Beloit, Wisconsin company United Stars Inc. announced the acquisition of GearTec Inc., of Willoughby, Ohio.

GearTec produces short-run gears up to 100 inches in diameter. The company hobs, shapes, mills and grinds helical, double-helical, herringbone, worm and internal gear types to AGMA class 8 or better standards. GearTec gears are used by industries such as wind power, offshore drilling, tunnel boring, OEM, steel, crane and others.

United Stars already offers a full range of gear manufacturing services to several markets with United Gear and Assembly, which manufactures medium- to high-volume, smaller-sized gears that are found in construction equipment, agriculture, transportation, engines, transmissions and hydraulic pump and motor applications. United Stars also owns The Electric Materials Company, which produces copper components, as well as United Industries and United Stainless, which produce stainless steel tubing.

"GearTec is a highly respected company with a strong reputation for excellence in very large and precise custom gears for a unique group of end users," says Rich VanLanen, president of United Stars. "Having both GearTec and United Gear and Assembly on the same team gives us a powerful one-two punch in the gear-making arena. It is a very exciting time for the United Stars group of companies."

John Grazia, president of GearTec, comments that "Additional capital and operating support will enable us to take advantage of growth opportunities now and in the coming years. At the same time, our products complement the quality product lines offered by United Gear and Assembly, which enables us to jointly satisfy a total range of gearing needs."