ABB has signed a licence agreement with Graco’s wholly owned subsidiary Electric Torque Machines (ETM) to integrate motor technology into data centre cooling towers and heat rejection systems.
Under the partnership, the organisations are aiming for initial commercial deployments in data centre facilities by the end of 2029.
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The agreement focuses on adapting ETM’s Transverse Flux Motor (TFM) architecture for thermal management infrastructure.
Built for high-torque, low-speed direct-drive setups, the motor format lowers mechanical complexity by requiring fewer drivetrain parts.
The technology is aimed at meeting the rising thermal demands of AI, cloud computing, and high-density server environments, where cooling efficiency directly affects power consumption, operational costs, and operational reliability.
ABB NEMA Motors president Jesse Henson said: “ABB continually evaluates technologies that can deliver meaningful value to customers through improved efficiency, reliability, and ease of operation.
“Our work with ETM has shown the potential of direct-drive motor systems, and we are pleased to expand that work into cooling applications where performance and uptime matter.”
The joint initiative expands on prior industrial collaboration between the two companies.
Across a multi-year infrastructure rollout, ABB and ETM will cooperate on application engineering, product development, customer qualification, and market development.
The arrangement combines ETM’s direct-drive motor technology with the customer relationships, distribution channels, and commercial scale of ABB.
Graco CEO Mark Sheahan said: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring a differentiated motor technology from Graco’s ETM business into one of the most important infrastructure markets in the world.
“ABB’s decision to expand its relationship with ETM reflects confidence in the technology, the team, and the commercial opportunity ahead.
“Together, we can help customers simplify cooling systems, improve reliability, and convert thermal management from a cost challenge into a strategic advantage for the next wave of data centre growth.”
Last month, ABB introduced Infinitus, a direct current (DC) portfolio developed to meet the increasing energy requirements of AI data centres.
