The ABB Baldor-Reliance® SP4™ shaft-grounded HVAC motor has been selected as the gold winner in the Automation, Controls and Motion Systems category of the Plant Engineering 2026 Product of the Year Awards program. The prestigious award recognizes innovative products that demonstrate technological advancement and significant market impact.

SP4 HVAC motors represent a reliable, cost-effective solution for bearing damage caused by harmful shaft currents in variable speed drive applications. By integrating an internal shaft-grounding ring directly into the motor, SP4 effectively redirects electrical discharge away from the bearings to help extend motor life and reduce unplanned downtime.

"This award recognizes our commitment to engineering solutions that deliver real value to our customers," said Bevan Christiansen, ABB global segment manager for air handling. "SP4 HVAC motors combine advanced protection with industry-leading efficiency and reliability."

Superior performance and efficiency

Designed specifically for variable speed drive applications, SP4 shaft-grounded HVAC motors offer superior protection against electrical discharge damage, extending motor life and reducing costly downtime. Flexible configurations support drop-in replacement for HVAC and refrigeration, pumping and general industrial variable speed drive applications. SP4 HVAC motors are available in enclosed models suitable for indoor or outdoor use in environments with moderate dust and moisture and open models designed for relatively clean indoor environments.

Built on the proven ABB SP4 platform, these motors deliver NEMA Premium 4 efficiency that is comparable to IEC IE4-equivalent performance in a rolled steel frame without magnets or rare earth materials. This efficiency level can offer as much as 40 percent lower energy loss compared to NEMA standard efficient motors, translating to substantial cost savings over the motor's operational life.

Versatile applications

Avalable in general purpose, severe duty, pump and HVAC configurations, the entire SP4 product line builds on the simplicity of ABB’s proven AC induction motors and features a range of durable motors tailored to meet diverse applications. The idea is simple: Take a proven AC induction motor design and make it more efficient by reducing motor losses by an average of 20 percent while maintaining the simplicity, form, fit and function of today‘s installed base of AC induction motors.

All SP4 motors feature a cooler-running design that extends insulation life - every 10 degrees Celsius reduction in operating temperature doubles insulation life, which means longer bearing life and extended motor life. This advantage is backed by an industry-leading 48-month warranty.

Plant Engineering Product of the Year Awards

Plant Engineering's Product of the Year program is the premier readers-choice award for new products in manufacturing and related industries. The 2026 program marks the 38th year of the annual awards, which recognize products based on technological advancement, service to the industry and market impact. More information is available at www.plantengineering.com/product-of-the-year.

ABB Motion, a global leader in motors and drives, is at the core of accelerating a more productive and sustainable future. We innovate and push the boundaries of technology to contribute to energy efficient, decarbonizing and circular solutions for customers, industries and societies. With our digitally enabled drives, motors and services we support our customers and partners to achieve better performance, safety and reliability. To help the world’s industries outrun - leaner and cleaner, we deliver motor-driven solutions for a wide range of applications in all industrial segments. Building on more than 140 years of domain expertise in electric powertrains, our more than 23,000 employees across 100 countries learn and improve every day. go.abb/motion

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this “Engineered to Outrun.” The company has more than 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com

 

Source: abb.com

Report Abuse