ABB will sell only highest efficiency motors

ABB is to stop selling LV motors that do not meet the highest levels of efficiency under the scheme agreed last year between the European Commission and Europe`s motor-makers.

The company claims it will be the first motor supplier to sell only motors in the Eff1 and Eff2 categories - the highest of the three levels defined in the scheme. ABB will stop selling Eff3 motors (the least efficient types) this summer - more than two years ahead of a deadline agreed between the EU and Cemep, the body representing Europe`s motor manufacturers.

Under this agreement, the motor suppliers have said that they will halve the number of Eff3 motors they sell by 2003. ABB`s pledge applies to motors covered by the EU scheme - four-pole, three-phase squirrel cage machines with output ratings from 1.1-90kW.

ABB plans to launch a new family of high-efficiency motors, called M3000, in the summer. The motors will span frame sizes 63 to 400 and will include Eff1 models for the whole range covered by the EU/Cemep agreement.

The company is re-engineering its motor designs to minimise their losses. This involves optimising factors such as winding densities, the quality of steel used, the choice of bearings, and the fan designs.

Steve Ruddell, who manages ABB`s UK drives and motors business, says that the company hopes to offer the new machines at similar prices to its existing motors. But he points out that ABB`s costs are "under severe pressure" because the prices of several of the key raw materials used in motors have risen steeply in price in the past year. Under these circumstances it is "difficult to maintain present pricing," he says, and motor prices may have to rise.

The new motors will be available via ABB`s CompAC Web site which was launched a year ago, initially to sell drives products.