At Bauma 2025, Nord Drivesystems will be presenting powerful and energy-efficient drive solutions for demanding industrial applications. The exhibition highlights presented by the drive specialist from Bargteheide include Maxxdrive industrial gear units as well as the versatile Nordac Pro SK 500P frequency inverter. With its comprehensive modular products and global presence, Nord is a partner for companies from the construction machinery and heavy-duty industry.
The NORDCON software tool from Nord Drivesystems enables easy access to electronic drive systems, simple parameter management, drive programming, and comprehensive diagnosis. The software is available as a Windows app as well as a mobile app for iOS and Android, allowing the full performance of Nord technology to be implemented across multiple devices with a uniform user interface. NORDCON is applicable for all Nord variable frequency drives, motor starters, and bus modules, and is capable of handling all tasks from application development, commissioning, operation and service.
The mining industry relies heavily on efficient and reliable equipment to process large volumes of ore and mineral resources. One critical component in this ecosystem is the grinding mill, which plays a pivotal role in comminuting materials to prepare them for further processing. Grinding mills, particularly the large semi-autogenous (SAG) and ball mills, often operate under challenging conditions that demand precision, durability, and adaptability. A key technology enabling these mills to operate safely and efficiently is the hydraulic inching drive system.
Between trade shows including MINExpo and CES 2025, we’ve been treated to a great deal of new technology in areas like mining, agriculture, construction and heavy industrial components. Liebherr has modified its component portfolio to include digital measurement, electrification and maintenance-free technologies. Liebherr’s component product segment offers advanced solutions for slewing bearings and slew drives that meet the rising demands across a variety of applications and industries. These components are future-ready and play a vital role in making operations much more efficient.
Designed for even greater flexibility and a wide range of applications: The new 1218 SXR and 1228 SXR DC motors. These models expand Faulhaber’s proven DC motor portfolio and set new standards in performance and versatility for miniature drive systems.
SEW-Eurodrive is proud to introduce the WES Series stainless steel gear unit, a compact, hygienic drive solution that runs cool – even under continuous operation. Unlike worm gear units that overheat, the WES Series integrates SPIROPLAN right-angle gearing, ensuring smooth, reliable performance without excessive heat buildup. Designed for food, beverage, and other hygienic applications, the WES Series is corrosion-resistant, easy to clean, and rated for high-pressure washdowns.
The FVA-Workbench is a manufacturer-neutral solution for modeling, parameterization, and simulation of transmission systems. Version 10 was released on February 17, 2025, to make gearbox design even more efficient. For drive technology professionals, the FVA-Workbench is an indispensable tool for reliable modeling, calculation, and optimization of complex drive systems and transmission elements. The software bundles 50 years of research and development from the FVA expert network into a single platform, making its collected knowledge directly applicable for industrial practice.
Applied Motion Products introduces the AW Stepper Motors, featuring an IP65-rated design that ensures reliable operation in harsh environments. Engineered for a high level of protection, these motors effectively shield internal components from external contaminants such as dust, dirt, moisture, and grease.
Tolomatic Inc. introduces its online Drive Integration Tool that streamlines the selection and commissioning process to seamlessly match a drive system to a servo linear actuator.
Force Control introduces the Magnashear electric coupler brake which features oil shear technology to provide precise stopping and repeatable positioning, in a compact footprint. They are ideal for demanding applications where the motor is reversed each cycle or there are frequent start/stop cycles
Kollmorgen has updated its SafeMotion Monitor (SMM) firmware: SMM2.0. This upgrade allows OEMs to leverage SMM functional safety features with more encoder and motor types to support a wider range of applications such as material forming, multi-axis measurement equipment, food processing and food packaging.
Two common types of drive solutions available on the market are direct drive solutions and belt drive solutions. With direct drives, the gearmotor is directly connected to the load being driven and does not require additional connection components. Belt drives, in comparison, are offset from the driven load and require belts and pulleys to connect the two. They also often include a motor mount, sheaves, machine guard, and a torque arm, making them a more complicated set up than the gearbox, NEMA adapter, and motor combination of direct drives. The compact direct drives also provide higher efficiency, reliability, and safety features compared to traditional drive packages.
Nord Drivesystems offers a full, comprehensive range of after-sales services and support to ensure efficient performance and longevity of their products. Services include commissioning, maintenance, spare parts management, digital solutions, and more. They also provide self-service options, with FAQs addressing common inquiries via easy, 24/7 online access.
The ASI8100 stepper motor with built-in drive from Beckhoff adds another space-saving tool to the company’s broad range of compact drive technology products (up to 48 V DC). The ASI8100 series combines a stepper motor, stepper motor output stage, and fieldbus connection in a fully integrated design. These EtherCAT devices mount directly on the machine without a control cabinet or upstream I/O, allowing for highly compact, control cabinet-free machines.
In today’s fast-paced manufacturing world, inefficiencies in repetitive tasks can slow down progress. That’s why Bonfiglioli is proud to be part of Moma-Flex, a pioneering project funded by EIT Manufacturing and the European Union, designed to revolutionize how production plants operate.
A new era of damping technology has begun as sMOTION from ZF is now bringing stability and dynamics together for improved comfort and driving performance. This system adapts damping force exactly to the corresponding driving situation while also initiating very fast vertical movements for each individual wheel, thus actively lifting the vehicle to ensure optimal roadholding performance while enhancing a more pleasurable driving experience.
Greaves 3D Engineering, a British company specializing in precision engineering, has introduced “The Ultimate Drivers Rig,” a state-of-the-art racing car simulator designed for portability and professional performance. This innovative simulator can be folded and stored in a compact road case, allowing for easy transport to racetracks, trade shows, and corporate events. Central to the rig’s design are 45 high-performance components from igus, including self-lubricating linear and drive technologies, cable carriers, and plain bearings, which help reduce maintenance requirements and improve overall reliability.
With over 20 years’ experience in the food processing industry, Mike Mitchell has filled many roles in his career. Now, as the key accounts manager for Middleby Food Processing brand, MP Equipment, Mitchell has been pivotal in advancing food technology. He understands the demands of frequent, late-night repairs on first generation equipment.
Liebherr’s components product segment supplies the heart of the rotating pillar for the bridge Friesenbrücke, which is being erected for Deutsche Bahn in Weener. It comprises a 5-meter, 12.5-ton combined roller and ball bearing along with eight matching pinions. This rotating pillar and the associated mechanical systems by Hermann GmbH Maschinenbautechnologie support the 145 meter long, 1,800-ton central section of Europe’s largest lifting swing bridge to date.
Thomson Industries, Inc. has released a true collaborative extension of cobots. The new Movotrak CTU 7th axis features collision detection settings for programming and control benefits. An industrial robot transfer unit (RTU) has also launched, which can be easily integrated with a user’s preferred motor and drive. Adding a horizontal operating range up to 10 meters, the Movotrak cobot transfer unit (CTU) sets itself apart with collision detection that stops the cobot when it encounters an obstacle, facilitating collaboration and increasing productivity.
Productivity and efficiency are paramount in the highly competitive snack food production industry. JD Manufacturing, Inc (JDM) in Pine Bluffs, WY, stands out as a leader with its high-performance automatic batch fryers, which are engineered specifically for kettle chip production. The batch frying process imparts kettle chips, whether made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, or beets, with their distinctive premium texture and taste.
Orbex Group, a U.S.-based supplier of slip rings and electric motors, introduces a new family of compact wheel drives (CWD), increasing its offering of precision motion solutions. The CWD-500 and CWD-1000 are integrated motor, gearbox, encoder and wheel combination units, designed to facilitate easy application in compact robotic applications like autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and automated guided vehicles (AGV).
WEG was one of the main highlights in the 3rd edition of the Inovativos Award and the Innovation Forum, standing out in the categories of Industrial Intelligence and Sales Excellence, held during the Forum on Digital Innovation Cases in São Paulo.
The Franz Morat Group is exhibiting at SPS in Nuremberg in Hall 1, Booth 350. This year, the company is showcasing a wide range of precision gearing components and innovative drive technology solutions.
Bonfiglioli is present at SPS Nuremberg from November 12-14. At Booth 450 in Hall 3A, Bonfiglioli showcases its comprehensive mechatronic proposal covering AMRs, material handling, logistics automation and packaging along with IIoT capabilities. Eyes also on electronics, with the solutions developed by Selcom.
Nord Drivesystems is showcasing their modular drive solutions for high-volume packaging applications at Pack Expo 2024.
The increasing demand for compact servo drives in mechanical engineering has led to a corresponding need for smaller gearboxes that are suitable for these drives. In response to this market need, Neugart is introducing three new precision planetary gearboxes in frame size 055: the PSBN055, PSN055, and PSFN055. These new additions extend the proven capabilities of the Precision Line portfolio.
The applications are too numerous to list in their entirety. Coffee grounds. Eggshell waste. Pomegranates and pineapples. Manure and paper mill sludge. Tobacco. These are just a few of the materials that require dewatering, a process that—as its name suggests—separates fluids from solids, often converting what would otherwise go down the drain or end up in a landfill into saleable products.
With the P-725.xCDE1S focus scanner and the U-781 PILine XY stage system, PI completes its range of positioning systems for fluorescence microscopy applications. The dynamic focus scanner is offered as a complete package including controller and allows travel ranges up to 400 µm. The U-781 XY stage system with controller and joystick is mechanically compatible with inverted microscopes of leading manufacturers and offers interfaces to common microscopy software tools such as µ-Manager, MatLab, LabView, Python, and Nikon NIS Elements—all at an attractive price/performance ratio.
The globally recognized provider of sustainability ratings, EcoVadis, has awarded the Voith Group the silver medal again this year after 2022. This puts Voith among the top 15 percent of all companies evaluated worldwide. For the rating, EcoVadis examined a total of 130,000 companies from 180 countries and 220 industrial sectors in the four main areas of environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.
Updating existing rail vehicles with a modernized drivetrain helps to improve fleet efficiency while keeping costs and service interruptions down. This approach is known as “repowering”. At this year’s InnoTrans, the international trade show for transport technology, ZF and Irish Rail signed a Memorandum of Understanding about a potential new repowering project starting in 2025. The partnership revolves around ZF’s new EcoWorld 2 six-speed powershift transmission, which decreases fuel consumption, improves ride comfort and reduces maintenance efforts.
New general-purpose AC drives have been added to the IronHorse brand. These new VFDs support three control modes, including V/Hz, slip compensation, and sensorless vector, and come in various voltage and horsepower ratings at a very affordable price.
The family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is facing intense scrutiny. A reporting rule will take effect in the United States in 2026, while Europe has actually been considering a sweeping, cross-industry ban on these substances since early last year. The implications of such a ban on fluoropolymers would be particularly critical, as a discontinuation of these high-performance materials would drastically impact many industries. But what kinds of challenges would emerge in the search for adequate substitutes? This was the focus of a recent study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM) in cooperation with materials experts from the Freudenberg Group.
Coverage of IMTS and MINExpo International will continue on the PTE website through the end of the year and into 2025. We're excited to share the stories and new technologies discussed at both trade shows in September.
At MINExpo, Dana Incorporated debuted a new certified remanufacturing program for Dana Spicer Off-Highway drivetrain components that extends equipment life cycles, supports sustainability initiatives, and improves return on investment.
The Smart Function Kit Pressing, a complete mechatronic package from Bosch Rexroth for the quick realization of servo presses, is now available with force control. This means that it is now also possible to perform processes in which the target force must be kept constant over a defined period of time. Intelligent e-tools speed up the selection and configuration of the modular servo press. The pre-installed operating software facilitates quick and easy commissioning, process definition, and line integration.
MINExpo boasts 1,900+ companies involved in the global mining industry. Opening sessions allow the industry to come together to debate global challenges, market fluctuations and the future of mining. Resources include exploration, mine site development, open pit mining, underground mining, smelting and refining, processing and preparation and reclamation. Here’s a sample of the companies exhibiting and the products/technologies they will be featuring in Las Vegas from September 24–26, 2024.
The Timken Company has issued its corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, providing an update on the company's actions to improve the lives of individuals and communities, benefit the planet and strengthen its business.
Physik Instrumente (PI) inaugurated the PI Technology Hub in Karlsruhe, Germany in July. On an area of 500 sqm, the hub offers space for ten employees of the central department “Global Research” as well as ten additional places for more extensive project work and for Ph.D. students and working students. It is equipped with special laboratories to allow for hands-on experiments. The strategic proximity to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and other research institutions will promote an intensive exchange and close cooperation.
The 2024 AD Bearings & Power Transmission (BPT) North American Meeting, held from August 11-14 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort, brought together industry leaders, supplier partners, service providers, and innovators for a highly successful and impactful event. The meeting featured a series of insightful sessions, strategic discussions, and collaborative opportunities that highlighted the continued growth and dynamism within the Bearings & Power Transmission sector.
Redex USA is pleased to announce it will showcase its portfolio of high-performance drives for machine tool applications at IMTS Level 3, Booth #236016.
Nord Drivesystems delivers reliable, high efficiency automation solutions to a wide range of industries. Their modular product portfolio of over 20,000,000 standard components includes gear units, electric motors, and electronic control products that offer versatility and flexibility for easy adaptation to application requirements.
Bonfiglioli will showcase its expanded electromobility portfolio at the upcoming iVT Expo, in Chicago, Illinois - August 21 and 22. The newest addition to their portfolio will be on display, the revolutionary 700 C SE track drive. Designed for stand-up skid steers, this compact and powerful solution features an integrated electromagnetic parking brake, IP67 protection, and a special rotating output flange for triangular undercarriage design.
Since its introduction in 2019, Yaskawa’s GA800 variable speed drive has proven itself as the ultimate combination of power, ease of use, flexibility, and performance.
For different types of cranes and load ranges, Nord Drivesystems offers properly dimensioned drive solutions from a single source. For that, the company can rely on locations in more than 80 countries. In Poland, the specialist for hoisting equipment Protea relies on the crane & cargo competence of the complete supplier from North Germany.
Dr. Fritz Faulhaber GmbH & CO. KG with headquarters in Schönaich has received the TOP 100 Seal 2024. Science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar has been a mentor of the competition for 12 years and personally congratulated Faulhaber on this success at the award ceremony on June 28.
If you want to identify one trend in the field of shaft-hub-connections, this is it: The use of frictional shrink discs is gaining traction in mechanical and plant engineering. The main reason for this is probably that - in contrast to positive shaft-hub-connections with a keyway - considerably higher torques can be transmitted and many designs can therefore be made smaller. This correlates with the desire of many users for increasingly compact drives. A more detailed analysis also reveals that at present it is primarily shrink discs in a two-part design that have caught the eye of designers of industrial drive systems.
Gear drives are fundamental in most processing operations, connecting the prime mover to the driven equipment and ensuring that the system has enough torque to effectively move product. Correctly specifying and selecting the proper gear drives for critical applications leads to reliability, greater uptime and profitability.
Verification of a drive system should include all main elements of the system, which are gears, bearings, shafts, and depending on the application other parts such as screws, couplings, and connections. Gears are clearly the most complicated parts for verification, but in many cases, a gearbox failure has its origin in a shaft or bearing failure. The subject of this paper is to explain how verification of a drive system based on measured or simulated torque-speed-time data can be handled.
Schaeffler recently presented its extended product range for off-highway technology at iVT Expo Cologne 2024. The focus was on systems for the electrification and digitalization of mobile agricultural and construction machinery and for materials handling technology. Schaeffler is emphasizing its commitment to sustainability and supporting the transition to a highly efficient and climate-neutral economy in the off-highway sector.
Traditionally, drive technology and fluid power has been represented at Hannover Messe by a large number of companies from Germany and abroad, especially in odd-numbered years. This will also be the case in 2025 when manufacturers will present their latest applications and components for intelligent and sustainable production. All this, under the Motion & Drives label, will be focused in Halls 4, 5 and 6.
Columbus McKinnon will be consolidating its North American Duff Norton linear motion production activities from Charlotte, NC, with its new, state-of-the-art North American Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Monterrey, Mexico. By the end of September 2024, all production of Duff Norton linear motion products will occur out of this new facility.
Mona Neubaur, deputy prime minister and minister of economic affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia, recently presented the NRW.Global Business Award 2024 to Flender CEO Andreas Evertz. Flender was one of four winners honored at the 20th anniversary of the Award at the K21 Ständehaus in Düsseldorf.
MINExpo boasts 1,900+ companies involved in the global mining industry. Opening sessions allow the industry to come together to debate global challenges, market fluctuations and the future of mining. Resources include exploration, mine site development, open pit mining, underground mining, smelting and refining, processing and preparation and reclamation.
SEW-Eurodrive announces the launch of XMiner Industrial Gear Units, specifically designed for the rigorous demands of mining and aggregates applications including conveyor systems, crushers, and apron feeders. Built on the trusted X.e series platform, the XMiner units are now available with local engineering, stocking, and assembly in Wellford, South Carolina, ensuring quick and reliable support for North American customers. The XMiner Industrial Gear Units are tailored to meet the high-performance requirements of mining operations.
Bonfiglioli USA recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. While the company’s roots in North America trace back to Canada in 1986, Bonfiglioli USA’s establishment in 1999 marked a significant expansion and solidified its presence in the United States.
Becoming an industry-leading manufacturer of motion control and power transmission components came quickly for Zero-Max by being responsive to customer’s needs with innovative products and exceptional service. Its first product was a unique Mechanical Variable Speed Drive that solved application challenges in varied industries, with many of these drives still in use 75 years later.
Nowhere else in Europe were as many electric buses newly registered last year as in the UK. Out of 2,554 standard single- and double-decker buses, 1,150 were fitted with a purely electric drivetrain (BEV or FCEV). By comparison, in 2023 only 838 e-buses were registered in Germany, 743 in France, 563 in Norway and 410 in Italy. With UK bus manufacturers Alexander Dennis and Wrightbus fully embracing the VEDS (Voith Electrical Drive System), Voith has been instrumental in boosting the use of zero-emission public transport in the UK and Ireland.
The Timken Company has been recognized among Newsweek's America's Greatest Workplaces and U.S. News & World Report's Best Companies to Work For. The Newsweek ranking is based on a study by data research firm Plant-A Insights, which collected over 1.5 million comprehensive company reviews from more than 250,000 employees. U.S. News determined its list using a combination of publicly available information, and industry classification benchmark standards.
Ketterer i-Wheel 3213 wheel hub drives have been specially developed for use in Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV). They are designed as direct drives that are completely integrated in the hub and therefore need neither an additional gearbox nor an extra wheel.
Bosch Rexroth recently highlighted new drive and actuation technology during the Hydrogen Technology Expo 2024 in Houston. This exhibition and conference examined advanced technologies for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.
David Brown Santasalo (DBS) recently completed the installation of an enhanced complete drive system test bed at the Service Center in Chile.
In the machinery and plant engineering sector, ensuring reliability and performance is now at the forefront. Particularly, manufacturers of machine tools, automation systems, and general mechanical engineering have significantly increased their requirements for high-performance elastomer couplings recently.
LogiDrive complete drive solutions from Nord Drivesystems reduce planning and commissioning efforts through cost-effective, standardized designs engineered to industry standards and application requirements. These solutions are especially well suited for post & parcel, airport, and warehouse logistics as they are specifically aligned with the intralogistics and material handling requirements of these industries.
Binder announces the latest enhancements to its panel mount connectors in M12 size. These connectors now feature assembled wires, an advanced sealing concept, safety features, and sustainable materials. Users in process, sensor, and drive technology also benefit from optional shielding and customization.
Nord Drivesystems recently celebrated the grand opening of their new, state-of-the-art production facility in McKinney, Texas. This factory marks the fourth U.S. production location of the global gear motor and control products manufacturer, with established facilities located in Corona, CA, Charlotte, NC, and the 291,700 sq. ft. U.S. corporate headquarters in Waunakee, WI.
Nord’s industrial automation solutions include MaxxDrive industrial gear units, Unicase parallel shaft gear units, Unicase helical bevel gear units, IE3 – IE5+ high efficiency electric motors, and Nordac variable frequency drives. These solutions are engineered to work in unison for ultimate performance in demanding, heavy industrial environments.
Gear drives are fundamental in most processing operations, connecting the prime mover to the driven equipment and ensuring that the system has enough torque to effectively move product. Correctly specifying and selecting the proper gear drives for critical applications leads to reliability, greater uptime, and profitability.
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that Emotors, an independent e-drive manufacturer, has taken advantage of test solutions from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to aid in the development and constant improvement of its e-drive systems for hybrids, plug-ins and full electric vehicles (EVs).
On May 7, 2024, Voith Turbo celebrated the completion of its almost $6 million workshop expansion in York County, PA., a move that's been driven by increased rail business where Buy America compliance is a critical component. The project added 10,000 square-feet to the workshop facility. A ribbon cutting for the expansion took place at the workshop, which is also the location of Voith Turbo’s North American headquarters, and included local and state officials, as well as employees.
Regal Rexnord Corporation recently displayed its solutions for the metals industry at AISTech 2024.
If you’ve recently purchased a Nord Drivesystems gear motor, you may have noticed a new sticker with a QR code located on the unit. Quick Response (QR) codes can store a wide range of data and enable the user to access information almost instantly. These stickers are a new development in Nord’s expansive digital services and provide users quick access to product specifications, documentation, and service requests on-the-spot via their mobile device. The codes can be scanned using a photo app or QR code app and will bring the user to Nord’s digital service webpage with their respective country’s language and contacts.
Nordac On/On+ decentralized variable frequency drives are the latest electronic control innovations to be produced by global manufacturer, Nord Drivesystems. These VFDs have been engineered for the specific requirements of horizontal conveyor technology and feature integrated functions to optimize operation performance, an integrated Ethernet interface, full Plug-and-Play capability, and a compact design.
Gear backlash in precision applications is a critical element of gear system performance. Too much backlash can result in inefficiencies of motion in the gear train and will ultimately damage a gear’s teeth. Too little can mean the gears bind up and cause excessive wear to the tooth’s surface and the root of the gear, or even the fracturing of a tooth. Establishing and setting the appropriate amount of backlash is essential in gear design and manufacturing, according to Berg, a Regal Rexnord Brand.
Bonfiglioli recently inaugurated Bonfiglioli Academy at Chennai Institute of Technology, marking a new milestone in their journey of cutting-edge technological innovation. This collaboration with the institute is a powerful example of bringing academic expertise and industry leadership together. Bonfiglioli is confident that this partnership will redefine research and development and create an environment where theoretical knowledge meets practical application.
After volume production of the CeTrax lite electric drive for light commercial vehicles started in April 2023, ZF has already produced its first thousand units. The ramp-up in volume production was steeper than planned because demand from the customer ISUZU increased. The drive is used by ISUZU to power the latest generation its light distributor truck, the ISUZU ELF EV. Further volume production is set to start imminently this year.
Compact and lightweight – such is the most common requirement for the gearboxes of emission-free, electric drives. With seven basic gearboxes, the LPI series by Liebherr fulfils exactly this need for high power density. With their low weight, reduced installation space and torque ranges from 20,000 Nm to 350,000 Nm, they are ideally suited as drives for crawler and crawler undercarriages. Customized large gearboxes are even available up to the maximum torque of 2,300,000 Nm.
The Danish company FLSmidth wants to be in constant dialogue with their customers in the mining and minerals industry to develop individual and pioneering solutions for better productivity as well as the responsible and efficient use of natural resources. As the drive is the heart of the crusher, the bevel gear is one of its most important components, making gear quality crucial to the design and manufacture of reliable crushers. This means that FLSmidth wants to use only the best and most reliable partners to supply those gears.
Genuine Parts Company, a global distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts, has announced that its board of directors has appointed James F. Howe to the position of president, Motion, the company's industrial business, effective April 1, 2024. With nearly three decades of dedicated service to the company, Howe brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role.
Applied Motion Products introduces the MDX+ series, a family of low-voltage servo systems that integrate a servo drive, motor, and encoder into one package. Solutions with 100/200/400/550W power output are available. The MDX+ product line supports pulse train-based control methods (Pulse/Direction, CW/CCW, encoder following), RS-485, CANopen, and EtherCAT. It also offers packages with electromagnetic brakes to meet the safety requirements of today's industries and will soon provide STO. The MDX+ series is an ideal solution for manufacturers in logistics, AGV, medical, semiconductor, and solar industries, among many others.
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.
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will convene for the PTDA 2024 Canadian Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on June 4–6. Delegates in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry, representing PTDA distributor and manufacturer companies, will broaden cross-channel networks, expand connections and deepen business relationships.
Nord Drivesystem is returning to the 96th Annual AAAE Conference with their innovative solutions for the airport industry. This year’s exhibition takes place in Nashville, Tennessee April 28th – May 1st, 2024. Drive solutions from Nord are characterized by their long service life, high efficiency, and quiet operation to transport baggage effectively and discretely from the check-in counter to the flight operations area.
Siemens AG has signed an agreement to acquire the industrial drive technology (IDT) business of ebm-papst. The business, which employs around 650 people, includes intelligent, integrated mechatronic systems in the protective extra-low voltage range and innovative motion control systems. These systems are used in free-range driverless transport systems. The planned acquisition will complement the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio and strengthen Siemens’ position as a leading solutions provider for flexible production automation.
Bonfiglioli boosts its participation at LogiMAT with two booths: the first, in the Hall 10, is dedicated to Solutions for Mobile Intralogistics (Booth 10D13), the second, in the Hall 7, is focused on Logistics Automation Solutions (Booth 7F09). This double presence holds significant strategic importance, reflecting the company's steadfast commitment in the development of complete cutting-edge solutions for warehouse operations, under the sign of efficiency and sustainability.
Voith air compressors are technological leaders and, especially in the truck sector, also represent a significant milestone on the road to more environmentally friendly mobility. Due to their two-stage compression with intermediate cooling, they greatly outperform single-stage air compressors in delivery mode. And this is with much lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Motor operators in all industries are staying ahead of the curve in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship with ABB Baldor-Reliance SP4 motors. ABB’s SP4 technology meets the NEMA Super Premium efficiency level in a standard AC induction motor design operating across the line, independently of a variable speed drive.
Nord Drivesystems announces that their DuoDrive integrated gear unit and motor has received UL/CSA certification. This unit combines a high-efficiency IE5+ synchronous motor and single-stage helical gear unit into one compact housing with a smooth, easy to clean surface.
The Modex 2024 exhibition will be open March 11th – 14th at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Nord Drivesystems will be in attendance to showcase their latest innovations for intralogistics applications. Nord has thousands of drives installed across the world and offers complete drive solutions specialized for intralogistics handling such as simple commissioning, Plug-and-Play capabilities, standardization, energy savings, and more.
GKN Automotive has expanded the role of current chief communications and sustainability officer, Dr. Clare Wyatt to include the global human resource’s function. With immediate effect, Dr. Wyatt will take the role of chief people, communications and sustainability officer.
Spanning more than 118 meters long, Liva, delivered in August 2023, is the largest superyacht to date built by the prestigious Abeking & Rasmussen shipbuilder in Lemwerder, Germany, near Bremen. However, its length is by no means the only record-breaking feature that the shipyard offers in the superyacht segment. The sleek black hull is a visual highlight that draws the observer’s gaze to focus entirely on the elegant silhouette. All technical necessities are accommodated in a way that makes them as invisible as possible.
With the release of version 9, the FVA-Workbench once again sets new standards in gearbox design, enabling the seamless integration of the latest research results into industrial practice. As a groundbreaking interface between collective research and application, the FVA-Workbench accelerates development and innovation in drive technology. This new release is more powerful than ever, with innovative features for flexible load spectra and improvements in FEM components and shaft-hub connections.
The low voltage (LV) AC drive market saw unit shipments surpass 20 million in 2023 as the market continues to expand, new data from Interact Analysis shows. According to the market intelligence specialist, the pace of growth slowed last year and is expected to continue to do so in 2024, with steady growth returning to the global drives market in 2025.
Nord Drivesystems supports post and parcel distribution centers with modular products adaptable to individual application specifications. Their high-efficiency products increase the energy efficiency of conveyor systems, effectively lowering CO2 emissions and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
The importance of standardization work is often underestimated or given little attention. For companies, it is often an important basis for innovation and competitiveness. It is therefore important to inspire young talents for standardization. Andre Thuswaldner, vice president of Eurotrans, described this topic vividly:
What are Standards?
Standards are documents that provide rules, guidelines and requirements for the design, production, use or performance of materials, products, processes, services or persons. They are the result of voluntary national, European and international standardization activities. The use of standards is voluntary. Standards only become binding if they are the subject of contracts between parties, for example between vendor and buyer, or if compliance with them is mandatory by law.
Drive specialist Flender has received the Supplier Excellence Recognition Award 2023 from U.S. machinery manufacturer Caterpillar. Flender received the award for maintaining 95 percent delivery reliability and zero defects. This achievement is awarded only to the top suppliers of Caterpillar. It positions Flender as a top supplier for its global Aftermarket (Reman) Division business.
Atlanta Gear Works (AGW) is expanding its support staff by hiring its first Human Resources Specialist, a new position created to meet its expanding HR needs, previously managed by the company’s chief financial officer.
Oriental Motor supports the internal designing of application-specific robots with the AZ Series. The AZ Series is a family of motors, actuators, and network drives that feature an absolute sensor, closed-loop control, and easily works with the multi-axis MRC0l controller. This combination of products allows for internally designed and built in-house automation that are designed according to the circumstances and decrease the hurdles in locations where automation wasn't possible; for example, where commercial robots had space restrictions or lack of space inside the equipment, cost limitations, and other barriers.
NSK has developed HTF-SRM Ball Screws, a high-speed, heat-resistant version of its high-load drive ball screws, ideal for high-cycle, thin-wall molding in electric injection molding machines.
Intellidrives Theta 2 theta stage consists of two rotation stages arranged in such a way that axis of rotation for both the stages are same. Both stages have preloaded ball bearing guides for wobble free rotation and positioning. 360° limitless movement is possible for inner and outer stages.
Edilservice from Tuscany (Italy) has joined the Mollo network as of November 1, 2023. It's headquartered in Monteriggioni, Siena, and now becomes the 54th active Mollo center in Italy and the 5th in Tuscany.
Developing a new gearbox series is costly and time-consuming. This is especially true in marine propulsion, as classification society certifications must be achieved in addition to the required verifications. For this reason, Reintjes offers the same drives for various types of ships. In gearbox development, this means that each application requires different loads and usage profiles, with different service lives and maintenance intervals. Thus, each drive must be designed and calculated with advance consideration of every possible profile.
The 2023 SPS trade fair in Nuremberg represented an important opportunity for Bonfiglioli to showcase its experience and expertise for industrial automation. This included mechatronic solutions specifically designed for packaging, intralogistics, robotics and IoT applications.
Since the beginning of 2023, the heavy duty version of the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) has been an integral part of the first H2 truck (FCEV) to be built in Germany: the Paul Hydrogen Power Truck (PH2P). The energy for the electrical drive is generated in a fuel cell. The truck was developed, built and optimized by Paul Nutzfahrzeuge, a European market leader in special-purpose trucks, and Pepper Motion, a specialist in the electrification of new and used commercial vehicles, in close consultation with Voith.
Dana Incorporated has launched a comprehensive vehicle design methodology for delivering complete, integrated suspension solutions for high-performance agriculture tractors.
Nord Drivesystems will present its large range of innovative drives for mechanical engineering at FMB 2023, from November 8-10,2023 in the exhibition center in Bad Salzuflen. In Hall 20, stand D4, the presentation’s focus will be on the IE5+ synchronous motors and the decentralized Nordac On+ frequency inverters.
Transport for London (TfL) recently celebrated the launch of its 1,000th zero-emission bus – a StreetDeck Electroliner that entered service with Metroline at its Edgware garage, manufactured by Wrightbus and equipped with the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS). TfL plans to have its entire bus fleet operating with zero emissions by 2034.
ZF recently introduced the new AxTrax 2 LF electric portal axle for low-floor city buses. The new axle represents ZF’s latest e-Mobility evolution, offering improved performance to further support the commercial vehicle industry’s transformation towards a more sustainable future. The series production of AxTrax 2 LF is set to commence in 2025.
From 2022 to 2023, the global geared motors and industrial gears market is expected to experience a significant slowdown in growth. Interact Analysis' preliminary research shows that global sales of geared motors and industrial gears in 2023 are expected to be around $12.7 billion, a slight decrease compared with 2022.
Sumitomo Drive Technologies is expanding its range of precision gear products and upgrading its ECY series with higher torque and a plug & play drive for motor connection. The ECY series comprises high-precision shaft gears, used for example for surface machining in dental technology or in collaborative robots (cobots). Thanks to their internal cylindrical roller bearings, the gear units provide both high rigidity and higher performance in a smaller design envelope.
More energy efficiency, higher performance and better controllability are the main reasons why more electric drive systems are being operated with frequency converters. However, these devices can cause high-frequency, asymmetrical interference currents, which, as a current passage through the output and fan-side bearings, can cause damage and premature failure.
Current-compensated CoolBlue toroidal cores made of Magnetec’s nanocrystalline material Nanoperm have proven to be effective protection against such conducted interference and its consequences. In addition, the Nanoperm Line Absorbers NaLA can also be used to significantly suppress symmetrical interference currents.
Voith announces another important development – the Future Inverter Platform (FIP) – for the VEDS drive system. The new inverter has been specifically designed to meet the requirements in the commercial vehicle segment and will be integrated into future generations of the VEDS, Voith's innovative electric drive concept for commercial vehicles that has proven highly effective in numerous applications in the bus segment since its introduction in 2021. The FIP technology will go into series production without integrated DMU in 2024 and with integrated DMU in 2025.
Transfluid LLC was approached by Palmer Johnson to provide a competitive quote to the BAE system for the fishing vessel, The Western Flyer. The ship was chartered by author John Steinbeck for an expedition he chronicled in the book, The Log from the Sea of Cortez.
Iwis Mobility Systems GmbH & Co KG and THIEN eDrives GmbH recently announced a cooperation to develop, market and produce projects involving electric drive systems for the automotive industry. THIEN eDrives specializes in the development and production of electrical systems consisting of motor and inverter, while Iwis manufactures precision chain systems.
Heidenhain Corporation announces its participation in the upcoming NAEC (National Association of Elevator Contractors) 2023 Convention & Exposition. Connecting professionals from all over the elevator industry, NAEC will take place from September 10-13 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Nevada.
Digital data models and the latest calculation methods lay the foundations for a further improvement in the performance of Generation X.e. SEW-Eurodrive continuously factors the findings of field/test stand trials and simulations into its own calculations, thereby improving their accuracy and reliability. The mechanical and thermal design of the X..e series was once again precisely evaluated on this basis. In conjunction with the component optimizations already implemented in the past, this results in even higher thermal limit ratings, a much longer bearing service life, and higher nominal torques. Moreover, larger application angles are now permissible with the maximum overhung load.
Omni Powertrain Technologies announces the development of a new electric powertrain designed for the propulsion of skid steers. The new product features a robust Omni gearbox paired with a Magelec Propulsion axial flux motor.
The Timken Company is providing slewing drives for the second-largest photovoltaic (PV) solar tracking system project in Australia. Solar tracker manufacturer ATEC chose Timken's Cone Drive solution to help it overcome challenging wind conditions in the mountainous region of New South Wales, where the 280 MW Wollar Solar Farm is being constructed.
Atlas Energy Solutions has selected Voith Turbo to supply a total of 21 TurboBelt 800 TPXL fill control fluid coupling drives (including spares) to power 42 miles of conveyor belt as part of Atlas Energy Solutions’ historic Dune Express project. ELIN Motoren, a Voith company, will also provide 21 customized low noise electric motors for the project, including spares. Once in operation, the overland conveyor system will serve as a low-impact transport system, taking sand from Texas to New Mexico while establishing a new world record for a single conveyor flight without a mid-belt drive at an impressive 16.3 miles overall single flight length.
Nord Drivesystems will be exhibiting at Pack Expo Las Vegas from September 11-13, 2023, in Booth #7863 in the South Upper Hall.
Electric drives often need to operate under high voltages up to 800 V to provide more power and higher speeds. However, the risk of partial discharges increases at these voltages. In combination with high operating temperatures, these can locally damage the insulation and lead to machine failure. However, a good impregnation ensures not only electric insulation but also copper bonding, to mechanically strengthen the electric motor, and air gap filling, to allow a better heat transfer.
Allied Motion Technologies Inc., a global designer and manufacturer of precision and specialty motion, controls and power products and solutions for targeted industries and applications, announced that shareholders approved its corporate name change to Allient Inc. at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 11, 2023. The new name will be effective August 23, 2023, and at the opening of the markets that day, the company’s shares will commence trading under the new ticker ALNT on the Nasdaq.
The Transfluid MPD (multiple pump drive) is an innovative split drive module designed to sandwich between the main diesel engine and transmission. It features an integrated flexible coupling on the input side and an SAE standard flywheel and housing on the output side. Gear driven PTO heads provide multiple pump pads for mounting pumps, while the output flywheel ensures adequate power transfer to drive larger transmissions.
Neugart GmbH celebrated the official groundbreaking ceremony for its new Plant 3 at its Kippenheim headquarters on July 26. With an investment of more than 25 million euros and a floor space of over 7,000 square meters, the company is thus setting a forward-looking example for further growth and even improved production processes.
Harsh operating conditions are present in many industries such as food and beverage, bakery, automotive parts washing, chemical, water treatment, marine, car wash, and pharmaceutical industries. Applications in these environments are often subjected to intensive cleaning, high-pressure washing, and disinfection processes to meet the highly regulated, hygienic standards. To prevent gear motors from material destruction due to the rigorous cleaning agents and disinfectants, Nord Drivesystems developed nsd tupH – a sealed surface conversion system that ensures easy yet safe cleaning, ultimate surface durability, and wear resistance.
Bonfiglioli has announced the successful testing and validation of its highly advanced kit of products designed for battery-powered mini excavators. Following rigorous evaluations by multiple original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across all continents, the results demonstrate an extraordinary improvement in energy efficiency, surpassing industry standards by at least 20 percent.
Kollmorgen recently announced the launch of Kollmorgen Express Delivery. This new designation identifies highly popular motion products — including some of the most requested configurations and options — that Kollmorgen is ready to deliver within an accelerated timeframe. Machine builders have always benefited from Kollmorgen’s wide range of standard product configurations, features and options. This broad portfolio serves the unique needs of many diverse industries and applications but can create challenges for rapid delivery, especially when material supplies are constrained.
Harmonic Drive LLC, a leading provider of precision motion control solutions, is proud to announce the release of its CSF-2XH mini gearhead designed for servo and stepper motors.
Available with an output shaft or flange, the CSF-2XH miniature gearheads are offered in 4 sizes with gear ratios 30:1 to 100:1 and peak torque: .5~28Nm. These mini strain wave gears are ideal for semiconductor and robotics applications.
Precision Drive Systems (PDS), a global provider of precision motor spindles, expert support, and repair near Charlotte, NC, has announced that it has hired Patrick Hutson as business development specialist.
With its drive technology webinars, which are around one hour in length, Faulhaber provides the possibility of bringing your knowledge up to speed without having to spend too much time and effort. Missed webinars can now be accessed online at any time. This requires one-off registration, which is then valid for an entire year.
Nord’s newly improved NEMA and IEC input adapters offer improved mechanical and thermal performance, giving users more flexibility in designing drive systems and allowing for a broader range of application and environment-specific concepts through extended options such as integrated backstops and speed sensors. The redesigned input adapters are available NEMA sizes 250TC – 400TC and from IEC sizes 160 – 315
When drives are being used in closed and well-protected rooms, they don't need to be painted or coated. That is why ECO2 gearmotors from SEW-Eurodrive, which feature an aluminum housing, offer a solution that is as sustainable as it is cost-effective.
Nord Drivesystems has seen exponential growth over the last several years as more companies incorporate automation into their workflow. In 2022, they had a record-breaking year and achieved over $1 Billion in sales for the first time in company history. The U.S. subsidiary of this family-owned German company currently operates out of three separate facilities– Corona, CA, Charlotte, NC, and Waunakee, WI, which also serves as their U.S. corporate headquarters.
At the SPS Italia event in Parma, Bonfiglioli presented technologies including its mechatronic solutions for industrial automation, packaging and intralogistics, robotics and IoT.
This paper examines the selection process, operation, maintenance practices, and state of a Sumitomo gearbox after over 24 years of operation. It is demonstrated that a quality product and careful consideration of all these factors are essential for a longer service life of the gearbox. Detailed information is provided on the operation of the gearbox, as well as the maintenance practices that should be taken to ensure its longevity. Finally, the paper examines the state of the gearbox after over two decades of use and how all these factors result in lowering carbon emissions.
Sports fans want to see every little detail, and the TV cameras deliver whether the goalie is clenching his jaw before the spot kick or how many millimeters the serve cleared the net in a tennis match, everything is captured in detail. Images like these are only possible when the camera is up-close and doesn’t interfere with the action. Many major tournaments and Olympic Games use miniature devices, which even fit in a corner flag, from the Wiesbaden-based specialist LMP Lux Media Plan. Drive units from Faulhaber are used to adjust the shutter and focus.
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will convene for the PTDA 2023 Industry Summit in Amelia Island, Fla. on October 19-21, 2023. This year’s program—themed “Discover”— will offer cross-channel networking, shared learning and collaborative experiences.
The Voith Group achieved significant gains in the first six months (October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023) of the current fiscal year 2022/23 despite a market environment that continues to be challenging. Voith increased both its sales and EBIT in all Group Divisions. Orders received exceeded the already high figure from the previous year.
Salim Haffar, deputy general manager at I-MAK, was reelected as president of EUROTRANS in 2022. This is Haffar’s third term in this role. PTE recently caught up with Haffar to discuss the evolution of EUROTRANS, the focus of the International Drive Conference at Hannover Messe and the current state of I-MAK’s gearbox business in Turkey.
Sumitomo Drive Technologies will be presenting its drive solutions for automation and robotics at Automatica 2023 in Munich from June 27-30, alongside Lafert Group.
The demands that modern intralogistics place on the used drives are high: In many instances, they must be capable of releasing tremendous forces under extremely confined conditions, also work reliably in continuous or stop-and-go operation, and oftentimes they must also perform highly precise positioning tasks. The speed also plays an important role, after all, many thousand orders need to be processed every day in large warehouses. Drive systems from Faulhaber have often demonstrated their performance here during sorting and transporting as well as with storage and retrieval.
3BG Supply Co. (3BG) recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Controls and Electric Motor Company (CEMCO).
Bosch Rexroth offers manufacturers of off-highway machines free access to the entire standard portfolio of BODAS software for controlling mobile machines. Via the digital myBODAS platform, OEMs can download validated software packages for a range of applications free-of-charge to test them and adapt them to suit their own requirements.
ELIN Motoren and Voith launch the first electric motor with integrated safety coupling for the main drive of tunnel boring machines. Water-cooled asynchronous motors from ELIN Motoren contain either the Voith SafeSet to safeguard the entire drive train or the Voith SmartSet for continuous operation, even with frequent torque peaks. Torque limitation increases the productivity of the TBM, protects the machine components, and avoids costly downtimes.
AD Bearings & Power Transmission hosted its 2023 North American Meeting from March 21 to 24 in San Diego, where divisional members and suppliers connected for best practice sharing and meeting sessions dedicated to growing their business.
MassRobotics and maxon announce a partnership to support the robotics innovation ecosystem through collaboration and exploration of motion control technologies around automation and manufacturing-related applications. With maxon’s extensive expertise and knowledge of electric drives, this partnership will support and advance the latest innovations and technologies in motion control with automation-focused companies in the robotics sector.
Since the early 1980s, Nord Drivesystems has produced its own electronics at their Aurich facility in northwest Lower Saxony, Germany. Over time, the production plant and product portfolio have been continuously expanded, increasing current staff to 180 with an additional 40 planned, as well as increasing manufacturing capacity to 400,000 units.
Regal Rexnord Corporation will feature its mobile, scalable, approachable and energy-efficient end-of-the-line sortation system, ModSort, at LogiMAT 2023, Booth 1A41 in Hall 1. The show takes place at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Center (Stuttgart, Germany) from April 25-27.
Designers of robotics and automation solutions are often faced with a choice: cycloid or planetary gears? In the last few decades, the answer has often been cycloidal drives. But the planetary gears have caught up and are now superior in many ways. The Hamelin company Schaeffler Ultra Precision Drives (previously Melior Motion) has revolutionized the planetary gear and with its PSC series, produces extremely precise, quiet and durable drive units.
Hägglunds hydraulic drive systems are a familiar presence in the mining and mineral processing industries, as well as in related materials handling applications. Compact, gearless and utterly reliable, they offer significant advantages over their electromechanical counterparts. Those advantages continue to grow stronger, and the range of possibilities they create is set to expand.
At Interpack in Dusseldorf, the drive specialist Nord Drivesystems will present its wide product portfolio and great expertise in the packaging industry from May 4-10, 2023 – from decentralized frequency inverters to energy-efficient drives to high-performance surface treatments for washdown or spray areas.
When fluid power and power transmission products are discontinued, finding replacements can be challenging. Zero-Max now fills this Overhung Load Adaptor void with its new 212k and 412k OHLA models for 2-bolt SAE A mount and 4-bolt non-SAE mount applications requiring a 1-1/4” output shaft.
On the occasion of the company's 75th anniversary, Faulhaber received a special honor by the municipality of Schönaich: From November 1, the street leading to the company site will be called Faulhaberstraße and the company building will bear the house number 1.
Sumitomo Drive Technologies and Lafert Group will be jointly exhibiting a new version of their drive for applications in automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems at Logimat 2023 from April 25 to 27 in Stuttgart, Germany (Booth F45, Hall 6). The Smartris Drive Compact is a compact drive that is just a quarter of the size of the standard model.
This study presents a simulation method for considering complex wheel bodies in an analytical tooth contact model. The wheel body is considered using reduced FE stiffness. Reduction points are defined over the width and linked with the analytical gear.
For cylindrical wheel bodies, comparative calculations show fewer deviations from the expected results with the new method. This is due to the additional degrees of freedom in the FEM model. In the calculation with cylindrical wheel bodies, bending due to axial force in tooth contact could also be verified in addition to the deformation in tooth contact and the influence of the shaft-bearing system.
The following article is a collection of products and technologies featured at IFPE and CONExpo/CONAGG 2023.
There is an increasing trend toward integrating evermore compact smart components into larger, more complex motion control systems, and advances in AI, ML, and IIoT are helping with the speed and quality of their adoption.
The following off-highway, construction and mining solutions hint at the all-electric transition taking place across each industry.
After five jam-packed days of innovative product launches and major company announcements, enlightening education sessions and countless networking opportunities, CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 2023 have come to a close, but not before taking the construction industry to the next level.
Sumitomo Drive Technologies, together with Invertek Drives and Lafert Group, will be presenting its complete drive solutions for automation and Industry 4.0 at Hannover Messe 2023. From April 17 to 21, visitors to Hall 6, Booth B25 will learn how they can use energy-efficient drive solutions to meet their sustainability goals while also boosting their competitiveness.
Showcasing its engineering capabilities in e-mobility technology, power density optimization and mechatronics as well as state-of-the-art bearings for off-road vehicles, conveyor systems and vibratory applications, global industrial and automotive supplier Schaeffler is presenting a comprehensive portfolio of advanced solutions for the construction and aggregates industries at the 2023 CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show in Las Vegas.
This year, the opening speech at the WomenPower Career Congress will be delivered by Dr. Ariane Reinhart, a member of the executive board at Continental AG – a company at which 25 percent of all management positions are slated to be filled by women by the year 2025. On this five-member executive board, two out of five positions are already held by women – a top figure among companies listed on the German DAX stock exchange.
Timken is helping fund the futures of 20 students in pursuit of careers ranging from economics and agriculture to medicine and education. In an awards ceremony last week, the company presented college scholarships to the children of Timken associates in the United States, China, India, Poland and Romania. Since the Timken Global Scholars Program's inception in 1958, The Timken Company Charitable and Educational Fund has awarded more than $26 million in scholarships to 815 students.
The International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), Las Vegas March 14-18, is where fluid power professionals meet to discover highly engineered solutions for improving mobile and industrial equipment's efficiency, performance, and sustainability. Attendees will also learn about the latest technology available to the industry and network to discuss and combat the most pressing industrial challenges.
Nidec-Shimpo Corporation (“Nidec-Shimpo”) has added adopter-combined gearhead types to its FLEXWAVE series of precision control reducers currently on sale.
During the first three months of its 2023 Fund Drive campaign, the PTDA Foundation raised nearly $125,000. Contributions to the annual PTDA Foundation Fund Drive support PT WORK Force, an initiative to empower PT/MC (power transmission/motion control) industry employers to be more successful in their recruitment and retention efforts.
The Timken Company continues to be a key contributor to the latest generation of United States Navy ships. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) recently awarded Timken a long-term contract to deliver Philadelphia Gear main reduction gears (MRGs) for all future Flight III ships of the Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class. The contract, if executed fully, will result in revenue of more than $500 million for Timken over approximately five to eight years. Production is expected to begin in 2024.
PTE will feature a variety of new component technologies online for bearings, motors, couplings, brakes, gear drives, and motion control systems leading up to Hannover Messe 2023 in Germany. First up is a preview of some motor suppliers to check out if you're planning on attending the event online or in-person in April.
The capabilities of servos are advancing at an accelerating pace, driving the rapid growth of next-level motion control systems. These devices can enable innovative industrial automation applications and processes thanks to cutting-edge hardware, software and, most importantly, communications technologies that support data-intensive operations.
The products and solutions Hägglunds will showcase at MINEXCHANGE leverage the unique characteristics of hydraulic direct drive technology — delivering power directly to the drive shaft with full torque from zero speed and protection from shock loads — to maximize the efficiency and uptime of conveyors, feeders, crushers, drums, bucket wheel reclaimers, kilns and more.
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will be attending this year’s ProMat Exhibition to showcase their reliable supply chain solutions. Their modular product design delivers versatility with over 20,000,000 unique configurations of gearboxes, electric motors, and variable frequency drives – eliminating the need for costly custom components.
Today, gearboxes are inevitable in numerous applications requiring high power density including wind turbines, electric vehicles, cranes, robotics, etc. A combination of high-ratio gearboxes with high-speed, low-torque motors is often used to achieve high power density. Planetary gear trains (PGTs) help achieve a high gear ratio in a compact arrangement. Several configurations of planetary gears are widely studied in this article where the gear profiles used in these studies are primarily involute.
Magnetic Sensor Systems (MSS) has released their E-05-125 Series of Tubular Low-Profile Electromagnets. This compact series of electromagnets measuring just 1.25 in. in diameter x 0.50 in. features 18 different windings to select from based on the duty cycle and holding force requirements of the application.
High energy costs, broken supply chains and rising raw material prices continue to pose new challenges to business. To remain competitive, companies need to take steps to increase their efficiency and contain energy costs, which in turn will lead to a reduction in their carbon footprint. High-tech solutions in this area will be presented at Hannover Messe.
Kollmorgen recently announced the new P80630-SDN stepper drive. Customers can now benefit from features such as smoothness, precision and torque across the full speed range in a significantly more compact package that enables smaller, lighter, more versatile machines. Kollmorgen will also be introducing additional stepper drives and features in the coming months, building upon the new, flagship P8000 stepper drive platform.
The drive system manufacturer will be displaying their modular line of gear units, industrial gear units, electric motors, and electronic control products at the annual GEAPS Exchange February 25 – 28, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo.
Effective January 1, 2023, Michael Reichle has been appointed CEO of Siemens Portfolio Company Large Drives Applications (LDA). He succeeds Hermann Kleinod, who will remain an integral part of the global LDA management team. As CEO, Reichle assumes all areas of responsibility of his predecessor.
The Faulhaber Drive Calculator is the perfect tool for developers to find a suitable drive system for a specific application in record time. It is easy to use and functional: the modern, clear user interface was designed with optimal usability in mind, and helpful tool tips provide valuable detailed information.
Siemens is extending its Sinamics G120C-series of drives to include three new frame sizes for high power output ranges. The new frame sizes cover the power output range from 22 to 132 kilowatts (kW), making the series available from 0.55 kW to 132 kW. Standard features of the series include a compact design with optional filter, long cable lengths, full integration into the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal and simple control and commissioning.
2022 has proven to be another record-breaking year for NORD DRIVESYSTEMS as they achieved over $1 billion dollars in sales for the first time in company history. NORD sees this as confirmation from their customers that they are a reliable, competent partner with a wide range of efficient, highly configurable drive solutions that are available for over 100 specialized industries worldwide.
Bosch Rexroth has opened a new customer innovation center near Austin, Texas. The facility will provide a unique technology development experience for Bosch Rexroth factory automation customers from multiple industry segments, including electric vehicle manufacturing, battery production, consumer packaged goods and semiconductor manufacturing. The new innovation center is the latest in a series of expansions and investments Bosch Rexroth is making in North America, including a new plant in Queretaro, Mexico, and an expansion of its operations in Charlotte, N.C.
Kalyani Mobility Drivelines (KMD) recently announced the introduction of a lineup of high-performance constant velocity (CV) driveshafts for electric vehicles (EVs) and other specialty vehicles.
Nidec-Shimpo Corporation recently announced that precision control reducers of its FLEXWAVE series have been adopted to control the antennas of communications satellites produced by Canadian artificial satellite manufacturer MDA Ltd. (“MDA”).
Overall, the Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia saw 3,815 attendees, hosted 94 technical sessions, and had 274 exhibiting companies. Many attendees commented on the value of networking conversation at the show. From 2021 to 2022, TPS saw an increase in international delegates, with just 19 countries represented in 2021, to 44 countries represented in 2022. Below is a taste of the booths we had the chance to visit.
The processing and distribution of grain and feed for tens of millions of chickens requires efficient, dependable equipment and infrastructure. So, when Harrison Poultry President/CEO David Bleth and his team set out last year to design and build their new state-of-the-art feed mill in Crawfordville, GA, they knew exactly where to turn for simple, reliable mechatronic drive solutions for their conveyor systems, elevators, mixers, and screws.
With the OPEXplus digital torque wrench, Bosch Rexroth has added an economical new product to its existing range of tightening solutions. The OPEXplus digital torque wrench can measure both the torque and the angle of rotation. It covers a range of torques from 3 to 800 Nm, and it transfers the tightening results to any IT system without the need for additional control. The OPEXplus digital torque wrench sets a new standard for accuracy and allows fatigue-free work thanks to its ergonomic design.
Bonfiglioli is convinced that around 50 percent of all new self-propelled construction machines will be either electrically or hybrid driven by 2030. So, it is high time for the globally active group based in Bologna, Italy, to take on the electric pioneering role in the machine groups that have previously been dominated by hydraulics. At Bauma 2022, the company presented the current options for electric drive technology for construction machinery.
The Timken Company has closed the sale of its Aerospace Drive Systems (ADS) business to PCX Aerostructures, LLC. Terms were not disclosed. ADS is a supplier of drive system components and sub-assemblies for military and civil rotorcraft applications. ADS revenue is expected to be around $50 million in 2022.
Regal Rexnord Corporation has reached a definitive agreement with Altra Industrial Motion Corp. providing for Regal Rexnord to acquire 100% of Altra shares.
Altra is a global designer and manufacturer of a wide range of highly engineered motion control, automation, and power transmission solutions. The transaction expands Regal Rexnord's portfolio, customer reach, and product diversity while enabling the creation of shareholder value through enhanced growth and substantial cost synergies.
The top three suppliers of low voltage AC motors made waves in the motor and drives space with a string of acquisition announcements in August. First, WEG announced its acquisition of Gefran’s motion control business. Then, on August 11th, ABB announced its acquisition of Siemens’ NEMA motor business. Both developments are significant within the motor and drives market and serve to highlight portions of each company’s industrial automation strategy. In this insight, we’ll unpack both of these acquisitions and explain their implications on the broader motor and drives markets.
In the first quarter of 2022, the WEG High Voltage Service team (HVService) based at WEG Portugal facilities, successfully completed the commissioning of two Medium Voltage Variable Frequency Drives system for low pressure (LP) centrifugal fuel gas compressors at a FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) vessel at the Gulf of Mexico
Magnetic Sensor Systems (MSS) has released their S-20-100X model of Pull Type Tubular Solenoids. Their S-20-100X series of solenoids features 18 different solenoids to select from based on the voltage, duty cycle, force and stroke requirement of the user.
Visit ABB at Booth 6438 at WEFTEC 2022 in New Orleans, October 10-12 to meet experts, and view innovative and efficient solutions designed to help the water/wastewater industry keep its operations flowing.
ABB is now enabling customers to remotely monitor the health and performance of general machinery with the ABB Ability Smart Sensor, a key element of the ABB Ability Digital Powertrain.
When it comes to airport technology and baggage handling systems, efficiency, reliability, and intelligent automation is critical. NORD DRIVESYSTEMS meets these demands with solutions engineered with high flexibility, modular functionality, and convenient operation to effectively power systems and maintain availability. Their new IE5+ product portfolio delivers some of the highest efficiencies on the market for a cost effective, IIoT solution.
Bosch Rexroth will expand its presence in North America: A new plant is being built in Queretaro, Mexico. Bosch Rexroth has been successfully operating in Mexico for 40 years. In Queretaro, local production capacities for the manufacture of products and components for mobile applications as well as for factory automation will be increased from summer 2023, and there is space for further growth. Bosch Rexroth will invest some 160 million euros in the new site. The aim is to strengthen local production for the North American market and thus be able to serve customers even better and more efficiently in the future.
OES (Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc.) has released four all new Three-axis Azimuth, Angular Elevation, and Roll Gimbal Mounts. These new high precision and high stability AU270-AER Gimbal Mounts locate the surface of the Roll Stage 115 mm below the center line of rotation allowing for the positioning of: Cameras, optics, lasers and instrumentation for scanning, tracking, positioning, pointing, and other applications on their respective centerlines.
Bonfiglioli presents the new high performant 800 series which comes in five sizes from 25,000 to 160,000 Nm in marine-resistant paint, suitable for blast cleaning. Easy and fast assembly of the 800 series gearboxes into the winch drum is a key feature of their design. Maintenance requirements are made as simple as possible, e.g., with an easy access to the brake, ready-made brake replacement kits as well as easy access to oil filling, draining plugs, and oil level pipe/indicator.
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has been named a 2022 Automotive News PACE award finalist for its DIAvent Highflow pressure equalization element. Recognized at a black-tie gala on September 19 at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, the honor validates two years of dedicated company research and development to successfully address customers’ needs for a safe, cost-effective solution for thermal runaway in battery-electric vehicles. The Automotive News PACE Awards competition highlights superior innovation, technological advancement, and business performance among automotive suppliers. Judged by an independent panel of technologists, the competition is recognized around the world as the industry benchmark for innovation.
Bosch Rexroth will present its latest automation, material transport and assembly technology products and solutions for battery manufacturing in Booth #1553 at The Battery Show North America and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, September 13-15, in Novi, Mich.
Regal Rexnord Corporation has announced the launch of its new AirMax Pro Smart Breather, a connected device that protects industrial gearboxes from moisture and particles.
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has announced the latest addition to their industrial gear unit family, MAXXDRIVE XD. These new, parallel shaft industrial gear units have extended center distances engineered specifically for reliable operation of cranes and hoists.
SKF has developed a new hybrid deep groove ball bearing for high-speed applications. The new bearing is aimed at applications such as rail industry traction motors, as well as electric machines and drives. SKF already has three pilot customers, all of them OEMs.
Steyr, a regional agricultural brand of CNH Industrial, has been awarded the 2022 Red Dot Design Award in the Design Concept category for its Hybrid Drivetrain Konzept – a hybrid diesel-electric drive system conceived to power lightweight, high-horsepower tractors.
Bell-Everman has introduced a new multi-axis transfer robot based on its proven ServoBelt backlash-free belt drive technology. Called ServoBelt Arc Drive, it features custom designed rotary and tilt axes that precisely position semiconductor glass panels.
The following article looks at the latest news on servo motors, drives and motors. How do we differentiate between the definitions? What can design engineers find between a stepper and a servo motor? Also, a quick update this summer on the benefits of closed-loop motor control.
David Brown Santasalo Australia recently completed a full strip and rebuild of a Zollern ZHP 4.33 Rope Winch Drum for valued mining industry partner, Zollern. The 7,550 kg Winch Drum powers a coal loader, with an output torque of 400 kNm (Stat Max) and an input torque of 893 Nm.
NORD is pleased to announce new features to the myNORD online customer portal, including additional motor connectivity options, configurable CLINCHER.1 parallel shaft gear units, and updates to the user interface to make the tool even easier to use
Force Control Industries presents a maintenance-free, no-adjustment crane brake that virtually eliminates crane downtime as well as the need to perform maintenance and adjustment at height. The MagnaShear motor brake employs oil shear technology, providing longer service life in demanding applications like the frequent start/stop cycles seen on cranes, hoists, and winches.
Electrification has really brought ball bearings back into focus as the primary bearing in our drive systems. Some boxes have tapers on the slower shafts for stiffness and others are using a ball/cylindrical combo for efficiency. Regardless, we all face the same challenge on the primary shaft in dealing with the potential of 18,000–20,000+ rpm speeds coming out of the motor. Plenty of applications run 20,000 rpm; what makes the automotive motor unique is, in addition to speed, we are driving huge torques, frequent torque reversals and a huge range of temperatures both internally and geographically. Of course, this all needs to be suited for high-volume manufacturing as well. Adding full ceramic balls, a PEEK cage and a high precision classification is a really easy way to run greater than 20,000 rpm all day but is an expensive option. One bearing alone could hurt the cost competitiveness of your gearbox. In the case where a single bearing can change the landscape of your project, it is worth taking a little time to understand exactly what the drivers of our speed limitations are.
Electric steel is used heavily in the manufacturing of electric motors. The material is key to producing the electromagnetic field used to turn the rotor. Without the electromagnetic properties associated with this iron alloy, the performance of electric motors would be substantially compromised. Historically, motors used in commercial and industrial applications have represented a major customer base for electric steel suppliers, and motor vendors have resultingly had little difficultly ensuring prioritized supply lines. However, the share of business held by commercial and industrial electric motor vendors is being threatened by the automotive sector in the wake of electric vehicles.
After receiving all the official approvals, Voith successfully completed the acquisition of the majority shares of Argo-Hytos Group on August 2, 2022. Argo-Hytos, based in Switzerland, develops and produces components for hydraulics and system solutions with a focus on the off-highway sector (agricultural tractors, construction equipment and material handling vehicles).
How do gearbox and gear drive providers navigate the interesting challenges found in steel, cement, paper, and construction applications? Apparently, one application at a time. Thanks to condition monitoring technology, IoT solutions and the flexibility of engineering teams today, plant downtime is not as problematic as it has been in the past. The secret to success in heavy industrial markets comes down to staying ahead of component failures.
Print is not dead. While reading magazines cover-to-cover is a lost art—thanks to work responsibilities, 24-hour sports/entertainment coverage, and the universal time suck known as Instagram—someone, somewhere still prefers the printed word to the shiny, unfriendly artificial light of tablets and smartphones. This publication (hopefully) provides information engineers can discuss, debate, or collaborate on for future manufacturing endeavors. There would be no words, no photographs, no advertising without the paper used to print this very magazine.
This exclusive round-up article from PTE examines the latest news and product technology involving smart bearings, motors and drives.
Atlanta now offers “digital” gear racks and a smartphone website that when used together can optimize the assembly of a multi gear rack system to minimize the cumulative pitch error and maximize positioning accuracy over the complete axis travel length.
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will convene for the PTDA 2022 Industry Summit in Nashville, Tenn. on October 27-29, 2022. With more than 500 delegates in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry expected to attend, representing over 200 PTDA distributor and manufacturer companies, the Industry Summit—themed “Amp Up”—will offer cross-channel networking, shared learning and collaborative experiences.
NORD’s LogiDrive complete drive solution reduces planning and commissioning efforts by offering an energy efficient, standardized, and service-friendly system that is Industry 4.0 Ready. Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) technology enables the LogiDrive system to maintain high efficiency even in partial load ranges and low speeds – making the solution especially suited towards intralogistics, warehousing, and airport applications.
Voith is further expanding its expertise in the e-mobility sector for commercial vehicles. With the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) and the Plug and Drive H2 storage system, the technology group is presenting two concepts at IAA Transportation 2022 that promote an economical and sustainable mobility shift for heavy-duty trucks and buses. “Alternative, sustainable drives are defining the discourse of the present and the technologies of the future. Even today, the result is an unprecedented variety of drive solutions. We are fulfilling these customer demands with a portfolio geared towards alternative drives,” says Martin Wawra, executive vice president and CEO Voith Turbo Mobility.
Voith’s OnCare.Health monitoring solutions include an easy-to-use system for industrial fan and pump drivetrains. It employs state-of-the-art sensor technology and connected components to increase the system’s availability. This allows for easy and reliable monitoring of operating data as well as use in advanced IIoT applications such as predictive maintenance.
Andantex will unveil its latest generation of high-precision planetary reducers, built around its new EVO 1 (Evolution 1) technology, during IMTS 2022 at Booth #236016.
At this year’s 12th Schaeffler Kolloquium, the automotive and industrial supplier is giving around 300 customers from Europe and beyond a close-up look at the latest technologies for the future of sustainable, efficient, and comfortable mobility. The two-day event, themed “Energizing the Next Generation,” puts the spotlight on innovations from Schaeffler’s electromobility, chassis systems, and hydrogen technology operations. Held every four years, the Schaeffler Kolloquium is a worldwide customer showcase. It kicks off in Bühl, Germany, where the Automotive Technologies division is headquartered, and will be followed in the course of the year by sister events in Detroit and San Jose (United States), Changsha (China), and Yokohama (Japan).
June 22 was Climate Action Day at all Schaeffler locations worldwide, from Herzogenaurach, Germany to Taicang, China, and from Port Elizabeth, South Africa to Fort Mill, USA.
Voith is further expanding its expertise in the e-mobility sector. With the VEDS HD+, the company is presenting its first drive concept for heavy-duty trucks. Special configurations for waste collection vehicles, inner-city logistics or long-distance transport applications ensure efficient driving with every use.
Applications for gearmotors are extremely varied as are the design and optimization tools available today. From online software to performance standards, here's the latest news on gearmotor technology.
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS offers drive solutions for food and beverage industry applications around the world. From processing to packaging systems, NORD supplies specialized solutions that are tailored to specific application needs.
The Mars helicopter team was recently awarded the Collier Trophy for being the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet. NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter flies with electric motors from the Swiss company maxon, a provider of precision drives. This prestigious award was presented on June 9th in Washington D.C. by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA).
Voith has acquired Argo-Hytos. Based in Baar, Switzerland, the company develops and produces components for hydraulics and system solutions with a focus on the off-highway sector (agricultural tractors, construction equipment and material handling vehicles). A corresponding agreement was signed on June 6, 2022.
Automated storage systems are commonly used in warehouses as they offer high storage density and use agile stacker cranes for rapid retrieval and storage of goods. NORD’s solutions for these systems feature drives with precise positioning, high efficiency, compact design, and quiet operation.
Self-lubricating and maintenance-free plain and radial deep groove ball bearings from igus are part of a radically new type of maritime drive technology to reduce environmentally harmful emissions from international shipping.
Effective April 1, 2022, Dr. Fritz Faulhaber GmbH integrates subsidiary PDT Präzisionsdrehteile GmbH from Nürtingen and thereby welcomes 34 new specialists to the Schönaich location. Thanks to this strategically planned step, Faulhaber can, with a machining center of its own, respond more quickly to individual requests and expands competencies in the area of machining production.
Eaton has introduced a battery disconnect unit (BDU) that can be combined with upgraded Breaktor circuit protection technology to provide circuit protection in electrified vehicles (EVs) while reducing overall complexity and cost.
NSK Ltd. has developed a new technology that significantly extends ball screw life in high-load drive applications. Products with this technology are expected to be adopted by industrial machinery makers shifting to electric designs. Through this and other technologies, NSK continues to contribute to electrification and productivity increases industrial machinery.
The latest trends and emerging technologies in areas like robotics, automation, mechatronics and motion control will be on-hand at Automate 2022 in Detroit. The following is a preview of some of the products that will be available on the show floor in June:
E-commerce consumers expect goods to be delivered faster and more flexibly than was the case just a couple of years ago. Organizations, retailers, and their warehouse service providers therefore need to find new ways to move, store, and dispatch goods with agility and accuracy. Add the widespread shortage of labor and you have an indisputable case for automated solutions to meet the myriad of challenges. Kollmorgen examines interoperability in the age of automation.
Voith Turbo will present its compact, variable speed pump drives DrivAx IQ4 and DrivAx RQ4 during Hannover Messe 2022. The new drives extend the broad portfolio of the DrivAx product family. Other highlights at the drive specialist’s exhibition stand will be the self-contained servo drive DrivAx CLDP, whose ten-year success story is set to continue in new sizes, and the DrivAx CLCP, which was specially developed for robotics applications and can be seen live in action at the Voith Turbo stand.
Bosch Rexroth will join offshore and marine technology experts to showcase the company’s latest innovations at OTC 2022 on May 2-5 in Houston. Located at Booth #2306, Rexroth and Hägglunds displays will show a range of products and solutions that support the offshore technology sector.
The drive system manufacturer Heinzmann has introduced a new wheel hub motor with integrated transmission, which was developed in close collaboration with Framo Morat. The compact, high-performance drive provides ensures efficient operation in automated guided vehicles (AGV) and autonomous mobile robots (AMR).
NORD DRIVESYTEMS will exhibit their latest innovative drive solutions at Modex 2022, focusing on technology for warehousing, distribution, and logistics. NORD’s modular design offers nearly unlimited versatility with more than 20,000,000 unique combinations of gearboxes, electric motors, and variable frequency drives.
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