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.


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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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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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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The paper examines how optimizing asymmetric gear tooth geometry through Direct Gear Design can improve load capacity, efficiency, and compactness in EV gearboxes, surpassing the performance limits of conventional symmetric gears.
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As a community, we gear engineers collaborate and share ideas to progress our collective capability. Technology progresses based on our efforts, and we have seen solid advances in the performance of our products as they become quieter, cheaper, more efficient, and more power dense. The pages of this magazine (past and present editions) are filled with examples where talented engineers have dug deeper into a subject using a more precise approach to a particular area concerning gear performance. The implied belief is always that greater precision (complexity) in the calculations brings greater accuracy (alignment with reality).

Fully electric vehicle drives usually require two-stage, non-switchable transmissions. One would think that this greatly simplifies the production. Finally, the described transmission structure has just four gears, distributed on the drive shaft, the second stage with fixed wheel and intermediate shaft as well as the axle drive wheel. But the conditions are not that simple: First of all, the engine speeds of the electric drive with up to 16,000 rpm are much higher than those of the combustion engine. For this purpose, electric motors deliver an almost constant torque over a wide speed range. Unlike the combustion engine, it is already attached to the transmission from zero speed. In addition, there is an additional boundary condition that makes production much more demanding than with the conventional powertrain.

A combination of international regulations and consumer expectations is driving the demand for reduced noise on all drivetrain components. Further demand is driven by the growing trend towards EVs and HEVs, where noise from ICE is intermittent or no longer present, and the contribution of transmission noise to overall vehicle noise becomes dominant.

Heat Treat 2023 is the Heat Treating Society’s 32nd conference and expo for heat treating professionals featuring three days of face-to-face networking opportunities with approximately 200 heat treat exhibitors/companies. All the top heat-treating companies will offer the latest research and industry insights during more than 100 technical programs. This year’s show includes a VIP-guided industry tour, as well as student/emerging professionals initiatives, including free college student registration, Fluxtrol Student Research Competition, and the ASM Heat Treating Society Strong Bar Student Competition. Heat Treat 2023 is colocated with Motion + Power Technology Expo 2023 with access to additional exhibitors. The event takes place October 17–19, 2023 at Huntington Place in Detroit.
This white paper explores how the use of an automatic tool change system can boost productivity in the grinding process. When manufacturing large gears, the demands regarding surface quality of the ground tooth flanks are increasing.
Join Kevin Meister and Troy Kirby from Productive Robotics, for a practical look at moving from hand deburring to cobot-automated in their own facility and many others.
Discover four diagnostic enhancement tools that move RX® endothermic gas atmosphere generator operations from preventative to predictive maintenance. Learn how monitoring dew point by retort, comparing equal flow, tracking tube performance, and measuring outlet temperatures prevent costly failures while ensuring consistent, high-quality carrier gas production.
Discover how SECO/WARWICK’s PIT-LPC furnace cuts cycle times by 60%, doubles throughput, and eliminates CO₂ emissions. Learn how vacuum carburizing redefines performance, safety, and sustainability in large-part heat treatment.
Spiroid Gearing delivers precision gearing for advanced mechanical systems engineered to handle extreme torque and complex motion requirements. With unique right-angle gear solutions, our technology enhances efficiency, reliability, and design flexibility. This empowers engineers to push boundaries in aerospace, defense, robotics, and industrial applications where performance and durability are non-negotiable.
Kapp Technologies L.P., the North American subsidiary of the Kapp Niles Group, has taken a significant step toward strengthening its domestic manufacturing capabilities. The company has successfully launched in-house production of diamond dressing tools at its Boulder, Colorado facility — marking a major milestone in its U.S.-based operations.


Kuka Robotics announced a new addition to its product portfolio with the KR Titan ultra robot. Designed for load intensive automation applications, the robot combines extensive reach with precise dynamics ideal manufacturers the automotive, battery/electromobility, and large part handling, as well as heavy logistics sectors.
May 5, 2026 - May 8, 2026

GrindingHub is the world’s leading trade fair for grinding technology and superfinishing. It covers the entire value chain of grinding technology. Since 2022, it has been held every two years in Stuttgart and is organized by the VDW (Association of German Machine Tool Manufacturers) in cooperation with Messe Stuttgart and under the patronage of Swissmem.
Jun 9, 2026 - Jun 10, 2026
Jul 15, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026
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