ABB Expands Cooling Motor Partnership With ETM
ABB and Electric Torque Machines are developing motors for data centre cooling systems under the ABB brand.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Data Centers
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ABB has expanded its partnership with Electric Torque Machines, a subsidiary of Graco Inc., to develop and commercialise motors based on ETM's patented Transverse Flux Motor technology. The motors will be marketed under the ABB brand.
Why it matters
Demand for data centre infrastructure is rising alongside the growth of artificial intelligence, increasing the need for cooling systems that run continuously while managing energy consumption.
The TFM motor uses a direct-drive architecture that reduces the need for mechanical transmission components and delivers high torque at low speeds. Global data centre electricity demand rose 17% in 2025, with AI-focused facilities up 50%.
The players
ABB
ABB is a global engineering company whose ABB Motion division has more than 23,000 employees across 100 countries and about 140 years of experience in electric powertrain technologies.
Electric Torque Machines
Electric Torque Machines is a wholly owned business of Graco Inc. that holds patents for Transverse Flux Motor technology.
The details
The partnership will develop and commercialise motors based on ETM's patented Transverse Flux Motor technology for large-scale cooling requirements. The motors will complement ABB's existing range of high-efficiency motors, variable speed drives and liquid cooling solutions.
Timeline
2025: Global data centre electricity demand increased 17%.
November 2, 2026: ABB and ETM announced the partnership expansion.
The Tech Race
The expansion builds on ETM's patented Transverse Flux Motor technology, which offers direct-drive operation without mechanical transmission components. ABB's move positions it to compete in the cooling-hardware segment as data centre power demand climbs.
The cooling motors are aimed at data centre operators rather than consumers, so the direct effect is on facility energy use and cooling design. Operators managing AI workloads may see new options for continuous cooling that aims to control energy consumption.
The takeaway
Rising AI-driven electricity demand is pushing data centre operators to look at cooling hardware as a constraint on capacity. Facilities planning expansions may need to weigh cooling motor efficiency alongside other power decisions.
Further reading
For more on how AI growth is reshaping facility power needs, see Data Centers.
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