This issue we say farewell to a longtime colleague and friend, Dave Friedman, who is retiring at the end of October.
If you are not familiar with the trade show world, it can be quite overwhelming. In a matter of days (with months and even years of planning behind it), you will see a large, empty convention center turn into a city filled with booths and exhibits that are bustling with companies all vying to showcase their products and solutions. Motion + Power Technology Expo (formerly Gear Expo) remains one of my favorite shows of all time. It not only taught me about the importance of face-to-face networking, but it truly helped me in my professional development.
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.
A method to calculate pitch cones for hypoid gears using macrogeometry parameters—similar to non-offset bevel gears—while accounting for the added complexity of hypoid offset, tooling, and cutting technology is explored in this paper.
As gear manufacturers face increasing pressure to meet tighter tolerances, achieve higher profile accuracy, and deliver superior surface finishes, grinding technology is playing a more central role than ever in precision transmission manufacturing. Norton Saint-Gobain Abrasives is addressing these challenges head-on with the rollout of its next-generation grinding solutions—most notably, a new bond system known as VS3PN.
The Motion + Power Technology Expo (MPT Expo) returns to Detroit from October 21–23, 2025, colocated with Heat Treat 2025, creating one of North America’s most comprehensive gatherings for mechanical, fluid, and electrical power transmission, materials processing, and thermal treatment technologies. This year’s events bring together engineers, researchers, technologists, and decision-makers from across industries to explore, connect, and advance the design, production, and integration of cutting-edge systems that keep modern manufacturing moving.
In electric vehicles, the meshing of the gears can cause disruptive gearbox noise excitations. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for automotive manufacturers and suppliers of electric motors to identify and eliminate the causes of unwanted noise at an early stage. With the LHProcessMonitoring software, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH has developed a tool that detects deviations during gear production. This saves costs and reduces rejects—and is therefore also of interest to manufacturers of conventional gearboxes.
MPMA is pleased to announce the publication of three new revisions to standards. ANSI/AGMA 6011-K25, Specification for High Speed Helical Gear Units, written by the AGMA High Speed Gearing Committee, ANSI/ABMA 20-2025, Radial Bearings of Ball, Cylindrical Roller and Spherical Roller Types - Metric Design, written by the ABMA ASC B3 committee, and ANSI/ABMA 4-2025, Tolerance Definition and Gauging Practices for Ball and Roller Bearings also written by the ABMA ASC B3 committee.
Gear Technology has always attracted a sharp and forward-thinking audience—engineers and engineer-adjacent professionals who not only enjoy reading about new developments but are often the ones driving them. As we look ahead to 2026, we want to hear from you: Which emerging technologies should MPMA spotlight in the coming year?
In gear manufacturing, precision isn’t just for the products—it’s a necessity for the people who make them. Whether it’s a new hire learning the basics or a seasoned operator adapting to new processes, effective training is essential for maintaining quality, safety, and competitiveness.
Step into an autumn landscape, and it quickly becomes clear that nature has little regard for tidy rules. Leaves spiral unpredictably, pumpkins swell into odd asymmetries, and apples wrinkle and pucker around their stems. Yet engineers have long clung to the comforting principle that form follows function, as if everything were designed purely to serve its purpose without deviation. Harvard’s L. Mahadevan, professor of applied mathematics, physics, and biology, reminds us that this is rarely the case. Through studies of crumpled paper, folding brains, termite architecture, and the trajectories of coins, he shows that what first appears chaotic often obeys a hidden logic—intricate, surprising, and unexpectedly beautiful.
Universal Robots (UR) has introduced a new addition to its portfolio, the UR8 Long. Showcased for the first time this week at Fabtech in Chicago, the long-reach industrial collaborative robot is designed to tackle the most demanding automation challenges across industries. UR8 Long is available for order now, with shipping to begin in October.
Nord continuously develops and improves digital solutions for their customers, providing an efficient, transparent purchasing experience. The myNord online customer portal is designed to help customers streamline their processes, easily manage their quotes and purchases, and collaborate with colleagues. Whether you are an engineer, purchasing agent, sales representative, or aftermarket support, there is functionality withing the tool that provides added benefits over traditional ordering processes.
The Swiss Affolter Group announces the launch of the state-of-the-art AF140. The innovative company’s newest gear hobbing center is designed for small gears up to 40 mm in diameter and a maximum module of 1.0 mm. Positioned between and replacing the AF90 and AF100, the AF140 delivers the strengths of its predecessors while introducing next-generation automation and connectivity features.
Visual Components, a leader in simulation and robot offline programming (OLP), debuted its highly anticipated Visual Components 5.0 software platform during Fabtech. The platform provides all-in-one manufacturing simulation and advanced OLP. The company’s flexible and customizable software eliminates guesswork for manufacturers implementing automated processes and systems.
Jergens adds MT-S to its range of workholding products for automated and unattended applications for greater machine utilization. The MT-S spindle gripper allows continued machine cycles by picking and placing finished components in a temporary part loading tray located on the machine table.
High flexibility in a compact design: The new KNG 5P expert profile grinding machine from Kapp Niles is ideal for the precise machining of external and internal gear teeth. As a next level development of the successful ZE series, it combines the advantages of the previous model with enhanced features. “The KNG 5P expert can be used for a wide variety of applications and enables efficient work with excellent gear quality,” emphasizes Boris Maschirow, Kapp Niles product specialist.
Rego-FIX USA will travel to the “Air Capital of the World” to feature its powRgrip (PG) 48 toolholding system for large-diameter tools and aggressive machining at the Wichita Industrial Trade Show (WITS), Oct. 21–23, at the Century II Expo Hall in Wichita, KN. Visitors to booths #314 and #316 will see how the PG 48 toolholding system reduces the risk of cutter vibration, runout and pullout with big, long cutters during heavy machining operations such as those in aerospace manufacturing.
During Rich Piselli’s tenure with the AGMA Foundation, the president of Piselli Enterprises, Inc. dedicated his efforts to enhancing the scholarship program. “I wanted to give back to the gear industry because there weren’t many young people entering it, and I understood the financial burden of college. Our aim was to support the next generation of gear engineers and keep them on track,” he explained.
Years later, Piselli continues to support the AGMA Foundation Student Scholarship Fund through his company’s own “Give Back” initiative program. As of 2025, “Give Back” contributes two percent of every qualifying in-stock gear equipment purchase to the scholarship fund. To date, over $855,000 in eligible gear machine sales has resulted in more than $21,000 in scholarship money. The initiative applies exclusively to qualifying in-stock machines that are wholly owned by Piselli Enterprises and sold to AGMA members.
Stäubli has announced the appointment of Adrien Brouillard as executive president of its Robotics division, effective September 5, 2025. Brouillard has successfully served in the role on an interim basis in recent months and will now lead the division's global strategy and operations.
With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Dennis Gimpert on August 29, 2025. Dennis devoted his life to serving the gear industry and the people who make it what it is today. He began his career in 1972 at Barber-Colman as an applications engineer and later joined American Pfauter as an applications engineer and regional sales manager. In 1988, he partnered with the Koepfer family to found Koepfer America in South Elgin, Illinois, bringing modern automation plus hands-on application and manufacturing support to North American gear shops.
The Motion + Power Manufacturers Alliance (MPMA) is pleased to announce that power transmission engineer, Lance Brown, will join the organization as its first Senior Technical Instructor. Brown spent his entire 28-year career with CGI, Inc, recently purchased by The Timken Company. Brown will both instruct industry professionals on a variety of gearing and bearing classes, and also develop intellectual property for the Alliance.
DN Solutions recently signed an agreement to acquire Heller Group, a German cutting-edge machine tool manufacturer. Heller, founded in 1894, is a 130-year-old company recognized for its world-class machining center technology, specializing in demanding, high-precision processes.
ANCA has launched its inaugural Sustainability Strategy 2025–2030, a bold and transformative roadmap that embeds environmental responsibility, innovation, and community impact at the core of its operations. Designed with the same engineering precision that has defined ANCA for over 50 years, this strategy represents a shift in how the company is shaping the future of advanced manufacturing.
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