The first manufacturer in the world to offer the motor
ABB has become the world’s first manufacturer to offer an IE6 Hyper-Efficiency motor certified to ATEX and IECEx requirements for use in hazardous areas
The new IE6 Increased safety motor, based on ABB’s magnet- and rare earth-free synchronous reluctance (SynRM) technology, offers up to 60% lower energy losses than the IE3 induction motors often used in Zones 1 and 2. This will help operators to realise a major boost in energy efficiency and avoid carbon emissions in industries where gas, vapour, or dust might be present, such as chemicals, marine, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage.
The IE6 SynRM Increased safety motor is certified for use with variable-speed drives (VSDs) for accurate control and high efficiency across the entire speed range, even at partial loads. This makes it a suitable upgrade for standard IE3 induction motors in pumps, fans, and compressors. Over a 20-year service life, the energy savings from switching just one motor up to IE6 would be €87,5201, resulting in an eight-month payback period with 157,540kg CO2 avoided.
Stefan Floeck, president IEC LV Motors, ABB, said, “In its Energy Efficiency report 2025, the IEA highlights the pressing need to make sustainable technology available as an affordable choice. And that is central to ABB’s own Engineered to Outrun philosophy. With the world’s first IE6 Hyper‑Efficiency SynRM motor for hazardous areas, we now have the ideal solution for customers who must drive down their operating expenses while meeting stringent sustainability targets.”
The new IE6 SynRM Increased safety motor covers ratings up to 110kW, with IE5 versions available up to 90kW. In addition to increased reliability and reduced maintenance, SynRM technology facilitates a cost-effective installation. In Zone 1, cooler running can enable the use of an Increased safety SynRM motor, where a Flameproof motor with a special enclosure would be a traditional choice. In Zone 2, the improved loadability of SynRM motors allows more power from the same size as an equivalent induction motor, enabling a smaller, lower-cost motor to fulfil the same duty.
