Wind power has emerged as one of the most important sources of renewable energy in recent years. The global wind power capacity was estimated to be 837 gigawatts in 2021 (statista.com). In the United States alone, wind is the largest source of renewable electricity, providing 10.2 percent of the country’s electricity and still growing (cleanpower.org/facts/wind-power/). However, to ensure maximum power generation, the efficiency and reliability of the wind turbine are critical.

In this interview, we learn about Gleason Plastic Gears (GPG), a division of Gleason Corporation that specializes in designing and manufacturing plastic gears using their proprietary no-weldline technology. GPG has diversified its customer base and serves various industries such as automotive, medical, electronics, home and leisure, marine, education, and hobby. The interview covers topics such as the advantages of the no-weldline technology, surprising applications where plastic gears are replacing metal gears, promising materials and methods for the future of plastic gears, challenges faced by plastic gear designers, and recent developments in services, software, and manufacturing technology. 

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA—Duisburg Branch today announced a new contract with global software provider Energy Exemplar to support their sales, business development, and project development teams. The branch office based in Duisburg, Germany focuses on the growth of MHI’s energy transition-related business, supporting the decarbonization of industry.

Two Forest City Gear employees, CNC Supervisor Mike Miller and CNC Lead/Programmer Josh Gates, recently attended a four-day training retreat in Pfronten, Germany hosted by DMG MORI. The event featured various seminars and opportunities for guests to experience firsthand DMG’s newest equipment and technologies, as well as networking and a taste of German culture.

TN Vaerktoejsslibning, Denmark’s second-largest precision tooling company, is deploying Numroto, the programming system for tool grinding from NUM across its entire production floor. The company cites highly successful long-term experience of the software, together with excellent technical support from NUM, as the key reasons for choosing to standardize on Numroto.

The latest version offers a wide range of powerful new features, from a new gear design module, to the influence of the wheel body during a complete rollover, to new display options for 3D images and animation of the gearbox kinematics in reports.

At the CIMT 2023, which takes place from April 10^th–15^th, WFL will present its technology and software solutions, such as WFL iControl, scanning technologies, or the new operational data acquisition system myWFL. But that is not the end of the story. The actual highlight of the show is the presentation of the M30 Millturn and a machining demonstration of a roots rotor.

Why is the industry considering changing from well-established gear manufacturing processes to something that is much more complex at first glance? Gear manufacturing has been its own “world” in metal cutting, dominated by companies with very specific expertise around gear technology. Production output has been high, but flexibility is limited. The technicians running these machines are highly skilled, but recruiting new staff with these skill sets has become more and more difficult.

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in gear manufacturing today and in the future. Our sixth installment online is an interview with Shane Hollingsworth, vice president of sales, Kapp Technologies.

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in gear manufacturing today and in the future. Our first installment online is an interview with Udo Stolz, vice president of sales and marketing at Gleason Corporation.