As we embark on a new year, let’s review the current state of the gear industry, and how the changes of the past several years will shape our path forward. The insights garnered from Gear Technology’s annual survey offer a glimpse into the collective mindset of professionals in the field and help us understand how to plan for an ever-changing future.

Intelligent power management company Eaton today announced that Ben Sheen, chief engineer, of Eaton’s Mobility Group, was recently elected to the Board of Trustees for the Gear Research Institute (GRI) at Penn State University. The GRI is affiliated with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) to conduct research and development, consulting, and analysis for gear-related needs.  

In keeping with tradition, machine manufacturer Klingelnberg has in 2023 once again honored its long-standing employees with an anniversary celebration. This year’s honorees included four colleagues celebrating 40 years with the company and 22 employees looking back on 25 years of service. Three employees are even marking a full 50 years of service. The corresponding celebrations are planned for early summer 2024.

The WFL headquarters in Linz opens its doors, from March 5th to 7th, 2024, and will be hosting national and international guests of different industries related to complete machining. In three days, you can find out more about the industry’s current trends and developments in an exhibition area of more than 4,000 m². And you get your first-hand WFL experience getting to know its offerings.

The AGMA Foundation awards scholarships to outstanding engineering students at the Associate/Technical, Undergraduate, and Graduate levels. The scholarship program was created to help fill the need for skilled employees in the gear industry. 

Dayton Gear partnered with Helios Gear Products to install a new Hera 200 CNC gear hobber, followed shortly after by a Hera 500 CNC gear hobber. Helios had a chance to check in with Adam Baird and Brian Baird, 3rd generation at Dayton Gear, to see how their production has changed since the installation, and how they're planning and looking forward to the future.

Southern Gear has equipped two Doosan CNC Horizontal Turning Centers with advanced RoboJob Turn-Assist robots, thus reducing workpiece load/unload times by 50 percent and allowing skilled machine operators to perform many other tasks.

The new Gear Trainer Program 2024 features new gear technology topics, including gear and transmission design, cutting and hard finishing processes, metrology and gear noise analysis, tools and workholding, as well as software updates and smart production systems. Gear Trainer Webinars take advantage of a mix of different media including live manufacturing and software demonstrations.

The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) is proud to announce the hiring of Todd Praneis as Vice President, Technical Division. In addition, three AGMA employees—Courtney Caroll, Robin McWilliams, and Jess Oglesby—have been promoted.

Avers Machine & Gear has acquired Fox Tool & Manufacturing located in Woodstock, Illinois. Fox Tool & Manufacturing is an Aerospace Machine shop that is AS9100D Certified, ISO 9001/2015 Certified, and ITAR Registered and has been operating for close to 40 years.