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Industrial technology company ABB has expanded its ACS580 drive range with new IP66 and UL Type 4X-rated variants designed for use in demanding food, beverage and agricultural environments.
The new additions to ABB's all-compatible drives portfolio are engineered to withstand regular washdowns, hose rinsing, humidity, dust, splashing and exposure to common cleaning agents, allowing them to operate without the need for additional protective enclosures.
According to ABB, the drives have been developed to meet growing demand for motor control systems that can perform reliably in hygiene-sensitive and harsh operating environments while helping to reduce installation complexity, system footprint and overall ownership costs.
The ACS580 IP66 and UL Type 4X drives are intended for use across a range of applications, including dairy processing, meat and poultry production, bakeries, livestock facilities and aquaculture operations.
Brith Isaksson, global segment manager for food and beverage at ABB Motion, said: "Food and beverage producers need equipment that can perform reliably in areas where moisture, cleaning routines and demanding hygiene requirements are part of everyday operation."
"With the new ACS580 IP66 / UL Type 4X variants, we are making efficient motor control easier to install closer to the process, helping customers reduce complexity while maintaining reliable performance in tough conditions."
The drives also feature an optional Bluetooth-enabled control panel, allowing users to carry out remote commissioning and monitoring through ABB's Drivetune and Drive Composer applications. ABB said the functionality can help personnel remain outside the arc flash boundary during operation.
Additional features include an optimised DC choke, a built-in C2 electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) filter and two option slots for fieldbus adapters and additional input/output modules, enabling system integrators to tailor connectivity to specific application requirements.
ABB said the launch broadens the environmental protection options available within the ACS580 drive family, with the new variants offered across a range of power ratings to support multiple industrial applications.
