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Drives

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-03-07

Nord Introduces Drive Technologies at Bauma 2025

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-03-04

Nord Releases New Enhanced Technology for Control of Electronic Drives

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2025-03-01

Benefits of Inching Drives

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2025-03-01

Modernizing Component Technology

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-03-01

Faulhaber Expands Portfolio with High-Performance DC Motors

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-02-28

SEW-Eurodrive Introduces WES Series Stainless Steel Drives.

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-02-19

FVA Releases FVA-Workbench 10

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.

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PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-02-12

Applied Motion Products Introduces AW Stepper Motors

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2025-02-12

Bill Shepard and Sara Zimmerman to Lead PTDA in 2025

The 2025 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council of the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) have officially begun their leadership terms.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2025-02-10

Tolomatic Introduces Online Drive Integration Tool

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-01-21

Force Control Introduces Magnashear Electric Coupler Brake

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

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-01-21

Kollmorgen Expands Functional Safety Support with SafeMotion Monitor Upgrade

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2025-01-21

Nord Direct Drive Systems Outperform Belt Drives in Efficiency, Safety and Cost-Effectiveness

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-12-16

Nord’s Comprehensive Service and Support Increases System Longevity and Availability

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.

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PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-12-13

Beckhoff Automation Add Stepper Motor Series to Compact Drive Technology Portfolio

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-12-11

Bonfiglioli Advance Manufacturing Efficiency with Collaborative Robotics and Real-Time Decision-Making

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

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-12-11

ZF Produce sMOTION Active Chassis Dampers

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-12-11

Igus Components Reduce Maintenance for Portable Racing Simulator

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-12-11

Revolutionizing Conveyor Belt Technology in Food Processing

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-12-06

Liebherr Supply Slewing Bearing for Europe’s Largest Lifting Swing Bridge

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-12-03

Thomson Introduces Collaborative 7th Axis with Collision Detection

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. 

REVOLUTIONS | 2024-12-02

Power Density Progress

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-12-02

Orbex Group Introduce Compact Wheel Drives for Advanced Mobile Robots

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).

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-11-19

WEG Highlighted in the Inovativos Award

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-11-14

Franz Morat Offers Drive Solutions at SPS 2024

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-11-12

Bonfiglioli Offers Mechatronic and Automation Solutions at SPS Nuremberg

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-11-06

Nord Offers Latest Drive Solutions at Pack Expo 2024

Nord Drivesystems is showcasing their modular drive solutions for high-volume packaging applications at Pack Expo 2024.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-10-24

Neugart Offers New Compact, Precision Gearboxes

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2024-10-21

Nord Gearmotors Helps Vincent Corporation put the Squeeze on Almost Everything

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-10-17

PI Introduces PIFOC Focus Scanner for Objectives and XY Stage with Piezo Drive for Inverted Microscopes

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-10-16

Voith Receives EcoVadis Silver Medal for its Sustainability Performance

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-10-10

ZF and Irish Rail Extend Repowering Partnership

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-10-03

AutomationDirect Offers IronHorse AC Drives

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-09-27

Fraunhofer IWM Explores the Impact of a Potential PFAS ban with Freudenberg

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2024-09-27

Bigger Shows, Better Technology

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-09-26

Dana Launches Reman Program Boosting Sustainability and Extending Life Cycles for Off-Highway Drive Technologies

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-09-19

Bosch Rexroth Adds Force Control Feature to Mechatronic Subsystems

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-09-13

Massive Machinery and Innovation at MINExpo International 2024

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-30

Timken Releases CSR Report, Celebrating 125 Years as Strong Corporate Citizen

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-28

PI Opens Technology Hub in Southwest Germany

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-26

AD Bearings & Power Transmission North American Meeting Brings Together Suppliers, Innovators and Service Providers

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-23

Redex USA to Showcase Advanced Machine Tool Drives at IMTS 2024

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-22

Nord Powers Automation with Modular Solutions for Over 100 Diverse Industries

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-16

Bonfiglioli Showcases Expanded Electromobility Portfolio at iVT Expo

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-15

Yaskawa Expands Variable Speed Drive Line

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-12

Nord Provides Drive Units for Crane Applications

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-12

Faulhaber Receives Innovation Award

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-08

Ringspann Offers Safe and Easy Assembly for Shrink-Discs

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. 

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-08-05

Avoiding Failure and Downtime

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.

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2024-08-05

Holistic Assessment of Drive Systems with Gears, Shafts and Bearings Using Measured Torque-Speed Data

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-05

Intellidrives Offers Water-Tight and Dust-Proof Rotary Tables

Motorized rotary tables RTLA-100-350HJ from Intellidrives features IP65 rated ingress protection. IP65 rating assures against ingress of dust and water jets against the rotary table surface. The hollow shaft table is integrated with a high rigidity cross-roller bearing. This structure improves permissible thrust load and moment load while maintaining high torque. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-05

Schaeffler Presents Extended Product Range for Off-Highway Applications

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-02

Hannover Messe 2025 Focuses on Motion and Drives

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-01

Columbus McKinnon Plans to Consolidate Duff Norton Linear Motion Production with New Facility in Mexico

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-07-24

Flender Receives Global Business Award

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2024-07-22

Massive Machinery and Innovation at MINExpo International 2024

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-07-18

SEW-Eurodrive Launches XMiner Industrial Gear Units

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-07-18

Bonfiglioli USA Celebrates 25th Anniversary

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-07-17

Zero-Max Celebrates 75 Years of Innovation

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-07-16

Voith Helps Growth of Zero-Emission Public Transport in the UK

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-07-12

Timken Recognized as Top Workplace

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.


PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-07-10

Ketterer Brushless Wheel Hub Drives Suitable for AGVs

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-07-08

Bosch Rexroth Highlights Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-07-02

David Brown Santasalo Installs Complete Drive System Test Bed

David Brown Santasalo (DBS) recently completed the installation of an enhanced complete drive system test bed at the Service Center in Chile.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-06-25

R+W Expands Product Portfolio

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-06-17

Nord Offers Complete Drive Solution with LogiDrive

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-06-12

Binder Expands M12 Connector Series with Advanced Sealing Concept

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-05-31

Nord Celebrates Grand Opening of Texas Production Facility

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-05-24

Nord's Heavy-Duty, Reliable Drive Systems Tackle Tough Industrial Applications

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2024-05-22

Avoiding Failure and Downtime

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-05-22

Emotors adopts Siemens’ Simcenter Solutions for NVH Testing

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).

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-05-09

Voith Turbo Completes $5.8 Million Expansion to its York County Workshop

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-05-08

Regal Rexnord Features Rugged and Reliable Solutions at AISTech

Regal Rexnord Corporation recently displayed its solutions for the metals industry at AISTech 2024.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-05-02

Nord Introduces Gearmotor QR Codes for Faster Access to Product Information

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-04-19

Nord Offers Optimum Conveyor Functionality with Nordac On/On+ VFDs

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.

| 2024-04-16

Berg Offers Guide to Gear Mesh Transmission Backlash

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-04-16

Bonfiglioli Opens Academy at Chennai Institute of Technology

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-04-15

ZF Produces 1,000 Electric Commercial Vehicle Drives

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-04-10

Liebherr Offers Electric Drive Solutions for Construction Machinery

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-04-10

The Benefits of Bevel Gear Technology

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-04-09

PTDA Foundation Welcoming Nominations for 2024 Leadership Awards

The PTDA Foundation is seeking nominations for its Wendy B. McDonald Woman of the Year Award and Robert K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-04-08

James F. Howe Appointed President, Motion

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-04-05

Applied Motion Introduces MDX+ Servo System Series

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-04-02

Needle of the Midday

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-03-29

PTDA to Host 2024 Canadian Conference in June

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-03-29

Nord Displays Drive Solutions at AAAE Conference

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-03-21

Siemens to Acquire Industrial Drive Technology Business of Ebm-Papst

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-03-20

Bonfiglioli Offers Mobile Solutions at Logimat 2024

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-03-19

Voith LP 560 Air Compressor Saves Energy in Truck Sector

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-03-18

ABB Baldor-Reliance SP4 Motors Represent the Latest in Motor Efficiency

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-03-08

Nord DuoDrive Receives UL/CSA Certification

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-02-27

Nord Drivesystems Offers Intralogistics Solutions at Modex 2024

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-02-22

GKN Automotive Expands Role for Dr. Clare Wyatt

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-02-21

Voith Provides Inline Thrusters for Superyacht

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-02-13

FVA-Workbench Version 9 Redefines Gearbox Design

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2024-02-08

Interact Analysis Examines Low Voltage AC Drive Market

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-02-08

Nord Exhibits Reliable Solutions at GEAPS Exchange

The 2024 GEAPS Exchange will be open February 24 – 28 in Kansas City, MO and is the best place to see the latest innovative grain industry solutions from Nord Drivesystems. Flexible drive solutions are required throughout the grain sector to power the different systems as well as transport the products from one processing stage to the next. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-02-08

AD Sets Sales Record in 2023

AD is reporting a record result for 2023 in owner/member sales, which increased 5 percent over prior year to $78.9 billion.

Purchases by member companies from AD supplier partners were $19.8 billion. Net distributions to owner/members were $1.4 billion.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-01-29

Nord Provides Drive Solutions for Post and Parcel Distribution

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).

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-01-17

Eurotrans Shapes the Future with Standards

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-01-04

PTDA 2024 Industry Immersion Conference Offers Knowledge Building and Networking

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will host a new talent development event, the PTDA 2024 Industry Immersion Conference in Hollywood, Fla. on February 29, 2024. This intensive program is designed to help those who are new to the power transmission and motion control (PT/MC) industry grow the interpersonal skills, networking capabilities and industry essentials for building successful relationships with coworkers, executives and customers.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-01-02

Mitsubishi Electric Automation to Highlight New Tech at AHR Expo 2024

Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is proud to be in attendance at the AHR Expo 2024! Mitsubishi Electric has been demonstrating at AHR for almost two decades as one of the leaders in the HVAC industry. The AHR Expo this year will be held at the McCormick Place in Chicago, IL to showcase the industry’s newest technologies and innovations.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-12-19

Flender Receives Supplier Award from Caterpillar

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-12-18

Atlanta Gear Works Hires First HR Specialist

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-12-15

Oriental Motor Supplies Automation Products for SCARA Robot

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-12-12

NSK Develops High Speed and High Resistance Ball Screws

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-12-05

Intellidrives Offers Theta 2 Theta Goniometer

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-12-04

Mollo Noleggio Acquires Tuscany-Based Edilservice

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-12-01

FVA-Workbench Drives Progress in Marine Transmissions at Reintjes

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-11-30

Bonfiglioli Highlights Industrial Automation Solutions at SPS 2023

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-11-27

Voith Powers First H2 Truck to be Serially Produced in Germany

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-11-17

Dana Announces New Solutions for Agriculture Tractors

Dana Incorporated has launched a comprehensive vehicle design methodology for delivering complete, integrated suspension solutions for high-performance agriculture tractors.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-10-23

Nord Presents Drive Solutions at FMB 2023

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-10-13

Voith Electric Drive System Powers 1,000th Zero-Emission Bus

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-10-11

ZF Unveils AxTrax Electric Axle

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-10-09

Interact Analysis Examines Geared Motors and Industrial Gears Market

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-10-02

Sumitomo Drive Technologies Presents New Generation of its ECY Shaft Gear Series

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.

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2023-09-28

Extending Inverter-Motor Systems Service Life

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-09-22

Voith Creates Greater Efficiency for Drive Systems

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.

POWER PLAY | 2023-09-08

A Second Chance on the High Seas

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-09-01

Iwis and THIEN eDrives Announce Cooperation

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-28

Heidenhain Offers Measurement Technology at NAEC

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-24

SEW-Eurodrive Helical and Bevel Gear Units Offer Sustainability and Efficiency

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-21

Omni Powertrain Technologies Introduces Electric Powertrain for Skid Steers

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.  

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-08-21

Timken Provides Slewing Drives for Solar Tracking System

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-08-18

Voith Complete Drive Packages to Power Historic, 42-mile Overland Conveyor System

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-18

Nord Offers Drive Solutions at Pack Expo Las Vegas 2023

Nord Drivesystems will be exhibiting at Pack Expo Las Vegas from September 11-13, 2023, in Booth #7863 in the South Upper Hall.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-17

Tecnofirma Develops Modular System for Electric Motor Production

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-08-14

Allied Motion Announces Corporate Name Change to Allient Inc.

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-03

Transfluid Offers Versatile Pump Solution

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-08-03

Neugart Breaks Ground on Plant 3 at its Kippenheim Headquarters

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-07-28

Nord Provides Advantageous Corrosion Protection for Extreme Operating Conditions

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-07-27

Bonfiglioli Introduces Kit for Battery-Powered Mini Excavators

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-07-21

Kollmorgen Launches Express Delivery to Shorten Motion Product Lead Times

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-07-17

Harmonic Drive Releases Mini Gearhead

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-07-14

Precision Drive Systems Hires New Business Development Specialist

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-07-13

Faulhaber Offers Free Drive Technology Webinars

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-07-11

Nord IEC and NEMA Adapters Enhance Performance and Flexibility

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

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-06-28

SEW-Eurodrive Offers Coating-Free Gearmotors in ECO2 Design

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-06-27

Nord Drivesystems USA Expands Operations with New Texas Production Facility

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-06-23

Bonfiglioli Offers System Solutions at SPS Italia

At the SPS Italia event in Parma, Bonfiglioli presented technologies including its mechatronic solutions for industrial automation, packaging and intralogistics, robotics and IoT. 

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-06-20

How to Achieve Longer Gearbox Service Life

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-06-20

Faulhaber Drive Units Adjust Shutter and Focus for Camera Application

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-06-20

PTDA Industry Summit Offers New Discoveries

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-06-14

Voith Continues Sustainable Growth Path

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-06-05

Salim Haffar Discusses EUROTRANS Priorities in 2023 and Beyond

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-06-02

Sumitomo Highlights Visitor-Robot Interaction at Automatica 2023

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-05-19

Faulhaber Introduces Drives for Intralogistics

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-05-18

3BG Supply Acquires Controls and Electric Motor Company

3BG Supply Co. (3BG) recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Controls and Electric Motor Company (CEMCO). 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-05-17

Bosch Rexroth Opens Mobile Electronics Software to all Manufacturers and Partners

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-05-12

ELIN Motoren and Voith Launch Electric Motors for Tunnel Boring Machines

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-05-05

Ametek Aquires Bison Gear & Engineering

Ametek, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. (Bison), a leading manufacturer of highly engineered motion control solutions serving diverse markets and applications.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-05-04

AD Bearings & Power Transmission Hosts North American Meeting

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-05-03

Maxon Partners with MassRobotics to Support Drive Technology in Robotics

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-04-26

Nord Drivesystems Celebrates 35 Years of Manufacturing in Germany

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-04-24

Regal Rexnord Displays Modsort at LogiMAT 2023

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. 

REVOLUTIONS | 2023-04-19

Planetary Gear Rethought

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-04-07

Hägglunds Delivers Hydraulic Drive Systems for Mining Applications

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-03-31

Nord Highlights Drive Solutions at Interpack 2023

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-03-29

Zero-Max Overhung Load Adaptors Fill Industry Voids

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-03-28

Faulhaber Receives Special Honor on 75th Anniversary

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-03-23

Sumitomo and Lafert Offer AGV Solution at Logimat 2023

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.

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2023-03-22

A Model for Considering Wheel Body Deformation in Tooth Contact Load Distribution

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-03-21

Making the Move to Digitalization and Electrification

The following article is a collection of products and technologies featured at IFPE and CONExpo/CONAGG 2023. 

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-03-21

Peering into the Crystal Ball on Condition Monitoring Technology

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-03-21

The High Demands of Off-Highway Drive Systems

The following off-highway, construction and mining solutions hint at the all-electric transition taking place across each industry.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-03-20

The Future of Construction Looks Promising

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-03-13

Sumitomo Highlights Drive Technology at Hannover Messe 2023

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-03-09

Schaeffler Showcases Innovations for Construction and Aggregate Industries at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-03-08

WomenPower Career Congress Announces 2023 Program

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-03-06

Timken Awards $540,000 in Scholarships to Deserving Students Around the Globe

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2023-03-06

Making the Move to Digitalization and Electrification

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-03-03

Nidec-Shimpo Expands FLEXWAVE Control Reducers Series

Nidec-Shimpo Corporation (“Nidec-Shimpo”) has added adopter-combined gearhead types to its FLEXWAVE series of precision control reducers currently on sale.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-02-22

PTDA Raises Nearly $125,000 in First Stage of Fundraising Campaign

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-02-21

Timken Continues to Provide Main Reduction Gears for U.S. Navy Ships

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2023-02-17

Hannover Messe Motors Preview

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-02-16

TSN Plays Role in Network Technology Expansion for Servo Drives

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-02-14

Hägglunds to Exhibit Full Range of Motor & Drive Technology at SME MINEXCHANGE 2023

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-02-10

NORD Showcases Supply Chain and System Solutions at ProMat

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.

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2023-02-08

Unconventional Gear Profiles in Planetary Gearboxes

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-01-31

Motion, Drive and Automation Firms Accelerate Digital Transformation at Hannover Messe

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-01-27

Kollmorgen Launches the Advanced P8000 Series With the New P80630-SDN Stepper Drive

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-01-24

Schaeffler Climate Targets Validated by Science Based Initiative

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated the Schaeffler Group’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as being in conformity with SBTi criteria and recommendations and hence in line with what the latest climate science considers necessary in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The global automotive and industrial supplier is committed to cutting its absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2030, with 2019 as its base year. The company has also set itself the target of reducing its absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel- and energy-related activities, and upstream transportation and distribution by 25 percent over the same period. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-01-19

PIE Technology Platform Launches

Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) and the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) announce the launch of the PIE Technology Platform (PIE), a cloud-based platform giving manufacturers and distributors of industrial products access to the most comprehensive catalog for the exchange of rich content product information.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-01-19

ABB Offers Innovative Solutions at IPPE Expo

ABB, Booth B6427, is showcasing innovative solutions necessary to help poultry suppliers reach their processing goals during the 2023 IPPE Expo in Atlanta, Georgia January 24-26. ABB experts will be available to discuss the safety and reliability customers can expect from ABB products and solutions. ABB delivers sustainability, reliability and safety across the entire food chain - from farm to fork. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-01-13

NORD Returns to GEAPS Exchange with Material Handling Solutions

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-01-13

Siemens Announces Change of Leadership for Large Drives Applications

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-01-12

Faulhaber Offers Drive Calculator

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-01-06

PTDA Announces 2023 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council

The recently elected 2023 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council of the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) begin their leadership terms.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-01-03

Siemens Sinamics Drive Series Adds Frame Sizes for Higher Power Ratings

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-12-29

NORD Exceeds $1 Billion in Sales in 2022

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-12-19

Bosch Rexroth Opens New Factory Automation Customer Innovation Center

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.
 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-12-12

KMD Launches High-Performance Driveshafts for High Torque Vehicles

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-12-08

Nidec-Shimpo's FLEXWAVE Reducers Adopted for Use in Satellites' Antennas

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”).

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-12-02

NORD Powers Intralogistics Systems with Modular Drive Solutions

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS delivers intralogistics solutions that focus on high-efficiency, intelligent automation, and reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Their innovative drive solutions are extremely versatile and used throughout the world in a wide variety of applications including storage and retrieval systems, transfer carts, and conveyor systems. NORD’s modular product portfolio consists of reliable, UNICASE gear units with long service life, powerful high-efficiency motors, and dynamic variable frequency drives that optimize automation. Easy to service and maintain, NORD drives reduce standstill times and contribute to an increased efficiency and availability of entire systems.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2022-12-02

Highlights of Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia 2022

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-11-23

NORD Powers Georgia Feed Mill with Mechatronic Drive Solution

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-11-04

Bonfiglioli Presents Electric Drives for Construction Machinery

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-11-03

Timken Closes Sale of Aerospace Business to PCX Aerostructures

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-10-28

Regal Rexnord to Acquire Altra Industrial Motion

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-10-24

Acquisitions by WEG and ABB Reveal Strategies Amongst Motor Suppliers

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-10-21

WEG Commissions Drives for Oil & Gas Vessel

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

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-10-18

Magnetic Sensor Systems Releases Pull Type Tubular Solenoids

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-10-04

ABB Offers Smart and Sustainable Solutions at WEFTEC

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-09-30

ABB Expands Smart Sensor to General Machinery

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-09-29

Twin Disc Signs Lease Agreement for Office Space

Twin Disc, Inc. has announced the lease of an office space in Milwaukee, WI. The 8,100 square foot space on the fourth floor of an office building located on Erie Street in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward will accommodate approximately 25 employees. The Company expects to relocate its corporate team to the new location in early 2023.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-09-28

NORD Provides Automation for Airport and Baggage Handling Systems

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-09-26

Bosch Rexroth Expands in North America with New Plant in Mexico

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-09-23

OES Offers Three-Axis Gimbal Mounts with Motor Options

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-09-22

Bonfiglioli Introduces the Winch Drive Series 800

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-09-20

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Recognized as PACE Award Finalist

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2022-09-13

Hannover Messe USA 2022 Booth Previews

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2022-09-13

An Automotive and Industrial Difference Maker

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-09-01

Bosch Rexroth Offers Complete Battery Production Solutions

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-09-01

Hannover Messe USA: It's Educational

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-29

Regal Rexnord AirMax Keeps Gearboxes Running Longer

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-26

NORD Releases Latest Industrial Gear Units

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-24

SKF Introduces Hybrid Deep Groove Ball Bearing

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-24

Steyr wins Red Dot Design Award for Hybrid Drivetrain

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-23

Bell-Everman ServoBelt Arc Drive Features New Large-Diameter Rotary Stage

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-22

PT WORK Force Offers New Tools to Help Lock in Top Talent

Finding employees in today’s labor market isn’t getting any easier. With quit and retirement rates near all-time highs, demand for qualified employees is outpacing labor supply. Two added resources from the PTDA Foundation’s PT WORK Force initiative can equip employers with essential tools to attract and retain top talent.

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-08-19

A Look at Servo Technology for Power Transmission Systems

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-18

David Brown Santasalo Completes Winch Drum Rebuild

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-17

NORD Updates Online Customer Portal and Spare Parts Shop

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

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-09

Force Control Crane Brakes Eliminate Downtime

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.

| 2022-08-09

Ball Bearing Limiting Speeds

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-09

PTDA Welcomes MEM Industrial, LLC

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), the leading association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel, welcomes a new member company, MEM Industrial. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-03

Voith Completes Argo-Hytos Acquisition

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).

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2022-08-03

Helpline Operator

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.  

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2022-08-03

The Optimization of 70 Tons of Scrap

The engineering community is fascinated with big, shiny, yellow machines. Walk into any manufacturing facility around the globe and you’ll find guests huddled around the biggest, loudest, and most intimidating equipment on the shop floor. These large machines must play by the same rules as everybody else—they need to reduce energy consumption, lower plant costs, and increase productivity. Many power transmission component suppliers are tasked with optimizing this equipment. 

| 2022-08-03

Always Fit to Print

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-08-01

Smart Solutions for Bearings, Motors and Drives

This exclusive round-up article from PTE examines the latest news and product technology involving smart bearings, motors and drives. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-07-20

Atlanta Drive Systems Optimizes Gear Rack Assembly with Mapping Tool

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-07-19

PTDA Hosts Industry Summit in Nashville

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-07-18

NORD Provides Complete Solution for Intralogistics and Airports

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-07-15

Voith Expands E-Mobility Portfolio at IAA Transportation 2022

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-07-08

Data Diagnostics with Voith

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-07-07

Andantex Will Introduce a New Planetary Reducer Design Concept at IMTS

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-07-07

Schaeffler Presents Future of Mobility Innovations at 12th Schaeffler Kolloquium

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).

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-07-06

Intellidrives Offers Water-Tight and Dust-Proof Rotary Tables

Motorized rotary tables RTLA-100-350HJ from Intellidrives feature IP65 rated ingress protection. IP65 rating assures against ingress of dust and water jets against the rotary table surface.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-06-28

Schaeffler Organizes Worldwide Climate Action Day

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-06-27

Voith Expands Expertise in E-Mobility Sector

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.

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-06-27

Gearmotor Design, Operation and Application

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-06-17

NORD Offers Solutions for Food and Beverage Industry

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. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-06-16

Sulzer Breaks Ground on Electromechanical Service Center in Texas

Sulzer has begun the expansion of its Orange, Texas Service Center, a project which will enhance its 24/7 electromechanical service capabilities and provide expanded capacity. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-06-15

Mars Helicopter Team Receives Collier Trophy

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).

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-06-14

Bosch Rexroth Introduces Gearboxes for Electric Motors

As part of its new, extensive eLION platform for the electrification of mobile working machines, Bosch Rexroth has developed spur gearboxes which vehicle manufacturers can use to unlock the full potential of new electric motors. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-06-14

Voith Acquires Argo-Hytos Group

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-06-01

NORD Delivers Drive Technology for Warehouse Logistics

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-05-31

Sumitomo Cyclo Drive Germany Wins Hermes Award at Hannover Messe

This year saw the Hermes Award jury at Hannover Messe, chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reimund Neugebauer, president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, award a product ideally suited for applications in the rapidly growing robotics market. The award-winning TUAKA product is a fully integrated drive. New features include the gear unit, the motor and the driver with safety functions. Thanks to the product's sensor technology and thermal management, it is suitable for high-precision, sensitive applications in service robotics as well as for interaction with humans.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-05-26

Faulhaber Integrates Subsidiary PDT

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-26

Eaton’s E-mobility Business Introduces Battery Disconnect Unit

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-25

NSK Develops New Ball Screw Technology

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-05-23

ABB Offers Digital Appraisal Service

A new digital service from ABB is enabling industrial operators to maximize energy efficiency and boost sustainability by identifying motor-driven equipment in their facilities with the best energy-saving potential. The ABB Ability Digital Powertrain Energy Appraisal service draws on data measured from fleets of digitally connected electric motors and variable frequency drives (VFDs) to show where and how much energy can be saved by upgrading to the latest high-efficiency technologies. Industrial operators can then make data-driven decisions when prioritizing investments. 

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-05-23

Automate 2022 Preview

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: 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-20

Bonfiglioli Introduces DGM Modular Decentralized Inverter Series

The new decentralized inverter series DGM Modular from Bonfiglioli is dedicated for asynchronous and synchronous reluctance motor control. Thanks to its various features and options our high-level performance solution is perfect for packaging, logistics, material handling, food and beverage and pumps sectors. All sizes of the DGM are characterized by high performance and safety features.

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-05-17

Interoperability: What it is, and why it matters in the age of automation

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. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-16

NORD Presents Airport Technology at AAAE 2022

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS is bringing their future-ready drive solutions to the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Conference and Exhibition June 5th – 8th in Seattle, Washington. NORD delivers drive solutions for every application in baggage handling systems and their innovative products are utilized throughout airports worldwide.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-13

Bonfiglioli Offers Drive Platform for AGVs and AMRs

A new modular solution for driving AGVs and AMRs from Bonfiglioli is called BlueRoll. The system consisting of a gearbox and driving wheel in the so-called basic version or with servomotors in the advanced or compact version is perfectly tailored to all customers’ needs.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-10

Bosch Rexroth Introduces Actuator for Heavy Loads

Bosch Rexroth’s electromechanical cylinders (EMCs) are now available in a high-force, high-precision, low-maintenance version - the EMC-HP. Designed for heavy loads up to 100 kN, the new actuators are robust, compact and low-maintenance. Based on the reliable planetary screw drive, users will benefit from impressive continuous power even under harsh conditions. This is thanks to both the new oil-bath lubrication and the optional water cooling directly on the screw itself. As with the other members of the EMC family, a fully digital process, from selection through to ordering, shortens the engineering time.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-06

Omni Electric Pump Drive Suited for Hybrid Equipment Builders

Omni Powertrain Technologies has released information about its new electrohydraulic pump combination. The unit was developed for low voltage mobile applications and is ideally suited for the needs of hybrid equipment builders facing spatial constraints. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-04-27

Voith Highlights Speed Pump Drives at Hannover Messe 2022

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-04-26

Bosch Rexroth Offers Drive and Motor Solutions at OTC 2022

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-04-25

Framo Morat and Heinzmann Collaborate on Wheel Hub Motor

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). 

REVOLUTIONS | 2022-02-17

Delivering Next Generation e-Mobility Motor and Drive Solutions

Kyburz Switzerland AG, Relies on ABM Drives for High-Performance Technology in Postal Delivery and Electric Sports Cars

...
REVOLUTIONS | 2021-11-12

Regal Rexnord Enhances Industrial Powertrain Capabilities

The Regal electromechanical powertrain offering encompasses a broad range of Regal-produced components (e.g., motors, speed reducers, gearing, coup...
REVOLUTIONS | 2021-11-08

How the Global Hydraulic Fluid Market Is Changing—And What It Means for the Future

The size of the worldwide hydraulic fluids market is expected to be worth $77.5 billion by the end of 2021 and this growth is expected to continue ...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2021-10-01

Linear Motion Components Take Flight in Aerospace and Defense Industry

Key advantages of linear motion components in aerospace applications.
REVOLUTIONS | 2021-09-27

The Packaging Perspective 2021

Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging Expo offers more than 1,500 exhibitors to showcase the latest new materials, technologies and solution...
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2021-09-01

Freddie Mercury in the Show Me State

The Motion + Power Technology Expo takes place September 13-16 in St. Louis. It's going to be a different kind of trade show than most people have ever experienced.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2021-08-01

Design Reviews - What to Review and When

Try to gain as much advantage as possible when you do design reviews; they can result in greatly improved designs and can cut multiple iterations out of the process.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2021-08-01

Gear Manufacturing in Motion

Electric and fluid power has expanded the focus recently at the Motion + Power Technology Expo - September 14-16, St. Louis, Missouri - but gear manufacturing remains the core of AGMA's biennial trade show.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2021-08-01

Preventing Critical Downtime

Belt and Chain Providers Focus on Quality and Longevity
REVOLUTIONS | 2021-07-20

Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Selecting & Integrating Linear Modules

Fully integrated linear modules can be versatile and cost-effective for linear transport applications in packaging machinery. When specifying and i...
REVOLUTIONS | 2021-07-16

The Sustainable Shop Floor

Energy from renewable sources? Natural resource conservation? Reduction in pollution and waste? Energy efficient components? Many talk a good game ...
REVOLUTIONS | 2021-06-07

Maximizing Bearing Performance

Carrier and SKF Collaborate on Centrifugal Compressor Technology The opportunity to improve product design separates market lea...
REVOLUTIONS | 2021-04-09

Hannover Messe 2021: Industrial Transformation

The show must go on. And though we're extremely disappointed to not spend the week in Germany taking in the latest and greatest manufacturing techn...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-03-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the March 2021 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
| 2021-01-21

Smart Moves with Bosch Rexroth

Extrusion press hydraulics upgrade uses phased approach to improve results

The extrusion press is one of today’s most valuable and hardwo...
| 2020-12-10

Fenner Precision Polymers Expands Portfolio with MAV Acquisition

Fenner Precision Polymers, a Michelin Group Company, recently announced the acquisition of MAV S.p.A., an Italian company, located in Altopiano del...
| 2020-11-24

Stainless Steel Powertrains Provide Peace of Mind

Hardly a day passes without a new FDA recall of some food product as the number of Americans falling ill from food contamination infections continu...
| 2020-10-15

2020 and Beyond with Bonfiglioli

Company offers new geared motor platform while navigating unusual business environment

What’s a product launch look like during a pandemi...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2020-10-01

Lubrication for Life

Lubrication plays a vital role in the performance and life of rolling element bearings, yet its significance is often underestimated. The most important task of the lubricant is to separate parts moving relative to one another (balls or rollers and raceways) in order to minimize friction and prevent wear. A lubricant that is designed for specific operating conditions will provide a load bearing wear protective film.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2020-09-01

Comparing Data Sources for Condition Monitoring Suitability

Condition-based maintenance requires detailed state knowledge, often acquired by means of sensors.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2020-08-01

Product News

The latest product news from Miki Pulley, Voith, Firgelli Automations, Heidenhain, Zero-Max, Gates, KEB America, Siemens, H2W Technologies and Emerson Automation
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-07-24

Help Wanted

Northwest Pennsylvania’s Oil Region has a long history in manufacturing. Many of the widgets that made oil extraction and processing possible were ...
| 2020-07-17

Smart Software Solutions

Leveraging Digital Technology with Siemens

Although the community couldn’t get together in Las Vegas, Siemens Media and Analyst Conferenc...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2020-07-07

KEB America Introduces High Capacity Spring-Set Load Brakes

KEB America has introduced their new High Capacity Load brake.  The brakes use a spring-set (power-off) design and are electrically released. 
| 2020-06-08

Shrink Your Start-to-Finish Time

Boosting Productivity in Gearbox Design with Siemens Digital

An increasing awareness of environmental concerns has given rise in the auto...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2020-06-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the June 2020 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2020-06-01

A Little Peace of Mind

Condition Monitoring Technology Evolves for Gear Drives, Gearmotors and Gearboxes. Here's a look at what some leading manufacturers are offering.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2020-06-01

Dynamic Behavior of Planetary Gears

In planetary gear systems of high power density and high gear ratio, helical gears create undesirable tilting moments on the planet gears; therefore, spur gears are still preferred for planetary gears -- a special challenge with respect to noise. Specifically, the different behavior of planetary gears with sequential and symmetric gear mesh is explained in this paper.
| 2020-04-29

The Latest in E-Mobility Technologies

This sidebar examines some of the latest E-Mobility products and technologies from companies like Schaeffler, Eaton and Dana. Check out the full ar...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2020-04-01

Dynamic Performance

PTE Examines Gearmotor and Gear Drive Technology
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2020-04-01

Romax Improves Reckon Drive Product Reliability with Drivetrain Structural Simulation Software

Durability requirements must be balanced with the need for lightweight and low-cost solutions which meet noise and vibration targets whilst also exhibiting excellent efficiency.
| 2020-02-12

Force Control Dynamometers Suitable for High-Torque, Low-Speed Testing

High torque, low-speed testing is often a challenge for dynamometers equipped with traditional load brakes. Testing which requires the brake to abs...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2020-02-01

Creature Comfort

Intelligent drive technology in the cowshed
| 2020-01-22

Romax Improves Reckon Drive Product Reliability with Software

The shift towards electric drivetrains has created unprecedented demand for new transmission architectures across numerous vehicle platforms at a t...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-12-01

In the News: Linear Motion

The following article is a round-up of the latest linear motion product and industry news items featured at www.powertransmission.com and on social media.
ASK THE EXPERT | 2019-10-01

Bearing Materials and Coating Trends

What trends do you see in bearing materials and coatings that will benefit the power transmission industry?
| 2019-09-12

What Does the Future Hold for the Automotive Industry?

We all want to know the answer to this question as it tells us as a business where to invest our R&D development, steers us to consider what ke...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-09-01

Driving Gears 2019

Efficiency, power-loss reduction and enhanced performance are just a few examples of what the PT community wants from their gears and gear drives in 2019. Some companies are doubling down on service and assembly capabilities while other others are integrating components in an effort to increase flexibility and control.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-09-01

NORD Gear Offers Drive Solutions for Intelligent Brewing

Worm, bevel, and parallel shaft gear units were installed at two breweries to provide the necessary process control.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2019-09-01

Gearbox Development for the Food and Beverage Processing Industry

How one gearbox manufacturer took an existing design and transformed it to meet the needs of this demanding environment.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-08-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the August 2019 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
| 2019-06-18

Getting Your Hands on Smart Tools

Forget the IIoT and Industry 4.o buzzwords. We're not interested in 10 to 15 years down the road or what the factory of the future is going to look...
EVENTS | 2019-06-01

The Electric Evolution

CTI Symposium Presents Latest Automotive Transmission Developments and Applications.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-06-01

Chain & Sprocket Systems and Maintenance

Chain and sprocket drives of one form or another have been driving machines and conveying materials for over a thousand years. The chain manufacturing industry has developed numerous types and sizes of drive chains. Although it is a mature form of power transmission, there are still many industrial applications for which drive chain is suited. It is economical, resistant to shock loads, easy to install, has the ability to transmit high torque, operates in hostile environments, and is efficient. Chain and sprocket drives are highly engineered and manufactured within close tolerances.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-06-01

Advanced Belt Drive Systems

Enhancing Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-06-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the June 2019 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
| 2019-05-02

Schaeffler Optimizes Lubrication Systems with Mechatronics

The following is an update on Schaeffler's DuraSense relubrication system for linear recirculating roller bearing, ball bearing, and guideway assem...
| 2019-03-26

Hannover Messe 2.0

(Main image courtesy of Deutsche Messe, 2018) Hannover Messe 2019 will focus on the integration, digitization and interconnection of industrial ...
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2019-03-01

Manufacturing Economy 2019: A Summary

By most measures, and according to most observers, the manufacturing economy continues to hum along. U.S. manufacturing has been in growth mode for several years, although the rate of growth has slowed, and most are predicting that it will continue to slow throughout 2019.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2019-03-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the March 2019 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-03-01

In Motion

The following special product news section examines the latest products and technologies in motion control.
| 2019-02-04

Construction Time Again

Bauma 2019 Examines Sustainability, Digitization and Energy Efficiency

Bauma 2019 (April 8-14, Munich, Germany) is a complete overview of...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2019-02-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the February 2019 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
| 2018-11-27

SPS IPC Drives 2018

SPS IPC Drives (November 27-29 in Nuremberg, Germany), covers the entire spectrum of smart and digital automation - from simple sensors to intellig...
| 2018-11-01

Chain-Stretch Monitoring System Prevents Plant Downtime

Chain drives are a critical part of the manufacturing process in many industries, whether the chains act as conveyors for glass containers or trans...
| 2018-10-03

Cooling Tower Components: Pros and Cons

Written by: Jerome Jennings, global product manager, SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc. Cooling towers can use several power transmission technologi...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2018-10-01

Smashing the Efficiency Barrier

A Practical Comparison of Planetary and Orbitless Gear-Heads.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2018-09-28

KEB America Releases Washdown Servomotors for Industrial Applications

KEB America announces the release of the new STEEL IT epoxy coating for servomotors. When motors are used in applications that are exposed to moisture and chemicals - such as food and beverage processing - they require special design considerations to ensure they will withstand the environment. The new STEEL IT epoxy coating option from KEB America provides a washdown servomotor with many of the benefits of a stainless-steel motor, but at a fraction of the cost.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2018-09-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the September 2018 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-09-01

Stable and Streamlined

Gear drives focus on longevity, quality and customization.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-09-01

Engineering Showcase - Gears and Gear Drives

Machinists Inc. is integrating the machinery, equipment and know-how of The Gear Works-Seattle Inc.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-09-01

Gearbox Innovation Evolves in Step with Expanding Servo Market

Approximately one quarter of all servo motors around the world require some type of gear reduction in their applications. From large satellite dishes to precision medical devices, gearboxes boost torque and reduce speed for servos in order for them to be sized more efficiently. While gearbox fundamentals haven't changed much over the past 20 years, their effectiveness has improved significantly, driven mostly by the need to accommodate advancements in servo technology.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2018-09-01

Monitoring the Health of Plant Machinery

Health monitoring or condition monitoring has been used for many years on machines and in plants where the cost of an outage is high. It allows failures to be anticipated and maintenance or repairs to be scheduled for the least loss of production, as well as avoiding unnecessary periodic maintenance.
| 2018-08-13

Harnessing Reliable Wind Energy with Gearing Solutions

As the wind comes sweeping down the plains of America these days, it passes through fields of wind turbines. As the energy market turns towards ren...
| 2018-08-08

Thermal Growth Issues and Solutions for Shaft Couplings

Nick Agius, National Rotating Equipment/ACHE Product Specialist, Motion Canada I have been researching “Thermal Growth” issues for deca...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-08-01

The Clean Cut

JBT Corporation benefits from Kollmorgen Hygienic motor design in food and beverage application.
| 2018-07-26

Bearing Sourcing: Investigate Here

Steve Katz, president, Emerson Bearing Boston One significant and challenging issue that MROs and OEMs face is premature bearing failure in equi...
| 2018-07-16

Evolution of Cooling Tower Gearboxes

Written by: Jerome Jennings, global product manager, SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc. Industries that require process heat rejection often use fie...
| 2018-06-15

Twin Disc Celebrates 100 Years of Manufacturing Innovation

Twin Disc, Inc. is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2018. The company began in Raci...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-06-01

Pushing Forward with Belts and Chains

The technology continues to evolve in chain- and belt-driven systems
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-06-01

Custom Machine and Tool Bolsters Accuracy and Efficiency for Vande Berg Scales

If you can find that magic bullet that will reduce the machining process, you can achieve meaningful efficiency gains. It is imperative that check-weighers or in-motion weighing systems remain both accurate and efficient while attaining a consistently smooth operation because they dynamically weigh products as they move across the belt.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-06-01

KEB America Announces ISO 9001:2015 Certification

KEB America has announced the ISO 9001:2015 certification of their production facility, located in Shakopee, Minnesota. 
| 2018-04-19

The Gizmo Society

It is hard these days to find any device that is not IoT-compatible or WiFi-connected. I recently had a new well pump installed that requires an iP...
| 2018-04-12

Five Initiatives to Develop and Keep Workforce Talent

Written by Peter Feil, vice president, general manager at Stober Drives, Inc. The bright lights of the big city can make finding skilled workers...
| 2018-04-02

Performance Demands of Motion Control Applications

The following looks at the latest motion control products and technologies from Rockwell Automation, Power Jack Motion, B&R Automation and Beck...
POWER PLAY | 2018-04-01

It's a Jungle Out There

Harsh environments and saltwater properties tend to make it difficult for motors, gearboxes and engines to perform consistently at a high level.
| 2018-03-20

Fish Farming Company Saves Energy with Motor Upgrade

A Denmark-based specialist in aquafeed production has replaced an aging, damaged DC motor on it...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-03-01

Mechanical Motion in Tight Spaces

Framo Morat and Dunkermotoren Produce Drive Systems for Automatic Guided Vehicles.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2018-03-01

Baldor Motor Basics Part 11

Explosion-Proof Motors in Division 2 Areas and DC Drive Fundamentals
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2018-03-01

A New Standardizable Calculation Method to Predict the Efficiency of Worm Gear Drives

In this work a physically based method for the tribological investigation of worm gears is presented.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2018-02-23

KEB America Offers Safety Solutions for Automation Systems

KEB America, Inc. announces the release of their latest safety automation products for the North American market. Safety PLC, Safe I/O mo...
| 2018-02-20

Smarter Mechatronics

Mechatronics and the Internet of Things go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that leading mechatronics companies are coming out with IIoT produ...
| 2018-02-02

Framo Morat and Dunkermotoren Produce Drive Systems for AGVs

Driverless transport systems have proven to be extremel...
| 2018-02-01

Nord Drivesystems Optimizes Baggage Handling System

One baggage handling system OEM came to greatly appr...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2018-02-01

Product News

The latest mechanical power transmission products from Nord Drivesystems, Gearing Solutions, Ogura Industrial, Stafford Manufacturing, Rexnord, Portescap, Steinmeyer, Intellidrives, J.W. Winco and Zero-Max.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-02-01

Efficiency of Design

Energy efficiency is for more than just motors. Here are some mechatronics companies making sure you get more bang for your buck when it comes to your power bill.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2018-02-01

The Development of Worm Drives

A worm drive is a geared power transmission device in which a worm meshes with a worm gear to transmit power between two non-intersecting shafts that are oriented at a right angle. The worm drive has been an active and challenging topic of technological study since Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519).
| 2018-01-18

Stober Examines Manufacturing Infrastructure Updates

Updating your shop floor with new equipment and personnel is standard trade magazine fodder today—and for obvious reasons. Any feasible upgrades ca...
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2017-12-01

10 Years and Counting

Just over 10 years ago, we started publishing Power Transmission Engineering, and I'm proud to say we're still going strong.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-12-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the December 2017 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
| 2017-11-28

A Look at Belt, Chain and Gear Drive Technology

By Jack Warner The need for producing more energy increases with our rising need for commercial, industrial, and residential space. In North Ame...
| 2017-10-06

Coating Factory Utilizes Self-Lubricating Bearings

Contributed by: VescoPlastics Dam linings, billboards, butchery aprons, upholstery materials, place mats, tents, tarpaulins, and jumping castle ...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-10-01

Familiar Goals, New Solutions

Gearmotor manufacturers find new ways to push the envelope. (With Sidebar on new alternative to planetary gearboxes)
| 2017-09-05

Buying Gear Drives? Try Gear Expo

Gear Expo is right around the corner, and that means that pretty soon all things gearing will be squarely in the spotlight. Custom gear manufacturi...
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2017-09-01

Gear Expo is for Gear Buyers

Most of you who read this magazine have a close relationship with gears and gear drives. According to our surveys, 75% of you recommend, specify or buy them. It's a shame, then, that the majority of you will miss Gear Expo (Oct. 24-26 in Columbus, OH) this year.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-09-01

Gear Expo 2017 Booth Previews

Highlights from some of the gear, gear drive, power transmission component, software, materials and related exhibitors at Gear Expo 2017.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-09-01

The Reliability of Sewer Robots

Faulhaber Provides Motor Technology for Pipe Renovation Projects
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2017-09-01

Fluid Couplings vs VFDs for High Inertia Rotating Driven Loads

As the old adage goes, "There is more than one way to skin a cat." In the early stages of any project, system designers are faced with choices; whether they are designing a new application or retrofitting an old one, they need to determine what is the most efficient, economical and practical way of completing the task at hand. Though there are usually at least two viable means to accomplish the task, the first step is always to review and weigh the merits of each option.
EVENTS | 2017-09-01

Eats, Drinks and Treats

Process Expo and Pack Expo Highlight the Latest Technology for Food & Beverage Applications.
| 2017-08-04

Engineering the New York Wheel

Dana Incorporated recently announced that it is providing driveshaft assemblies and gearboxes for the New York Wheel – which will be the world's ta...
| 2017-07-13

Full Cinematic Immersion

“For your safety, please keep your hands, arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.” We’ve heard this statement countless times at amusemen...
| 2017-07-06

Cost Rules

The motor business is seeing some new technology, and it’s all about getting more bang for your buck. “In America, cost still rules.” ...
| 2017-06-20

The Times, They Are Changing

Occasionally in conversation you make a reference to technology and then realize that you are old. I could talk about the first microprocessors, va...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-06-19

What's New in Belt and Chain Technology?

Here are the latest product and industry news items involving belts and chains in the power transmission market. Please visit
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2017-06-01

Moving in the Right Direction

Over the past several months, members of our staff have traveled quite a bit, and we've had a lot of opportunities to gauge their confidence. And while nobody is overwhelmingly enthusiastic - nobody has told us this is their best year ever - almost everyone seems at least content with the stability that slow and steady growth provides.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2017-06-01

Determination of Load Distributions on Double Helical-Geared Planetary Gearboxes

Standardized calculation methods such as ISO 6336 and DIN 3990 already exist to determine the load distributions on gears inside a planetary gearbox, but by their very universal nature, these methods offer varying results depending on the gearbox design. Double helical gears, in particular, can benefit from more specific, complex algorithms to reach a maximum level of efficiency. Double helical gears interact with the rest of the gearbox differently than helical or spur gears, and thus benefit from different analytical models outside the standardized methods. The present research project describes the algorithm to determine the load distribution of planetary gearboxes with double helical gears.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2017-06-01

Vibration Analysis Goes Mainstream

Using vibration analysis to evaluate machine health has many benefits, and with advances in sensor, recording, and analysis technology, vibration analysis is now within the reach of even small organizations.
| 2017-05-09

Hannover Messe: A New Perspective in Manufacturing

The rumors are absolutely true. The factory floor is changing at an incredible pace and the digitalization of manufacturing systems (Big data, Indu...
| 2017-04-17

Integrated Industry at Hannover 2017

Hannover Messe 2017 will demonstrate how companies with limited resources can pinpoint and harness the power of digitalization. This year's trade f...
| 2017-04-04

Automate/Promat: Live From the Show

Automate 2017 offers the full spectrum of automation technologies and solutions, from traditional industrial applications to cutting edge new techn...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-04-01

Meet Norm Parker - Bearings Blogger

In case you missed them, following are three recent blog postings by our popular PTE bearings blogger - Norm Parker. We also felt that, should you not be a blog follower, this would be a good way to introduce you to Norm's bearings wisdom. Parker is currently the global senior specialist/roller bearings at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2017-04-01

Baldor Basics: Understanding Torque

In the process of applying industrial drive products, we occasionally are misled into believing that we are applying horsepower. The real driving force is not horsepower - it is torque. This paper is developed to impart a deeper understanding of torque, its relationship to horsepower, and the types of loads we most frequently encounter.
| 2017-03-14

Innovations at IFPE 2017

From March 7 -11, suppliers, engineers, manufacturers and service providers representing off-highway, construction, factory automation, power trans...
| 2017-03-06

Servo Loop Tuning: A Practical Approach

Although servomotors have an unquestionable performance capability, the final performance is mostly determined by the servo loop tuning. Servomo...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2017-02-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the February 2017 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
ASK THE EXPERT | 2017-02-01

How to Prevent Pulley Slippage

I'm not able to get a good connection between the pulley and shaft in my drive assembly. Could you explain the various ways of connecting a pulley to a shaft to prevent the pulley from slipping?
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2017-02-01

Lightweight, Highly Efficient Drive System

This paper presents a joint project conducted by Ashwoods Electric Motors and Oerlikon Fairfield that uses planetary drives with an integrated electric motor. Current solutions used in production of off-highway vehicles rely upon large, heavy and inefficient brushed DC or induction motors, coupled to a planetary gearbox. This presents a number of challenges to the vehicle designers such as: limited vehicle range, limited space around the motor/drivetrain, and motor durability. The proposed integrated system utilizes an Oerlikon Fairfield Torque Hub, widely used in off-highway vehicles, and the Ashwoods first-to-market, interior permanent magnet motor. How these products are integrated, i.e. incorporating a brake solution, represents a market-changing product. Using interior permanent magnet (IPM) technology in the motor design means the motor can be up to 70% lighter, 70% smaller and 20% more efficient than traditional motors used in off-highway traction applications.
| 2017-01-17

The Latest in Gearmotors

Nord Clincher Gear Units Maintain Equipment in Severe Applications
FIELD NOTES | 2016-12-01

Bearing Lubricant Solution

A Chicago-area bakery was replacing the tray support bearings in its ovens on a reactionary basis. Their weekly inspection cycle was resulting in two mechanics spending an average of 20 labor hours per week to replace failed bearings. The premature bearing failures were caused by a combination of the high heat and humidity in the ovens, resulting in lubrication failure and contamination. When BDI was asked to recommend a solution, the bakery was averaging one month of bearing life in this application.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-12-01

Timing Belts and Pulleys - Operations

Synchronous drives are especially well-suited for low-speed, high-torque applications. Their positive driving nature prevents potential slippage associated with V-belt drives, and even allows significantly greater torque carrying capability. Small pitch synchronous drives operating at speeds of 50 ft/min (0.25 m/s) or less are considered to be low-speed. Care should be taken in the drive selection process as stall and peak torques can sometimes be very high. While intermittent peak torques can often be carried by synchronous drives without special considerations, high cyclic peak torque loading should be carefully reviewed.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-12-01

Better Energy-Efficient Flow Rate Regulation

Implementing a power-on-demand concept based on variable speed drives allows for energy saving in any application that involves pumps or hydraulic systems. And when used in combination with an intelligent wiring and communication system, relevant machine data can also be easily recorded - the basis for comprehensive power management.
| 2016-11-29

SPS IPC Drives 2016 Review

Matthew Jaster, Senior Editor                 SPS IPC Drives 2016 took place November 22-24 in Nuremberg, G...
| 2016-11-08

Industrial Innovation at Pack Expo 2016

Matthew Jaster, Senior Editor A record-setting Pack Expo/Pharma Expo is expected to bring in 50,000 attendees and more than 2,5...
| 2016-10-10

Klüber Lubrication Offers Specialty Lubricants for Open Drives and Gears Keeping Mineral Processing Plants Up and Running

Authors:  Daniel A. Narnhammer, Head of Global Competence Center Mining at Klüber Lubrication NA LP Justin Koozer, Cement and...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-10-01

ISO 281:2007 - Caveat Emptor

I was invited by Tom Astrene of TLT to write a response to the July 2010 TLT article (Ref. 1). My rebuttal — “In Search of a Fatigue Limit: A Critique of ISO Standard 281:2007” — was published in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering, TLT, August 2010 edition (Ref. 10). While this article is also available online, I will attempt to summarize the essence of my response.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-09-01

An Open-And-Shut Case: Greases for Gear Applications

For the lubrication of open gear drives used in different industrial applications such as cement and coal mills, rotary furnaces, or where the sealing conditions are difficult, semi-fluid greases are often used in preference to fluid oils. For girth gear applications the greases are used with a splash or spray lubrication system. The selection of such greases influences pitting lifetime and the load-carrying capacity of the gears, as well as wear behavior
| 2016-08-25

Custom or Off-the-Shelf?

  Today I want to follow up on a discussion of an often debated topic: do you want a custom motor or should you buy a standard (stock) moto...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-08-01

IMTS 2016 Booth Preview

A nose-in-the-tent peek at the booths featuring mechanical motion components.
| 2016-07-11

Mind Sport

Stronghold Competition Puts the Fun in FIRST Robotics   Matthew Jaster, Senior Editor Here’s what we know about Tremont, Illinois: I...
| 2016-06-03

The Driving Force

In “the good old days” we simply connected a motor to the power lines and that created motion — but those days are disappearing fast. Almost all mo...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2016-06-01

High Gear Ratio Epicyclic Drives

Referencing a June 2014 Article, “High Gear Ratio Epicyclic Drives Analysis,” by Dr. Alex Kapelevich: I have designed a small compound epicyclic gearbox with common planets. Sun = 10 teeth Planet = 14 teeth Ring Gear stationary = 38 teeth Ring gear output = 41 teeth profile shifted onto a 38 tooth pitch diameter. Carriers are simply cages for the planet alignment and location. According to your article, and according to my calculations and the prototype I have built, my inputto- output ratio is a reduction of 65.6:1. I am using a ~ VG1 viscosity grease and Nylatron materials for the gears and carriers.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2016-06-01

Product News

Latest news on products.
POWER PLAY | 2016-06-01

The Stage Where It Happens

Although David Korins had an impressive resume of Broadway, film, television and music credits, the New York-based production designer had something to prove when interviewing for the pop culture phenomenon Hamilton. “I prepped for the interview like crazy, sketching out my ideas, presenting a scene breakdown, basically doing everything I could short of begging for the job,” Korins said. “Lin Manuel Miranda (the show’s creator and star) had developed an incredibly effective blueprint. I just wanted the opportunity to help tell his story.”
| 2016-05-06

The Reluctance Force We Are Reluctant to Use

Almost daily I’m asked about the switched reluctance motor (SRM) — a motor that was invented more than 100 years ago. But only in the 1980s did it ...
| 2016-04-12

You Need an Electric Motor for Your Application — Which One Do You Choose?

Often I get asked the generic question — “Which motor should I use?” But the answer is not quick or easy. The proper choice of the motor may ...
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2016-03-01

Don't Believe the "R" Word

For several months, many economists have been using the “R” word when it comes to manufacturing. They say we’ve been in a global manufacturing recession since some time in the fourth quarter of last year.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-03-01

Gear Design Effects on Performance of High-Speed Helical Geartrains as Used in Aerospace Drive Systems

The performance of high-speed helical geartrains is of particular importance for tiltrotor aircraft drive systems. These drive systems are used to provide speed reduction/torque multiplication from the gas turbine output shaft and provide the necessary offset between these parallel shafts in the aircraft. Four different design configurations have been tested in the NASA Glenn Research Center, High-Speed Helical Geartrain Test Facility. The design configurations included the current aircraft design, current design with isotropic superfinished gear surfaces, double-helical design (inward and outward pumping), increased pitch (finer teeth), and an increased helix angle. All designs were tested at multiple input shaft speeds (up to 15,000 rpm) and applied power (up to 5,000 hp). Also two lubrication, system-related, variables were tested: oil inlet temperature (160–250° F) and lubricating jet pressure (60–80 psig). Experimental data recorded from these tests included power loss of the helical system under study, the temperature increase of the lubricant from inlet to outlet of the drive system and fling-off temperatures (radially and axially). Also, all gear systems were tested with and without shrouds around the gears.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-02-01

Two-stage Helical Bevel Gearing

Gearing is an essential component in conveyors. The material handling industry appears divided between those who favor high-end three-stage helical bevel gearboxes and those who rely on less expensive worm gearing. But there’s an often over-looked alternative, the two-stage helical bevel gearbox.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2016-02-01

Industry News

Latest news from around the Industry
PRODUCT NEWS | 2016-02-01

Product News

Latest information about upcoming products.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-12-01

Effect of Assembly Errors in Back-to-Back Gear Efficiency Testing

As gear efficiency is improved in small steps, it is important to be able to distinguish actual improvements from scatter that can occur while testing. An FZG back-to-back gear test rig was used to investigate how the assembly and re-assembly of the same test setup affects the measurements. A spread in torque loss between one assembly and another of the same test setup were observed. Rig conditions also affected the spread in input torque. With knowledge of how the spread in torque loss varies due to assembly, test results could be distinguished between changes due to assembly and actual differences between tests.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-12-01

Industry News

News from around the industry
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2015-12-01

Chains and Belts Play to Their Strengths

As with just about everything else in the manufacturing world — and all which that universe entails — it depends. After all, that’s why the art of manufacturing is a process — not a one-system-fits-all discipline. Yes, once that process has been properly designed and correctly implemented for a given manufacturing production need, it may well run like the astest, smoothest cookie-cutter-type operation ever devised.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-10-01

Is Splash Lubrication Compatible with Efficient Gear Units for High-Speed Applications

A thermo-mechanical model of a splash lubricated one-stage gear unit is presented. This system corresponds to a first step towards the design of a hybrid vehicle gearbox that can operate up to 40,000 rpm on its primary shaft. The numerical model is based on the thermal network method and takes into account power losses due to teeth friction, rolling-elements bearings and oil churning. Some calculations underline that oil churning causes a high amount of power loss. A simple method to reduce this source of power losses is presented, and its influence on the gear unit efficiency and its thermal capacity is computed.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-10-01

Industry News

News From the gear Industry
| 2015-09-29

Welcome Back!

Last week in our bearing shaft and housing fit discussion, we covered the IT chart — along with the shaft and housing charts — just to understand t...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-09-01

Industry News

News From Around the Gear Industry
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2015-09-01

Pushing the Envelope(s)

With advances in modern technology reducing demand for envelopes, manufacturers are finding it increasingly hard to justify investment.
EVENTS | 2015-08-01

Calendar

Calendar of upcoming events
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-08-01

A New Geometrically Adaptive Approach for Tooth Contact Analysis of Gear Drives

Tooth contact analysis (TCA) is an important tool directed to the determination of contact patterns, contact paths, and transmission errors in gear drives. In this work, a new general approach that is applicable to any kind of gear geometry is proposed.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-06-01

When it Comes to Mining, Bigger is Best

One of the key challenges in the mining industry today is maintaining throughput in the face of ore grade quality that has declined by 40 percent in the last decade.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-06-01

Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Frictional Losses of Radial Shaft Seals for Industrial Gearbox

The improvement of the energy efficiency of industrial gear motors and gearboxes is a common problem for many gear unit manufacturers and end-users. As is typical of other mechanical components, the radial lip seals used in such units generate friction and heat, thus contributing to energy losses of mechanical systems. There exist today simulation tools that are already helping improve the efficiency of mechanical systems — but accurate models for seal frictional losses need to be developed. In this paper SKF presents an engineering model for radial lip seal friction based on a physical approach.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-06-01

Calculation of the Efficiency of Worm Gear Drives

This paper presents a physically grounded calculation method to determine the efficiency of worm gear drives. This computation is based on the Institute of Machine Elements, Gears, and Transmissions (MEGT) tribological simulation, which can determine the local tooth friction coefficients (Ref. 1). With this knowledge other power losses such as the bearings, oil churnings and seals power losses can also be calculated.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2015-06-01

Product News

News about latest Products in the Industry
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-04-01

How to Get the Most Realistic Efficiency Calculation for Gearboxes

In recent years the estimation of gearbox power loss is attracting more interest — especially in the wind turbine and automotive gearbox industry — but also in industrial gearboxes where heat dissipation is a consideration as well. As new transmissions concepts are being researched to meet both ecological and commercial demands, a quick and reliable estimation of overall efficiency becomes inevitable in designing the optimal gearbox.
| 2015-02-13

Aluminum Housing Series: Bearing Cup Fits in AL Housing

The interference fit that cups should have in an aluminum housing seems to be a subject that comes across my desk in regular intervals. Of course, ...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-02-01

Variable Speed Pump Drives For Industrial Machinery - System Considerations

The changing landscape of hydraulic drives is leading many fluid power specialists to quickly adapt to using variable speed pump drives. Optimum utilization of these drives requires, in many cases, additional system design considerations.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2014-12-01

The Applications of Bevel Gears

EDITORS’ NOTE: “The Applications of Bevel Gears” is the excerpted third chapter of Dr. Hermann Stadtfeld’s latest book — Gleason Bevel Gear Technology (The Gleason Works, Rochester, New York, USA; All rights reserved. 2014; ISBN 978-0-615-96492-8.), which appears here unabridged through the kind graces of Dr. Stadtfeld and Gleason Corp. Future installments will appear exclusively in Power Transmission Engineering and Gear Technology magazine over the next 12 to 18 months.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-09-01

The Automated Parking Garage

ContiTech and Wöhr Team up for Unique Residential Solution.
ASK THE EXPERT | 2014-09-01

TLC Still Needed for New Axles

A reader asks: I have heard that new axles no longer need a break-in period. True or false?
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-08-01

Industrial Automation North America and MDA NA at IMTS 2014

It's not a show title that rolls off the tongue, but the Industrial Automation North America and MDA NA @IMTS 2014 show nevertheless may well be one to remember.
EVENTS | 2014-06-01

CTI Symposium Raises the Bar on Transmission Technology

The 8th International CTI Symposium on Automotive Transmissions, HEV and EV Drives took place in Rochester, Michigan from May 12-15. The event kicked off with its popular introductory seminar "Basics and Practice of Automotive Transmissions."
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2014-04-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the April 2014 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
ASK THE EXPERT | 2014-04-01

Working in AutoCAD

How does one draw and mesh involute gear teeth in AutoCAD?
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-04-01

Lower Service Life Plus Less Waste Equals Lower Cost

Bearings that show wear may not always need to be replaced. Depending on the degree and type of wear, they may be candidates for reconditioning, a process that restores bearings to like-new specifications and performance - at an average 50 to 60 percent of the cost of replacement.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-03-01

Engineering Showcase 2014

We are pleased to present our first annual Engineering Showcase, a celebration of some of the leading products and companies in mechanical power transmission. In the pages that follow, you’ll find examples of engineering excellence and technological know-how in the field of gears, drives, couplings, machine parts and other mechanical components.
EVENTS | 2014-02-01

Calendar

The complete technical Calendar from the February 2014 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2014-02-01

How to Spec a Mill Gear

This paper outlines the design considerations that go into construction of a drive system in order to explain the importance of specific data, why it is required, and where design freedom is necessary. Apart from loads and speeds, interface dimensions and site specific conditions are also needed. Deciding up front which gear rating practice to select can affect the torque capacity of the drive train by ~15%.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2014-02-01

Influence of Gear Loads on Spline Couplings

Involute splines are commonly used in gearboxes to connect gears and shafts, especially when high torque is transmitted through the coupling. The load is shared among multiple teeth around the coupling circumference, resulting in higher load capacity than a conventional single key. However, the total load is not equally shared among all spline teeth, mainly because of pitch deviations resulting from the manufacturing process. The load distribution along the spline engagement length is also nonuniform because of tooth misalignments and shaft torsional effects. This paper presents an investigation of the influence of spur gear loads on the load distribution of spline teeth.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2013-12-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the December 2013 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2013-12-01

The Workhorse of Industry: The Induction Motor

A brief overview of the induction motor, including the basics of construction, performance and variable speed drives.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2013-10-01

Drive and Motor Basics

A discussion of the basics in DC drives, DC motors, AC drives, AC motors and synchronous motors.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2013-10-01

Musical Gearboxes

Dave Soma, the mechanical supervisor at Leland Olds Station, a coal-fired power plant near Stanton, North Dakota, says he and his maintenance team care deeply about keeping the plant running and providing people electricity, especially in the dead of winter.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2013-08-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the August 2013 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2013-06-01

DC Motor Protection

The purpose of DC motor protection is to extend a motor's lifespan by protecting it from conditions that can damage the motor's windings--both electrically and mechanically.
MARKET UPDATE | 2013-06-01

Global Industrial Outlook - Sideways

We have just returned from the Electrical Products Group Conference in Sarasota, Florida. This is our favorite venue because it allows us to speak with the CEOs of nearly 25 global industrial companies that include General Electric, United Technologies, Honeywell, ABB and Emerson, with combined revenue of perhaps $500 billion.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2013-02-01

Gears and Gear Drives Product Focus

Our product focus includes the latest technology in gears and gear drives from the leading manufacturers.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2013-02-01

Traversing Steep Slopes

Hydrostatic drive concept gives LinsiTrak flexibility and versatility.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2013-02-01

Considering Energy-Efficient Motors: Don't Forget the Gearbox

The mechanical components of your drive system play a major role in overall system efficiency. Don't cut corners.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2013-02-01

Rolling Bearing Steels - A Technical and Historical Perspective - Part 1

This paper summarizes the chemical, metallurgical and physical aspects of bearing steels and their effect on rolling bearing life and reliability.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-12-01

Cruising with Curiosity

Power Transmission Components from Forest City Gear, Kaydon Bearings and Maxon Motors help power NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-12-01

The Fundamentals of Specifying and Selecting Gear Drives

Gear drives deliver power to industrial equipment such as bulk material conveyors, mixers, pumps and paper mills. The reliability that translates into greater uptime and profitability begins by specifying and selecting the proper drives for these critical applications.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-10-01

When a Good Gear Drive System Goes Bad

Even when the critical components of industrial power transmission gear drive systems are properly designed, specified and manufactured consistent with application requirements, performance problems can develop over time and failure may follow.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-10-01

PTExtras

Highlights from our e-mail newsletter and online videos section.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-10-01

Getting Creative

Beverage industry conveyor pours on advantages in distribution center. Case study describes the new conveying systems at Motion Industries Canada.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-08-01

Sorting Out Flexible Couplings

In most cases, industrial power transmission calls for flexible rather than rigid couplings in order to forgive minor shaft misalignment. For that reason, this article will focus solely on the selection of flexible couplings.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2012-08-01

Bearing Protection Needed if Inverter-Duty Motors Are to Live up to their Name

All major manufacturers of 3-phase AC induction motors offer "inverter-duty" or "inverter-ready” models, but while these motors have inverter-rated insulation to protect the windings, the bearings--their most vulnerable parts--are too often ignored.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2012-06-01

The Quick Fix - Rexnord Solves Bearing Installation and Removal Challenges

At a Midwestern producer of tubular steel products, measures taken to counteract the effects of impact on a quench tank roll made it difficult to remove and replace the conventional pillow block bearings that support the roll’s shaft.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2012-06-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the June 2012 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-06-01

Nervy Enterprise and Edgy Engineering: A Cant-Miss Mix

Fairchild International, a U.S.-based manufacturer of underground mining equipment, has produced battery-powered DC scoops since the early 1980s. With 17 different models available, Fairchild offers a size to fit any coal mining operation, making it the leader in the industry.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2012-06-01

Improved Performance for Hydraulic Seals from Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Seal design engineers and end users are continually seeking improved sealing systems and materials. This paper describes the potential of a new thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material to deliver improvements in pressure, speed and temperature capability, which are presented as comparisons to proven industry standard materials. Performance is demonstrated by virtue of test bench results of seals made from MDI-, PPDI- and NDI-based materials.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-04-01

Sky Science

S.S. White Provides Twisting, Turning Power Transmission with Flexible Shafts
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2012-04-01

University Improves Sustainability of HVAC Motors in Platinum LEED Building

A new preventive maintenance program at a leading New England Ivy League university demonstrates how the push for more sustainable "green" building management has led to a growing awareness of a chronic, widespread problem with HVAC motors—electrical bearing damage and failure.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-02-01

Compact Loaders for Compact Spaces

Compact loaders are employed where large machines have no access or are over dimensioned. New hydrostatic drives from ZF meet the demanding needs of this market.
EVENTS | 2011-12-01

Electric Automation Trends Discovered at SPS-IPC Drives 2011

SPS-IPC Drives 2011, which took place in Nuremburg, Germany in November, covered all components down to complete systems and integrated solutions in the electric automation industry.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2011-12-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the December 2011 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
EVENTS | 2011-10-01

Calendar

The complete Technical Calendar from the October 2011 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2011-08-01

Motoring Ahead

Synchronous motors controlled by variable speed drives are bringing higher efficiencies to industrial applications.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2011-08-01

Gear Drive Selection Process for the Parcel Handling Industry

This article is designed to help describe the selection process of a reducer to be used in the parcel handling industry. It will go over the different applications for which gearboxes are used throughout parcel handling facilities such as UPS, FedEx and DHL.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-06-01

Microprocessor-Controlled Prosthetic Leg

A new solution has been developed around the use of microprocessor-controlled prostheses. Just like natural limbs, these can react automatically, adapting to the current situation.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2011-06-01

Soft Starters vs. Variable Speed - Or Both

Given that many different hydraulic systems recommend the use of either frequency converters or cyclic control (soft starter technologies), the question must be asked - Which one of these solutions is the most cost-effective in reducing energy consumption and providing the most satisfactory payback time?
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-02-01

Product Focus: Gears and Gear Drives

In this special news section, the editors of Power Transmission Engineering have gathered the latest product news and information from the gears and gear drives sector.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2011-02-01

Airport Baggage Handling: Queue Conveyor Design from a Gearmotor Perspective

The primary driver of an airport baggage handling queue conveyor must be able to operate under increasingly demanding operating conditions, including frequent starting and stopping. The selection of the primary driver of the queue conveyor is dependent on multiple criteria, including dimensional requirements and durability characteristics.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-02-01

Drive-Based Integrated Safety

While safety functions have been integrated into drives packages for some years now, the current trends are very exciting, from many angles. Today, a full complement of safety functions can be implemented at the front-end of a system design on all types of production machines, including printing, packaging, converting, materials handling and other equipment used throughout American industry.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2010-12-01

A Present State and Future Vision of Motor Drive Technology

One of the driving forces behind the industrial revolution was the invention—more than a century ago—of the electric motor. Its widespread use for all kinds of mechanical motion has made life simpler and has ultimately aided the advancement of humankind. And the advent of the inverter that facilitated speed and torque control of AC motors has propelled the use of electric motors to new realms that were inconceivable just a mere 30 years ago. Advances in power semiconductors—along with digital controls—have enabled realization of motor drives that are robust and can control position and speed to a high degree of precision. The use of AC motor drives has also resulted in energy savings and improved system efficiency. This paper reviews the development and application of inverter technology to AC motor drives and presents a vision for motor drive technology.
EVENTS | 2010-12-01

AWEA to Wind Supporters--Do Not Panic

Despite posting its slowest quarter since early 2007, AWEA remains optimistic that the wind industry can and will work successfully with the revolving doors in Washington.
POWER PLAY | 2010-10-01

Vive (American) La France

A look back at a turbine-powered fire engine that was years ahead of its time.
EVENTS | 2010-08-01

Calendar

Calendar of upcoming events from the August 2010 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2010-04-01

Linear Motion Q&A: Customized Machinery Built with Off-the-Shelf Components

This Q&A session with various experts at Thomson Linear Systems covers linear slides & stages, clutches & brakes, bearings and actuators.
EVENTS | 2010-02-01

Calendar

Calendar of upcoming events from the February 2010 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2010-02-01

Total System Efficiency

Much of the industrial energy being consumed by systems is wasted through inefficiency. For this article, a system will be defined as the following components working together: electrical input power, variable frequency drives, induction motors, gearboxes and transmission elements (chains, belts, etc.).
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2009-12-01

Honing a Competitive Advantage

Sunnen grows product portfolio with motion control solution from Siemens.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2009-12-01

Soft Drink Solutions

Servo system from Bosch-Rexroth helps create more efficient beverage palletizer.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2009-10-01

Analyzing Synchronous Belt Failure

If you’re replacing your belts more than once per year, it’s time to analyze your drive. From belt crimping damage to high belt installation tension to sprocket misalignment and adverse environmental conditions, this guide walks you through how to identify the reasons behind premature failure and makes recommendations on corrective and preventive measures.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2009-06-01

Product News

The complete product news section from the June 2009 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2009-06-01

Reducing Core Loss of Segmented Laminations

The recent trend toward using segmented laminations as a means to increase slot fill and facilitate automated fabrication of electric machines comes with a penalty of increased core loss at the segment joints.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2009-04-01

Historic Danish Theatre Gets a Facelift

The Royal Danish Theatre has occupied the heart of Copenhagen for centuries and recently upgraded to a new control system featuring Sprint Electric DC drives to extend the lives of the existing motors, keeping replacement costs down. The Swedish stage design and technology company Visual Act retained most of the original motors and mechanics while providing a much-needed facelift to the stage.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2009-02-01

Six Keys to Sustainable Manufacturing

The federal government estimates that manufacturing uses about one third of the energy consumed in the U.S., so manufacturing companies can play an important role in building a sustainable future.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2008-12-01

Product News

The complete product news section from the December 2008 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2008-06-01

Mold Machining Center Maintains Accuracy

Entrust enlists Advanced Machine & Engineering for 7-axis, 2-spindle performance.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2008-04-01

Product News

The complete product news section from the April 2008 issue of Power Transmission Engineering.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2008-04-01

Saltwater Solutions from igus

igus bearings solve undersea issues for the marine vehicle industry.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2008-02-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the February 2008 issue of Power Transmission Engineering
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2007-04-01

The SKF High-Capacity Cylindrical Roller Bearing

Th e ISO defi nition of a full- complement bearing states that the bearing does not have a cage. When that defi nition was written, it was not technically possible to have a full-complement bearing with a cage. But SKF’s new high-capacity cylindrical roller bearing combines the load-carrying capacity of a fullcomplement bearing with the benefi ts of a bearing with a cage (Fig.1).
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