ABB has been awarded the Gold honour in the Automation, Controls and Motion Systems category at the Plant Engineering 2026 Product of the Year Awards for its Baldor-Reliance® SP4™ shaft-grounded HVAC motor. The recognition highlights the motor’s innovative design, technological advancement and contribution to improving reliability and energy efficiency in industrial and commercial applications.
The award-winning SP4 HVAC motor has been developed to address one of the most common causes of premature motor failure in variable speed drive applications—bearing damage resulting from harmful shaft currents. By incorporating an internal shaft-grounding ring directly into the motor, the SP4 safely diverts electrical discharge away from the bearings, significantly extending equipment life while reducing maintenance costs and unplanned downtime.
Designed for HVAC, refrigeration, pumping and general industrial applications, the SP4 motor provides a cost-effective solution for facilities seeking improved equipment reliability without requiring major system modifications. Its flexible design allows for straightforward replacement of conventional motors across a wide range of installations.
ABB said the product reflects the company’s continued focus on developing technologies that deliver measurable value to customers through enhanced efficiency, operational reliability and lower lifecycle costs.
Built on ABB’s proven SP4 platform, the motor achieves NEMA Premium 4 efficiency, delivering performance comparable to IEC IE4 standards while eliminating the need for magnets or rare earth materials. Compared with standard NEMA-efficient motors, the SP4 can reduce energy losses by as much as 40 percent, enabling substantial savings in operating costs over the equipment’s service life.
The SP4 product family is available in multiple configurations, including general-purpose, severe-duty, pump and HVAC models. Customers can choose between enclosed versions for environments exposed to dust and moisture or open models designed for cleaner indoor installations.
In addition to higher energy efficiency, the motors feature a cooler-running design that improves insulation durability and extends overall motor life. Lower operating temperatures also contribute to longer bearing life, reduced maintenance requirements and greater equipment reliability. ABB backs the SP4 motor range with an industry-leading 48-month warranty.
The Plant Engineering Product of the Year Awards, now in their 38th edition, recognise products that demonstrate outstanding innovation, technical excellence and market impact across the manufacturing industry. Winners are selected through a readers’ choice voting process that evaluates new technologies introduced to the industrial market.
ABB Motion, a global leader in motors and drives, continues to develop technologies that help industries improve productivity while advancing energy efficiency and sustainability. With operations spanning more than 100 countries, the business provides digitally enabled motors, drives and lifecycle services that support industrial decarbonisation, operational excellence and improved reliability.
