ABB advances ring motor safety with customer-led upgrades for its Gearless Mill Drive technology

Designed to meet customer needs, these upgrades will improve operational efficiency and safety for inspection teams working in confined spaces at heights over 20m.

As a critical component in grinding operations, internal inspections of ring motors have traditionally posed two frequent challenges: achieving optimal visibility and implementing effective fall protection systems, while keeping the required inspection downtime to a minimum. Working in collaboration with service specialists and frontline user crews, ABB analysed customer feedback and launched a development project to improve the safety and comfort of personnel accessing the interior of the ring motor.

The newly integrated GMD motor lights ensure better visibility inside the motor housing, delivering consistent illumination across all internal working areas and eliminating shadows to enhance inspection clarity and accuracy. In addition, the improved lighting reduces the risk of slips, trips and falls, contributing to a safer and more efficient inspection process.

The anchor points have been engineered as certified safety hooking points throughout the interior stator circumference. They support ABB GMD customers in increasing safety more effectively and are compliant with international fall protection standards, such as EN 795 and OSHA 1926.502. The motor lights also contribute to improving HSE aspects for adequate workplace illumination during inspection tasks. These upgrades also enhance the efficiency of GMD inspections in harsh mining environments.

“ABB is constantly listening to real customer challenges and evolving our GMDs to address these, particularly where safety is concerned,” said Julen Fernández, engineering lead for this initiative at the ABB GMD motor factory in Bilbao, Spain.

“Insights and feedback from customers identified the need for safer fall protection solutions inside the stator chambers, leading us to develop new solutions to meet strict safety standards and support both workers and potential rescuers in case of an emergency. The introduction of these new anchor points and integrated lighting inside the ring motor significantly enhance safety during internal GMD inspections and demonstrates ABB’s commitment to innovation in safety.”

The certified anchor points are now a standard feature in new ABB ring motors, with the LED lighting systems available as an optional upgrade. Both solutions can also be retrofitted to existing GMDs. The new features are being rolled out across ABB’s GMD portfolio, with early pilot installations across customer sites receiving highly positive feedback, citing both improved safety conditions and better inspections outcomes.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/17092025/abb-advances-ring-motor-safety-with-customer-led-upgrades-for-its-gearless-mill-drive-technology/