How ABB Motors Drive Sustainability? | Sanjeev Arora, ABB India
DID YOU KNOW? Electric motors consume over 45 percent of the world’s electricity. By 2040, the number of motors is expected to double. In India, more than 85 percent of installed motors are of low energy efficiency. Therefore, adopting higher-efficiency motors is crucial for India to achieve its net-zero goals.
ABB India is delivering higher efficiency IE3 and IE4 motors that not only drive industrial processes but also revolutionize energy savings across Indian industries.
Read this interview where Sanjeev Arora, President – Motion Business, ABB India, speaks directly from the shop floor with mojo4industry.
What role do motors play in achieving energy efficiency in various industries?
Around 45% of the world’s energy is consumed by motor-driven equipment. In industries, this figure rises to 60%. Given this magnitude, it’s crucial to use energy-efficient motors in our plants. Motors typically have a lifespan of about 13-15 years, so selecting the right motor now ensures future energy savings and improved productivity. Notably, 50% of the motors produced on our shop floors are either IE3 or IE4, surpassing the IE2 minimum energy efficiency guidelines of Indian standards. We emphasize this to our customers and ensure timely delivery of energy-efficient motors.
As the head of ABB India’s Motion business, how do you view its role and impact, given ABB’s 100-year history, 74 years of manufacturing, and significant contribution to the Indian economy with 5 locations, 25 plants, and over 10,000 employees?
The motion business is essential as it keeps the world moving efficiently while saving energy daily. It includes variable speed drives, motors, traction motors, and converters. Specifically, we offer low-voltage and medium-voltage drives and motors, as well as traction converters for both propulsion and auxiliary purposes, alongside Traction motors. All these components fall under ABB’s Motion division.
Could you provide an overview of the production capacity at your Bengaluru plant for electric motors?
Our Faridabad plant manufactures motors ranging up to 75 kilowatts and in Bengaluru facility we produce motors up to 1 megawatt. These motors feature numerous special applications tailored to diverse customer needs across different industries. From heavy industries such as cement, steel, oil and gas, and pulp and paper, to lighter industries like food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, ABB motors with high efficiency and integrated drives are widely used to enhance operational success.
With ABB’s longstanding commitment to manufacturing in India for global markets over the past 74 years, what future developments can we anticipate from your business division?
We are deeply committed to India, offering our customers here access to global technology, top-tier quality, and exceptional service, enhanced by digital innovations. Our products include smart sensors that enable real-time monitoring and data analysis, empowering customers to optimize equipment performance. This integration of digitalization ensures our offerings are not just products but active solutions. Regarding exports, we serve all major international OEMs based in India, who trust our technology and global service capabilities. We are expanding our direct export footprint into designated global markets, poised for substantial growth internationally.
Given that more than 85% motors in India are currently of lower efficiency grades like IE1 and IE2, what message do you have for customers regarding the advantages of upgrading to higher efficiency motors like IE3, IE4, IE5?
Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed India’s impressive growth story. When we engage with customers, we emphasize the importance of considering CapEx investments not just for immediate needs, but for long-term benefits. Opting for the best and most energy-efficient products, along with digital-enabled solutions, ensures readiness for future needs, whether it’s upgrading existing setups or starting new projects. This proactive approach supports achieving carbon neutrality goals from the outset.
