Global demand for advanced ventilation and drive technologies continues to expand as industries pursue energy-efficient infrastructure, digital manufacturing systems, and sustainable production methods. Industrial ventilation systems account for a significant share of electricity consumption across manufacturing plants, logistics centres, agricultural facilities, refrigeration environments, and rapidly expanding data centres. With global digital infrastructure growing at an unprecedented pace, the need for high-efficiency fans, intelligent airflow management, and advanced electric drive systems has become a major focus for engineering companies worldwide.
These technological priorities formed part of the discussions at the HANNOVER MESSE Press Preview 2026, held on 24 and 25 February in Hannover, Germany. The event brought together international media, industry experts, and technology companies ahead of HANNOVER MESSE 2026, which will take place from April 20 to 24 in Hannover. Recognised as the world’s leading industrial technology trade fair, the 2026 edition will focus on industrial transformation through automation, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and digitalisation, with Brazil participating as the official partner country.
Among the companies presenting their developments during the press preview was Ziehl-Abegg, a German manufacturer widely recognised for its high-performance ventilation systems and electric drive technologies. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in Künzelsau, Germany, the family-owned company operates 17 production plants and 30 companies worldwide, employing over 5,800 people. Its products are used across a wide range of industrial and infrastructure environments including refrigeration systems, clean rooms, data centres, industrial plants, and agricultural facilities.
Ziehl-Abegg’s technological reputation is closely linked to the development of external rotor motors, introduced in the mid-twentieth century, which remain a global reference point for efficient fan drives. Over the decades, the company has continued to advance aerodynamic fan design and electric drive systems used in elevators, medical equipment, and industrial machinery.
During discussions with media representatives at the press preview, Rainer Grill, Public Relations Manager at Ziehl-Abegg, outlined how energy efficiency and sustainable design remain central to the company’s engineering philosophy.
“We produce fans for industrial environments as well as agricultural facilities and electric drives for elevator systems,” Grill explained. “In a factory or a data centre, the energy consumption of ventilation systems plays a major role. Our fans are designed to consume less energy and operate with reduced noise levels. Biomimicry concepts inspired by natural structures such as owl wings, eagle feathers and humpback whale fins help improve airflow efficiency.”
One of the most significant developments presented by Ziehl-Abegg concerns a new generation of elevator drive systems. The company has successfully developed an electric synchronous elevator motor that operates without rare-earth magnets while maintaining the same performance characteristics as conventional systems. Instead of using neodymium or dysprosium magnets, which are widely used in high-performance electric motors, the new design uses ferrite magnets that are widely available and easier to source internationally.
Rare-earth materials are largely concentrated in limited global supply chains and are often subject to export restrictions and geopolitical considerations. Ziehl-Abegg’s engineering solution demonstrates that high-performance elevator drives can be produced without these critical materials while maintaining identical installation dimensions and operational capabilities. The newly developed size-200 elevator machine will be presented during HANNOVER MESSE 2026, with series production scheduled to begin at the company’s German manufacturing facility in the second half of 2026.
Alongside drive technology, Ziehl-Abegg continues to advance ventilation systems through aerodynamic engineering and digital monitoring capabilities. Many of its modern fan systems integrate digital monitoring through the ZAbluegalaxy platform, allowing industrial operators to monitor energy consumption and equipment performance remotely. Such solutions play an important role in managing airflow systems across large-scale infrastructure such as logistics hubs, refrigeration installations, industrial plants, and hyperscale data centres.
Visitors attending HANNOVER MESSE 2026 will be able to explore these technologies at Hall 13, Stand C01, where Ziehl-Abegg will present its latest developments in ventilation systems and electric drive technology, including the new rare-earth-free elevator motor.
Engineering developments such as these illustrate how industrial innovation increasingly addresses challenges linked to energy efficiency, supply chain resilience, and environmental responsibility. Technologies that manage airflow, cooling, and vertical mobility operate within critical infrastructure systems across manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and digital networks.
For India, advanced ventilation systems and rare-earth-free electric drives hold strong relevance as the country expands manufacturing capacity, data centre infrastructure, and high-rise urban development. Rapid growth in digital infrastructure, industrial corridors, and smart city projects is increasing demand for energy-efficient cooling systems, reliable elevator drives, and sustainable industrial equipment. Engineering solutions developed by companies including Ziehl-Abegg align with India’s broader focus on efficient industrial production, responsible energy use, and resilient supply chains as the country continues to position itself as a major manufacturing and technology hub.
As industrial transformation accelerates across sectors, engineering solutions that combine efficiency, sustainable material use, and intelligent system design will play an important role in future infrastructure. With companies like Ziehl-Abegg introducing alternative material strategies and advanced ventilation technologies, the upcoming HANNOVER MESSE 2026 in Hannover will offer a global stage where these developments can be examined within the wider context of industrial transformation and technological progress.
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“The transition toward energy-efficient infrastructure will demand engineering solutions that rethink both technology and materials. Innovations such as rare-earth-free electric drives illustrate how industrial design is evolving to meet that challenge. As global manufacturing expands and digital infrastructure accelerates, the ability to deliver high-performance systems without dependence on constrained materials may become one of the defining characteristics of next-generation industrial technology.”
— Narendra Lindait, Director, Synthesis
