ABB has revealed the next generation of its flagship air circuit breaker, the SACE Emax 3.  Aimed at large facilities with high power demands, including data centers, advanced manufacturing sites and critical infrastructure including hospitals and airports, the innovative Emax 3 is designed to address increased concerns about grid stability, cybersecurity, and the surging power needs of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in data centers.  

The successor to the industry-leading Emax 2 smart circuit breaker, the Emax 3 introduces cutting-edge technology to minimize the risk of power outages. Featuring the industry’s most accurate power sensors and data analytics, the Emax 3 collects and analyses real-time data from the electrical system, including power usage, system health, and environmental conditions such as temperature. This information is shared remotely or on the Emax 3 touchscreen, offering users real-time insights, warnings, and recommendations for precise maintenance.

Emax 3 is the world’s first air circuit breaker with Security Level 2 IEC 62443 cybersecurity certification. It is also the first with a fully integrated arc flash detection system to enhance safety and reliability.  

"Critical infrastructure needs resilient electrical systems. As demand for advanced electrification solutions continues to grow, the new SACE Emax 3 will help customers stay ahead of changing power requirements and protect business-critical uptime,” said Massimiliano Cifalitti, Smart Power President, ABB Electrification. “Emax 3 is a breakthrough for energy resilience, helping solve some of the leading causes of power outages. Its built-in intelligence helps customers make their power management and maintenance proactive and predictive.”  

ABB’s SACE-brand air circuit breakers are recognised for their reliability and performance, with millions installed worldwide protecting buildings and critical facilities. Demand for air circuit breakers continues to grow, particularly in markets where data centers and smart industries are growing, and where large infrastructure investments are being made. Customers in these markets are also demanding more advanced sensing and embedded digital intelligence.  

Lara Cortinovis, Head of Distribution & Energy Management, ABB Electrification, said: “Power outages can now be a million-dollar problem, with customers telling us they are concerned with grid instability, human error and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Solutions to improve on-site resilience are seen as critical. ABB innovations like Emax 3 will be at the heart of solutions to make critical infrastructure more secure and reliable.”

Uptime Intelligence’s 2025 survey-based Annual Outages Analysis indicates that power failures account for more than half of digital infrastructure outages; that more than half of significant outages cost more than $100,000 and one in five data center operators say their most recent significant outage cost more than $1million

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