As GETEC Switzerland continues to replace old motors with new and more efficient ones, an old motor at the Muttenz site even received recognition in a motor challenge.

In 1953, a Brown Boveri three-phase electric motor was installed in boiler room 2061 on what is now the site of GETEC PARK.MUTTENZ. Replacing this motor, which ran for more than 70 years, is part of an ongoing programme to phase out the use of old motors and replace them with more efficient ones, and it exemplifies how we constantly find ways to become more sustainable.

This programme even resulted in the Boveri motor being identified as one of the oldest in operation in Switzerland, thanks to a competition run by ABB Switzerland, a leading technology company in electrification and automation. The ABB Motor Challenge ran at the end of 2024 to find old electric motors that could potentially be replaced with new motors.
 

“In industrial use and when operated within load limits, electric motors have a very long life,” says Reto Stahl, Head of Operations, in Muttenz. “While old motors have been of great service to our site, we are committed to increasing efficiency and saving energy with a more modern solution, which is fully in line with how we are always looking for ways to improve.”
 

GETEC PARK.MUTTENZ is an innovative and integrated industrial park located near Basel, enabling chemical and life sciences companies to achieve their corporate and sustainability goals. The park features state-of-the-art infrastructure, reliable energy solutions and comprehensive services, and has an advanced network of established production companies and qualified service providers. Companies benefit from flexible design options, financial agility, uninterrupted operation, access to experienced specialists and economies of scale that optimise operating costs.

As one of the selected companies in the challenge, GETEC Switzerland was supplied with an IE5 synchronous reluctance motor and an ACS580 frequency converter that offers up to 24% energy savings through higher efficiency and speed control.

The ABB Motor Challenge was a promotion to show how significant savings can be achieved by replacing old motors with modern, energy-efficient drive systems that are correctly dimensioned for the application. ABB searched for the oldest electric motors still in operation in Switzerland, with a 5.5 to 200 kW power range and a minimum operating time of 2,000 hours per year. 48 companies took part. GETEC was one of the three companies selected.
 

Taking motor sustainability to a new level

Electric motors consume around 50% of global electricity. Replacing old technology with more efficient motors and drives provides significant energy savings, and this is something GETEC Switzerland is doing across its sites.

The IE5 motor GETEC received from ABB was tailored to the specific application: to drive a pump that keeps a steam boiler warm when it is not fully in operation. The IE5 is efficient, sustainable and highly reliable, and made without magnets or rare earth materials, while the frequency converter provides the ideal speed for driving the pump.

“As a service provider and plant operator in the energy sector, we continuously implement sustainable, efficient and innovative solutions to achieve our goal of climate neutrality,” says Arthur Gebhardt.

Brown Boveri three-phase electric motor from 1953

While the old motor occasionally required repairs over the decades, the new motor is expected to be very low-maintenance. The IE5 is designed for use in demanding industrial applications, with lower winding and bearing temperatures, and offers a long service life and minimal downtime. Additionally, the high torque and power density enable higher productivity during long periods of operation.

“While old motors have been of great service to our site, we are committed to increasing energy efficiency and saving energy with a more modern solution, which is fully in line with how we are always looking for ways to improve,” says Stahl.