Gear Motions Inc. has acquired Niagara Gear Corp. in Buffalo, N.Y. Niagara Gear manufactures precision ground spur, helical and pump gears for a large and diverse global customer base.

“Niagara Gear has a very strong presence in markets we have not traditionally served, such as the military and the aerospace high-speed pump gear markets,” said Gear Motions President Dean Burrows. “When combined, these great companies will make Gear Motions perhaps the largest U.S. precision gear manufacturer for the commercial and industrial air-end compressor market.”

Niagara Gear President Matthew Babisz, who purchased Niagara Gear in 1974, is retiring after nearly 60 years in the gearing industry. “I am pleased that Gear Motions will keep the Niagara Gear employee base intact and incorporate our workers into the Gear Motions Employee Stock Ownership Plan,” Babisz said.

Robert Barden, vice president and general manager, who has been with Niagara Gear from the beginning, will continue to run its day-to-day operations.

“This acquisition complements our existing businesses while allowing us to provide more services and capabilities to both sets of customers,” said Sam Haines, CEO of Gear Motions. “It enables Gear Motions to offer more precision applications to a wider customer base and also permits Niagara Gear to supply larger ground and cut spur and helical gears to its existing customers through its new sister company, Oliver Gear.”

Niagara Gear joins the Gear Motions group of companies, which also includes Nixon Gear in Syracuse, N.Y., and Oliver Gear and Pro-Gear in Buffalo, N.Y. With the addition of Niagara Gear, Gear Motions expects to expand its custom precision gear business by nearly 40 percent.