LV Titanium Variable Speed Motor delivers IE5 efficiency, performance and simplicity

(See ABB at MachineBuilding.Live, 15 October 2025, on stand 193)

Since 45% of the world's electricity is used to power electric motors in buildings and industrial applications, increasing the energy efficiency of equipment used in these systems will yield significant rewards in terms of sustainability and profitability.

While there are substantial efficiency benefits to be gained from upgrading a low- efficiency motor operating a pump, fan or compressor to a high-efficiency model, still greater energy savings are achievable when a high-efficiency motor is used in combination with a variable speed drive (VSD). Typically, this can reduce power consumption by 30%, and in some applications the savings can be even larger. The result is a return on investment (ROI) that is often measured in months, combined with a significant reduction in carbon intensity.

Even though the business benefits of using VSDs are tangible, their uptake by industry has progressed at a modest pace since they were first introduced 50 years ago. At ABB, we estimate that roughly 50% of the world's industrial motors would benefit from being paired with a drive. Yet currently, only around 26% are presently equipped with a VSD.

Our collaboration with customers provided a clear message - a key step in boosting the industrial take-up of speed-controlled technology would be to make it as easy to install and operate as possible in cases where using a separate drive is challenging. Therefore, we have called on our years of application expertise to develop the LV Titanium Variable Speed Motor (VSM). With the motor and drive integrated in a single 2-for-1 platform, it offers a simple, straightforward approach to providing IE5 Ultra-Premium efficiency for a wider range of industrial applications.

Fully integrated concept

Our key design aim was to achieve much more than simply bolting a drive on to a motor but rather a motor with the speed control built in. So right from the start, the LV Titanium platform has been engineered as a fully integrated concept, with a drive module purpose-designed for optimal performance with a permanent magnet (PM) motor.

The result is a sleek, streamlined design, with the axial drive mounted on the end of the motor. This saves space and makes the VSM ideal for applications like vertical pumps.

Thanks to its compact design and high power density, we have made the LV Titanium significantly smaller and lighter than comparable induction motors. This makes it an ideal option for applications where space is at a premium - it is the perfect upgrade option for older, inefficient direct-on-line (DOL) motors. It is also easy for one person to handle and install, without special training. The need for commissioning is reduced, as most of the necessary work is done at the factory, so it is delivered ready to plug and play.

Further customer benefits are that there is no need to house a VSD in a separate cabinet or electrical room, saving space and costs. We have also done away with the special cabling required, as the LV Titanium is connected in the same way as a standard motor.

In addition, VSMs can be controlled to provide the most favourable operational profile for the equipment and process. In pump applications, for example, the speed can be ramped up and down steadily to avoid mechanical stresses on the equipment and sudden pressure changes in pipework.

Major savings in energy costs

The savings on energy costs and carbon intensity that customers can achieve by switching to the LV Titanium Variable Speed Motor is illustrated by a typical 7.5 kW centrifugal pumping application, which is one of its main sweet spots.

Compared with a conventional, standalone fixed-speed motor, the annual savings on the electricity bill are estimated at well over Euro 4,000. This is based on a typical energy cost for Europe of Euro 0.21/kWh. At the same time, there is an annual reduction of 6,000 kg in CO2 emissions - that is equivalent to the emissions produced when driving a typical gasoline powered passenger vehicle for 25,000 km - based on the average European carbon intensity factor of 0.3 kg CO2/kWh.

The savings quoted here are for just one motor. Yet typical water treatment or food & beverage facilities will have 10s or even 100s of this size of motor, and a large plant such as a paper mill can have thousands. So the global potential to cut costs and reduce emissions is enormous.

By combining both motor and drive into one compact unit, the LV Titanium not only saves space while delivering IE5 efficiency; it sets a new benchmark in performance, simplicity and ease of installation and operation. This important addition to ABB's portfolio of Premium motors illustrates our commitment to working with our customers to develop innovative solutions that cut their operating costs while minimising the impact of industry on the planet.