Customers often call saying they need a gearbox but tell us the application is secret. It's understandable that privacy can be a concern. But it's equally important that your supplier really knows what is going on. Many customers feel that they can’t disclose the function or parameters of a new machine design. They are worried that competitors may catch wind of a new development and beat them to the punch before they can get it to market. Unfortunately, it's that secrecy that can actually put the new design at the greatest risk. While torque, power, [...]

In many material-handling applications, it is necessary to make adjustments in the load support center distances to accommodate loads of different lengths or widths, especially if these loads have to be captured to avoid shifting. These loads can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and encompass a variety of industries. Similar designs concepts are used in tooling storage, automated inventory systems, and in large product handling systems. In this case, the customer’s design concept included two carriage beds supported on rollers and running on a guided track. These carriages had to either converge [...]