ABB launches SACE Emax 3, the world’s first cybersecurity-certified breaker

ABB debuted SACE^® Emax 3, the next innovation of its flagship air circuit breaker, to the U.S. market at the National Electrical Contractor’s Association (NECA) convention in Chicago, Illinois. Emax 3 is expertly engineered to address the evolving challenges of AI data centers, advanced manufacturing, and critical infrastructure.

Emax 3 comes at a pivotal moment for industries facing growing challenges with grid resilience, speed of deployment, cybersecurity, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

“NECA is an ideal venue to introduce Emax 3 to the U.S. market as electrical contractors are under increasing pressure to deliver faster, safer, and more sustainable solutions,” said Bill Stewart, Product Marketing Director, ABB Smart Power. “Emax 3 simplifies deployment, reduces wiring, and supports predictive maintenance, saving time on-site and reducing callbacks. It’s built to make the contractor’s job easier and more profitable.”

As electrification accelerates and distributed energy resources are increasing, the need for smarter, more adaptive electrical systems has never been greater. Project timelines are shrinking, requiring faster deployments, commissioning, and startup. Meanwhile, cybersecurity threats are escalating, with critical devices increasingly vulnerable to unauthorized access and firmware manipulation. Sustainability is now a top priority for executives, investors, and regulators alike. And across the board, organizations are under pressure to control operational expenses while maintaining uptime and reliability.

Emax 3 is ABB’s answer to these converging challenges. It is engineered to support multi-source power environments—such as DERs, generators, BESS, and renewables—while maintaining power quality and system synchronism. Its flexible architecture and digital upgrade capabilities enable scalable, future-proof deployments.

With embedded cybersecurity features, Emax 3 is the world’s first air circuit breaker with Security Level 2 IEC 62443 cybersecurity certification. It also supports circular design principles and reduces wiring and waste, aligning with sustainability goals. And through predictive maintenance, real-time diagnostics, and wireless sensing, it helps organizations reduce downtime and optimize OPEX.

“Emax 3 isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a leap forward,” said Michael Dutoit, Product Marketing Manager, ABB Smart Power. “This advanced air circuit breaker is engineered to handle the complexity of modern power systems, from AI data centers to distributed energy resources. Emax 3 is smarter, faster, and more secure, helping ABB’s customers stay ahead of the curve.”

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