ABB and NOVENCO have introduced a turnkey axial fan package intended to cut energy use in continuously operated ventilation systems. Combining NOVENCO’s ZerAx® axial fan with ABB’s IE5 permanent magnet motor and variable speed drive, the package can deliver up to 85 percent system efficiency in a typical air handling unit installation. The companies position the offering as an alternative to electronically commutated and belt-driven fan systems, which reach approximately 70 percent and 65 percent efficiency respectively. In data centre cooling applications with more than 1,000 fans, replacing existing EC fans could reduce annual energy consumption by 15 to 40 percent, depending on the age of the installed equipment.

System Efficiency For Continuous Cooling

Ventilation systems are a substantial and often constant electricity load across industrial facilities, buildings and infrastructure. Their operational role makes component-level efficiency important, but the ABB and NOVENCO collaboration focuses on the combined performance of the fan, motor and drive rather than treating each element in isolation.

The package centres on NOVENCO’s ZerAx® axial fan, which achieves up to 92 percent aerodynamic efficiency at the impeller. Its blade design and jet-engine-inspired hub are intended to move air efficiently while supporting straightforward installation and servicing. ABB pairs the fan with an IE5 permanent magnet motor and a variable speed drive that can adjust motor speed to actual demand.

Erich Labuda, President, Motion Services division at ABB, said:

“At ABB, we have a long track record in advancing energy efficiency through our motors, generators, and drives portfolio. Now, this collaboration with NOVENCO enables us to take that expertise to the system level, giving customers a complete fan package where the efficiency gains are real and measurable. For businesses under pressure to deliver on their energy targets, that difference matters, and it goes straight to the bottom line.”

A Modular Alternative To Replacement

The new package has been designed for a service life of 15 to 20 years. Its modular construction separates the fan, motor and variable speed drive, allowing individual components to be upgraded, retrofitted or replaced when required. That contrasts with sealed, moulded EC fan units, where a failure can make field repair impractical and necessitate replacement of the complete unit.

For facilities managers and industrial operators, this serviceability can offer a practical route to retaining value over the equipment lifecycle. It also aligns with a more circular approach to industrial equipment, particularly as the company notes that motors are made from highly recyclable materials and that no less than 98 percent can be recovered through specialised processes.

Separating the fan, motor and drive also provides greater flexibility where site conditions or ventilation requirements change over time. Rather than replacing a full assembly, operators can address the relevant component, supporting maintenance planning alongside energy performance.

Data Centres And Industrial Applications

The companies highlight data centre cooling as a major application for the package. In a typical facility using more than 1,000 fans, the stated 15 to 40 percent annual reduction in energy consumption from replacing EC fans reflects both the scale of the installed fan estate and the long operating hours associated with cooling infrastructure.

Similar opportunities are identified in food and beverage production, semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, buildings and infrastructure. In these settings, ventilation often runs continuously, meaning improvements in fan system efficiency can translate directly into reduced operational electricity demand.

Lars Erik Knaack, CEO at NOVENCO, added:

“In today’s world of challenging energy access and rising net-zero ambitions, energy efficiency has become a business-critical priority. This solution demonstrates how our highly efficient fan technology, combined with advanced motors and drives, can help customers accelerate their efficiency and decarbonization efforts while strengthening profitability. With current energy costs, many fan retrofit projects can achieve a return on investment (ROI) in less than two years.”

Efficiency With A Commercial Case

Retrofit economics will vary by energy prices, existing equipment and operating conditions, but ABB and NOVENCO state that many fan retrofit projects can achieve return on investment in less than two years. The proposition combines lower energy consumption with reduced maintenance disruption and the ability to replace or update components independently.

The collaboration gives ABB a complete axial fan package alongside its established motors and drives portfolio, while bringing NOVENCO’s high-efficiency fan technology into a broader integrated offering. For operators looking to reduce electricity use from ventilation without compromising reliability, the system-level focus presents a measured and commercially relevant efficiency option.

As cooling requirements remain central to data centres, manufacturing sites and large buildings, solutions that address energy use across the whole fan system can make a meaningful contribution to operational decarbonisation. ABB and NOVENCO’s package places durable, repairable equipment and higher efficiency in the same proposition.