[advertisement]

Why the Motor Base Matters in Belt Drive System Performance

In a belt drive system, the motor, belts, pulleys, and sheaves all receive engineering attention during design and specification. The motor base typically does not. It is the overlooked component, selected on frame size and bolt pattern, specified late in the process, and treated as a passive structural element, something that holds the motor in place and sets belt tension at installation.

The Year Ahead in Robotics

A3 examines adoption advancements and education

Optimizing Check–In to Takeoff

SEW–Eurodrive offers drive solutions for airport baggage handling systems

Modern Motion

How servo drives and motion systems are powering the next wave of industrial automation

[advertisement]

Feature Articles

The Future of Medical Manufacturing

Humanoids and cobots are rapidly serving the needs of the warehouse, logistics, material handling and packaging sectors allowing skilled workers to turn their attention to more pressing matters on the shop floor. According to MasterControl (matercontrol.com) digital transformation is revolutionizing life sciences manufacturing, driving key trends in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

.

The Autonomy Influence

Leaders from across the construction and heavy equipment manufacturing industries gathered in Las Vegas recently for ConExpo-ConAgg 2026. The show celebrated the innovation, economic impact and workforce powering the $2.2 trillion U.S. construction sector today.

.

Implementing Mobile Robotics with Bosch Rexroth

Bosch Rexroth continues to expand the ctrlX platform with new capabilities and automation enhancements. The control platform ctrlX COREplus is now available with AI functions on all performance levels. In the area of motion and drives, Bosch Rexroth is presenting compact, energy-efficient, and cabinet-free drives from the ctrlX DRIVE portfolio, which cover virtually all performance ranges. These are complemented by the Motion, CNC, and Robotics software ctrlX MOTION, which is ideal solution for automating production machines and systems. PTE recently had a great conversation with Garrett Wagg, product manager, controls at Bosch Rexroth on new developments in mobile robotics.

.

Shaping the Skies of Tomorrow

Drones are tasked with providing state-of-the-art autonomous capabilities, unique movements, automated inspection, urban delivery solutions and advanced military operations. They upgrade agricultural farming technology, provide safety and logistic solutions and report key disaster and engineering mapping. PT components such as motors, controllers, and sensors are an integral part of their core structure.

.

[advertisement]

Gear Drives

Half a million global visitors visit Aiguille du Midi as an access point for skiing in the winter and hiking, rock climbing and paragliding in the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The mountain—part of the French Alps—boasts the current title of employing “the world’s highest vertical ascent cable car.” This unique transportation takes passengers from 3,396 to 12,605 ft. above the clouds. The planetary gearboxes needed for the cable car operation are provided by CMD Gears.

Gears

An innovative technology for the next generation of high-speed, high power density traction and propulsion systems has been jointly developed by Drive System Design (DSD) and Transense Technologies. David Hind, principal engineer, DSD, presented “Unlocking Powertrain Power Density with Innovative Motor Control,” earlier this year at the CTI USA Symposium 2025 in Novi, MI. The presentation built on initial simulation studies performed in MATLAB Simulink; a software tool used to design and simulate systems before moving to hardware. While simulation trials proved successful, achieving quality experimental results proved far more challenging. Hind examined these challenges and potential solutions at CTI.

Bearings

As industries adopt more automation, the demand for reliable and efficient pneumatic systems, which power everything from robotic arms to air-powered tools, continues to rise. However, despite their widespread
use, these systems often suffer from hidden inefficiencies. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at SMB Bearings—Oxfordshire, U.K.) explores how an overlooked component, industrial bearings, can improve the
efficiency of pneumatic technologies.

Motors

Automation has become a key driver of efficiency and productivity, regardless of industry. Among the most popular automation solutions are automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). While both technologies automate and enhance material handling and reduce manual labor, there are key differences in their functionality, flexibility, and areas of application that set them apart.

[Sponsored Content]

Videos

UR Offers a Million Welds and Zero Downtime with Cobots

The robust performance of the robot welder at Centerline Brackets led the Florida-based manufacturer to an exceptionally rapid return on investment, achieved in less than three months. The Universal Robots' collaborative robot dramatically cut production time and addressed labor shortages while ensuring consistent weld quality for heavy-duty brackets.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Apr 13, 2026

Schaeffler recently announced a strategic partnership with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Incubators to advance innovation across the automotive and mobility sectors. Through this collaboration, Schaeffler will engage with a dynamic network of startups, academic institutions and industry partners to accelerate the development, validation, and scaling of transformative mobility solutions such as software-defined vehicles, battery technology, electric aviation and humanoid robotics.

PRODUCT NEWS

ABB expanded the availability of Vertical Hollow Shaft (VHS) motors to meet Mexico’s growing water industry needs by obtaining its NOM/ANCE certification. Designed for vertical pumping applications, ABB VHS motors are engineered for critical industries including agriculture, mining, municipal water, wastewater treatment and industrial processing.

CALENDAR

The Manufacturing Engineering Division (MED) of ASME sponsors the Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC) every June. MSEC (State College, PA) is the annual forum for the exchange of advanced manufacturing research knowledge. It is intended to disseminate the most recent developments in manufacturing research through technical presentations, poster sessions and panel sessions. The event is hosted by Penn State University.

WZL Gear Conference USA

Jul 15, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026

Hannover Messe 2026

Apr 20, 2026 - Apr 24, 2026

Fabtech Canada

Jun 9, 2026 - Jun 11, 2026

[advertisement]

Current Issue


Current Issue
Archives
Subscribe

Buyer's Guide

Accessories Actuators Adjustable Speed Drives Bearings Belting & Belt Drives Brakes Chain & Chain Drives Clutches Controls Couplings & U-Joints Fluid Power Gear Drives Gear Manufacturing Services Gears Industrial Hardware and Machine Parts Linear Motion Devices Lubrication Motors Resources Seals Sensors Services Software

The Power Transmission Engineering Buyers Guide is your complete directory of suppliers of mechanical power transmission components, including great companies like these.


VIEW ALL

×

Like What You see?

Power Transmission Engineering magazinePower Transmission Engineering is THE magazine of mechanical components. PTE is written for engineers and maintenance pros who specify, purchase and use gears, gear drives, bearings, motors, couplings, clutches, lubrication, seals and all other types of mechanical power transmission and motion control components.

E-mail

Choose at least one from the options below:

 Power Transmission Engineering magazine, published 8 times per year (print or digital).

 Power Transmission Engineering e-mail newsletter, published weekly.

 Special Offers and promotions via e-mail from Power Transmission Engineering's advertisers and partners.

*Unsubscribe any time.
Full details in our privacy policy
Already a subscriber? Log in