to water ingress.

The new Dodge Torque-Arm II belt guard has been improved to further protect workers from rotating equipment. The belt guard has been enhanced with new features that allow safer and easier maintenance - making it the safest solution to guard v-belt drives.

The Tennessee Green Star Partnership is a voluntary environmental leadership program designed to recognize industries in the state that are committed to sustainable practices.

The Bearing Specialists Association, known as BSA, recognizes ABB’s Dodge® Food Safe bearings for excellence. The Food Safe bearings are the new recipients of the 2020 BSA Bearing Manufacturer Excellence of Innovation in Product Design Award.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine has named ABB’s Baldor-Reliance EC Titanium motors a Silver Award winner in the HVAC/R Systems & Equipment category in this year’s Product of the Year contest. The Product of the Year contest is the premier award for new products in the HVAC, fire/life safety, electrical and plumbing systems engineering markets. The annual reader-choice program was created to provide Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s audience with information about the top new products in their fields.

ABB is pleased to announce its gear plant in Belton, South Carolina has been recognized by the State of South Carolina as a 2020 Safety Award Recipients. This annual recognition allows the State to highlight employers in the state, both large and small, and the success of their safety and health programs.

We’re proud to announce that Dodge Food Safe ball bearings have earned the gold award in the Electric Motors & Drives category in Plant Engineering magazine’s 2019 Product of the Year program.

In the 2019 Control Design Magazine readers choice awards, industry trends and innovations have crept into the rankings. However, many engineers and voters remain grounded and stick with what works for them. For the 17th year in a row, has chosen ABB has the preferred motor supplier in the industrial electrical motor category.