ABB Drives and Motors Powering Patient Care

Hospitals are high-stakes environments that demand continuous, reliable performance from every supporting system. From the sterile airflow in operating theatres to the precise motion of laboratory robotics, there is a vast infrastructure working behind the scenes to protect lives. ABB’s variable speed drives and high-efficiency motors are high-end technologies that bring energy efficiency, accuracy, and resilience to the healthcare sector.

ABB’s role in hospitals extends far beyond the mechanical, as their products control hospital-wide ventilation and keep lab automation operating with surgical precision. Their motors and drives support the very systems that enable healthcare professionals to do their work with confidence.

HVAC systems provide patient comfort in hospitals, but more importantly, they maintain infection control, regulate pressure in isolation rooms, and control air purity in sensitive intensive care units and surgical theatres. ABB’s ACH580 and ACH480 drives are central to these systems because they deliver precise control over fan and air handling unit speeds. Unlike fixed-speed systems that run constantly at full power, these intelligent drives can adjust motor speed in real time based on actual ventilation demand, significantly reducing energy consumption while improving environmental control.

The ACH580 is also available in ultra-low harmonic versions, designed to prevent electrical interference with sensitive diagnostic and monitoring equipment by maintaining a total harmonic distortion of less than 3%. Real-time clocks, event logging, and embedded maintenance diagnostics support proactive fault prevention and simplified servicing.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals installed 28 ABB variable-speed drives across air handling units at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, many of which serve critical areas such as theatres and infection control zones. These HVAC drives enabled the hospital to reduce energy consumption and save over £26,000 annually. This resulted in a 110-tonne reduction in CO₂ emissions and approximately 200,000 kWh of energy savings per year. The drives were integrated with the central building management system via the standard BACnet protocol.

Medway Maritime Hospital installed 12 ABB standard VSDs for air handling units, ranging from 1 kW to 11 kW in capacity. These drives were integrated with the hospital’s building management system to implement features such as nighttime speed setback, which reduced annual energy bills by approximately £9,000 and lowered CO₂ emissions by 32 tonnes per year.

Worm gear motors are a reliable option when you require a high level of power at low speeds. They’re especially adept at multiplying torque, which enables them to deliver strong, steady force, making them ideal for heavy-duty tasks. They’re also efficient at handling large gear reductions, which is why they work so well in big machines.

Hospitals depend on uninterrupted water flow for sterilisation, patient care, sanitation, and building operations. ABB’s ACS580 drive range, paired with high-efficiency motors—some rated up to the IE5 efficiency class—has proven highly effective in managing both clean and wastewater systems in healthcare facilities.

These drives include advanced pump control macros that help prevent issues like pump clogging and pressure surges. For example, gradual start and stop procedures prevent abrupt water hammer effects that could harm pipes, and anti-jam features automatically reverse the pump direction to remove small obstructions. Energy optimiser modes reduce power usage during low-demand periods, and built-in pump alternation helps spread usage evenly across multi-pump systems, reducing wear and extending service life.

To prevent power outages that can interrupt life-saving equipment, hospitals rely on ABB motors integrated into emergency generator systems and uninterruptible power supplies. These motors are designed for frequent start-stop cycles and short overload periods, so they can handle sudden loads when switching from grid to backup power.

With high thermal endurance due to Class F or H insulation, and compatibility with ABB’s intelligent drives, these motors can ramp up or down smoothly, preventing harmful voltage spikes or torque shocks. Drives can also be programmed to implement load-shedding protocols to keep the most critical systems, such as ventilators and surgical lighting, prioritised in an emergency. ABB’s solutions have been adopted in hospitals across Europe and the Middle East, helping healthcare facilities safeguard operations during power disruptions.

Generally, ABB products in hospitals support infrastructure and automation; however, in one particularly innovative medical case, an ABB motor was fitted into a medical device. At University College London, ABB supplied customised stator windings—based on their standard 180-frame synchronous motor—for use in a minimally invasive limb-lengthening prosthesis for pediatric patients.

Rather than putting children through multiple surgeries or using uncomfortable external frames, this innovative method uses magnetic technology to lengthen limbs over time gently. A specially designed ABB stator, placed outside the body, generated a rotating magnetic field that interacted with a small implant inside the child’s femur. This setup allowed the bone to gradually extend in a controlled, non-invasive way. The procedure was trialled at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and successfully used in several young patients, significantly improving their comfort and helping them recover more quickly.

As a trusted UK partner of ABB, Beta Power Engineering supplies and supports a range of ABB drives and motors tailored for healthcare and other critical industries. From compact ACH480 HVAC drives to the ACS580 multi-purpose range, Beta Power delivers the latest ABB technologies with full technical support, expert guidance, and quick turnaround times. Beta Power also supplies high-efficiency IE3, IE4, and IE5-rated motors, offering options suitable for pump control, ventilation systems, and automation processes within hospital infrastructure.

From keeping the air clean in surgical theatres to powering life-saving equipment during emergencies, ABB’s solutions quietly support the day-to-day workings of modern hospitals. By taking care of the systems in the background, ABB enables healthcare teams to stay focused on what truly matters: caring for patients and saving lives.
At Beta Power, we take a hands-on approach to each project. With over three decades of experience, we are a reliable partner that hospitals and facility managers can trust for energy-efficient motion and control solutions. Contact our experts today for a full brief on our ABB products.