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State of the Gear Industry 2026

The gear industry navigates uncertainty, finds pockets of strength, and bets on automation

Of the 137 respondents to our annual gear-industry survey, the message was clear: tariffs are the defining challenge of 2026. But the frustration runs deeper than the duties themselves. Manufacturers can absorb cost increases; they can’t absorb chaos. When rules shift weekly and exemptions evaporate overnight, planning becomes guesswork. One respondent captured the exhaustion: “In 2025, they were all over the place, without warning, up and down. Terribly disorganized.” Yet within this turbulence, distinct currents run strong. Defense and aerospace work has surged. Oil and gas, buoyed by loosened regulations, is “very active” according to multiple respondents, with mobile power units and gas compression driving demand. Overhaul and repair business is booming—when new equipment becomes expensive or hard to source, companies keep existing machines running longer, and that means gears.

¡Rápido!

With many of its precision gears produced in small lot sizes, Spanish gear producer Engranajes Juaristi S.L. depends on Gleason machines for exceptional speed and flexibility.

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Technical Articles

Investigating the Effects of Wear, Lubrication and Material Pairing on the NVH Performance of Plastic Gears

This study systematically evaluates how material selection, progressive wear, and grease lubrication affect the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance of polymer gears, providing new insights for designing quieter, more optimized transmission systems.

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Morphology of FZG-A Test Gears

This study explores the failure mode morphology of FZG-A test gears. It aims to examine the orphologies of scuffing, scoring, scratches, and polishing using high-magnification light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images.

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A Review on Gear Transmission Error

This paper will review the development process, current research status, characteristics, functions, and measurement methods of TE. It will analyze the difficulties and core issues existing in the basic theory of TE, clarify the limitations and deficiencies of TE, and explore ways to overcome the shortcomings of TE.

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Electric vs. Combustion: A Comparative Analysis of Gear Design for Commercial Vehicle Applications

This paper examines the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), highlighting the distinct gear design requirements for each and presenting a comparative case study of gearbox configurations in a 14-ton commercial vehicle.

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Design

Thanks to material development and additive manufacturing opportunities, it’s important for the gear and power transmission industries to monitor the trends, technologies and future forecasts in the powder metal market.

Grinding

From the outside, Gallmar Industries, nestled into an Oshkosh, WI, neighborhood, looks like any unassuming, medium-sized gear shop. Then take a plant tour with Gallmar’s VP of Operations Kenan Zolota—and prepare to be amazed. The facility stretches on like the Army’s warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, with everything from gear cutting to heat treat, gear grinding to inspection, all under one roof. Gallmar’s breadth of product line is in evidence too: defense-related transmission gears, 60-in. diameter internal gears for mining equipment, axle components for fire/ rescue trucks five feet in length, right down to a bin of brass ammunition casings that Zolota says are a special order.

Inspection

When electric drives are used in vehicles, the masking effect of an internal combustion engine disappears, allowing the noise behavior of the transmission to take center stage. At the same time, peak power and torque increase, engine speeds increase, and power must be transferred optimally in both directions due to the regenerative braking system. Conventional design parameters remain important, however: The build space is limited, durability must not be compromised, and the product must still be cost-efficient. Optical metrology as part of a hybrid measurement concept helps to overcome all these challenges.

Heat Treating

By understanding customers’ manufacturing and heat-treatment processes, Ipsen identifies pain points and develops IIoT and AI-driven solutions that improve operational efficiency.

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Videos

From Job Shop to Production with the Hera 750

At Gear Headquarters, quality is the foundation of everything they do. Based in Kansas City, the shop manufactures spur, helical, double-helical, herringbone, bevel, internal, spline, and worm gears, sprockets, and timing belt pulleys. 

Industry News

The Motion + Power Manufacturers Alliance (MPMA) and the Alliance for Innovative Energy, LLC, managing and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their collaboration on advancing standards for gear and bearing design and manufacturing.

Product News

Rego-Fix USA developed its powRgrip system for stable toolholding when machining parts made from all types of materials. Whether machining firearms or tactical gear, the powRgrip’s press-fit toolholding delivers higher precision, with greater vibration damping for longer tool life and superior surface part finishes.

Calendar

AeroDef Manufacturing 2026

Apr 13, 2026 - Apr 16, 2026

In 2026, AeroDef Manufacturing is represented on the national stage by a multifaceted showcase at RAPID + TCT 2026.

Reliable Plant 2026

Jun 15, 2026 - Jun 18, 2026

Cleanpower 2026

Jun 1, 2026 - Jun 4, 2026

IMTS 2026

Sep 14, 2026 - Sep 19, 2026

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