ABB will be showing paths to a future-proof industry at the SPS international trade fair from November 14th to 16th, 2023. With its Motion and Electrification business units, the technology group will focus on the key topics of sustainability and digitalization at its stand, which are crucial for the progress of industrial production.
“Energy efficiency, decarbonization, circular economy and digitalization are among the key topics of our time,” emphasizes Volker Lindenau, Lead Motion Manager Germany and Central Europe at ABB. “In order to achieve the climate goals set at the UN Climate Change Conference, every company must face these challenges. With products, solutions and best practices, we show our visitors in Nuremberg how we support the change in the industry and contribute to the sustainable success of our customers’ business models.”
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), energy efficiency is the most important lever for achieving climate goals. Electrification, efficient drive technology and intelligent digital systems for consumption as well as all energy flows reduce energy and resource consumption and at the same time greenhouse gas emissions. Technologies such as frequency converters and the latest motor designs in efficiency classes IE4 and IE5 as well as smart components for medium and low voltage from ABB offer enormous opportunities for a world striving for greater energy efficiency.
Sustainable production through energy efficiency, decarbonization and circular economy
To increase productivity while reducing environmental impact, ABB develops resource-efficient products. Solutions such as synchronous reluctance motors reduce energy consumption in the process by up to 25%. The fact that magnets and rare earths are not used in the construction of the engines proves that increased efficiency does not have to come at the expense of raw material requirements. ABB also provides the right solutions for the intelligent management of all energy flows. ABB Ability™ Energy and Asset Manager helps users identify and understand inefficiencies, vulnerabilities and connections by enabling the capture, analysis and visualization of the energy flow of individual plants and entire locations.
For sustainable production, it is also crucial to switch to electrical energy and invest in renewable energy sources. ABB plays a key role in reducing energy losses in sustainable DC grids, electrifying industrial processes and developing low-carbon fuels. This particularly affects thermal processes in energy-intensive industries. ABB offers efficient thyristor-based power controllers for CO2-neutral electrical heating.
The growing hydrogen economy is equally indispensable for the comprehensive decarbonization of industry. The clean, renewable fuel can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce environmental impact. With reliable DC technology, ABB is an established technology and integration partner for the production of green hydrogen using electrolysis. Sustainable DC grids also benefit from the new SACE Infinitus, a solid-state circuit breaker from ABB with a lifespan 100 times longer than conventional breakers. A reduction in energy losses of up to 70% provides the basis for maximum energy efficiency across the entire value chain.
However, energy does not only have to be produced sustainably and regeneratively. It is also important to rethink how we use resources. Sustainable products, solutions and services must be based on the basic principle of the circular economy.
ABB has set itself the goal of having 80% of its products and solutions conform to the circular concept by 2030. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide information about environmental impacts, circularity and CO2 emission reduction potential over the life cycle of products. With EcoSolutions, ABB has developed a concept that transfers the circular idea to products by transparently and measurably communicating the environmental impact and the circularity of the products themselves, thereby setting a new benchmark for circularity.
Smart products and intelligent processes for digitalization with added value
Without digitalization, the implementation of sustainability in industry cannot succeed. It enables companies to optimize their production processes and use resources more efficiently. Emission sources can be better monitored and controlled. Plants and machines can be monitored remotely and maintenance work can be carried out preventatively. ABB supplies the necessary tools for the digitalization of all areas of production.
Intelligent software solutions also expand the capabilities of industrial hardware – for example in the form of condition monitoring, increased productivity and efficient control. With services from ABB, operators receive extensive functions to increase productivity or for condition monitoring.
Avoiding gaps and ensuring consistency is one of the key levers of digitalization. ABB solutions enable users to connect all devices to Ability™ Energy and Asset Manager as well as cloud-based portals. The OPC UA standard ensures the seamless integration of all assets. In terms of cybersecurity, the integrated security functions of OPC UA also support the secure onboarding of industrial devices. Through standardization and interoperability, this critical phase in the life cycle of OPC UA devices is carried out securely and automatically.
Sustainability and digitalization offer great opportunities for safe and efficient production in the future. With products and solutions from ABB, operators overcome hurdles in transforming their processes. At the SPS, visitors will experience how ABB can provide support and contribute to a sustainable business model.