The Hermes Award jury has selected Ziehl-Abegg's newly developed lift motor as one of the nominees for 2026. Presented annually at Hannover Messe since 2004, the award recognises outstanding technological innovations that deliver substantial benefits for industry, the environment and society.
An independent jury made up of leading figures from politics, business, research and the media, chaired by Professor Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, selected three companies from among numerous submissions for this year's Hermes Award shortlist: Festo, Schaeffler and Ziehl-Abegg.
The winner will be announced during the official opening ceremony of Hannover Messe on 19 April 2026. The prize will be presented by Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space.
The Hermes Award is widely regarded as one of the world's most prestigious industrial prizes. It honours products and solutions distinguished by an exceptional degree of technological innovation. Market readiness, economic viability and the benefit delivered to industry, the environment and society are also central criteria in the assessment process.
Electric synchronous lift machine without rare-earth magnets
Ziehl-Abegg's nominated motor represents a technological breakthrough: for the first time anywhere in the world, the company has developed an electric synchronous lift machine that operates entirely without rare-earth magnets. Instead, it uses ferrite magnets, a material that is globally available and does not create geopolitical dependencies.
Until now, high-performance magnets containing rare earths such as neodymium or dysprosium were considered indispensable for compact high-performance lift drives. With its new motor, however, Ziehl-Abegg has succeeded in achieving identical performance figures within the same dimensions. This means the installation space remains unchanged, a decisive advantage for lift manufacturers and operators alike.
"With this development, we are solving not only a technical challenge, but a strategic one as well," says Chief Executive Officer Joachim Ley. Dispensing with critical raw materials reduces dependence on geopolitically sensitive supply chains and enables permanently stable production.
Professor Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, Chairman of the jury, underlined the relevance of the nominated innovations: "The three nominees address pressing societal challenges and present tangible solutions. Cost-effective production of medical devices, automation and robotics, and the replacement of critical materials are generating fresh momentum for growth and employment while reinforcing our country's visibility as a driver of innovation."
In addition to Ziehl-Abegg, two other companies were nominated. Festo, based in Esslingen, impressed the jury with highly integrated manifolds - multi-layer plastic distributor plates capable of controlling, dosing and mixing liquids while simultaneously capturing sensor data. Schaeffler, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, was nominated for a platform of highly integrated actuators developed specifically for the joints of humanoid robots.
For Ziehl-Abegg, the nomination itself is already a special distinction: for the first time in the company's more than 100-year history, one of its innovations is among the finalists for this internationally recognised industrial prize.
The nominated lift motor will be presented at Ziehl-Abegg's stand in Hall 13 at Hannover Messe. Series production is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
About Ziehl-Abegg
Ziehl-Abegg (Künzelsau, Germany) is one of the leading global companies in the field of ventilation, control and drive technology. In the 1950s, Ziehl-Abegg established the basis for modern fan drives: external rotor motors which even today are still seen as state-of-the-art worldwide. Another area of business is electric motors which provide the power, for example, for elevators or medical applications (computer tomography equipment).
The high-tech company has an impressive innovative capability (all figures and statements refer to the year 2025). Ziehl-Abegg employs 3,000 personnel in its production plants in southern Germany. The company has a global workforce of 5,800 spread between 17 production plants, 30 companies and 114 sales locations. The products, approx. 30,000 in all, are sold in more than 100 countries. Turnover totals more than one billion euros.
Emil Ziehl founded the company in Berlin in 1910 as a manufacturer of electric motors. After World War II the company’s headquarters were relocated to southern Germany. Ziehl-Abegg SE is not a listed company but instead is family-owned.
For more information go to www.ziehl-abegg.com/en/
