Worm gears are a vital tool in a variety of mechanical and industrial applications due to their distinct design and function. Their distinct advantages include high torque production, self-locking capabilities, and compactness. Worm gears are designed to reduce noise and vibration along with their compatibility with remaining compact. Worm gear systems are the most compact sort of gearing system, which allows their incorporation in extremely small spaces, yet offering high ratio speed reduction.
Rising Adoption of Robotics Favors is Boosting the Worm Gear Drives Market Growth Opportunities
Robotics is one of the areas that hold significant potential for the growth of worm gear drive vendors. As robots are becoming more prominent in industrial settings, the demand for high-performance gear systems is also expected to continue an upward trajectory in the coming years. Worm gears enable precise motion control, facilitating the accurate positioning and controlled movement of robotic devices. The combination of worm thread and worm wheel teeth enables fine adjustments and smooth operation, resulting in precise and repeatable movements. Worm gears provide large gear reduction ratios in a single stage, making them ideal for applications requiring low speed and high torque output. This allows robots in industrial material handling and assembly processes to execute jobs with precise control and large weight-handling capacities. Increasing investments by manufacturers across the world in the adoption of industrial robots is likely to generate lucrative opportunities for worm gear drives market growth. In October 2023, Volvo signed a deal with Fanuc for the industrial robot deployment. Under the terms of the agreement, Fanuc will supply industrial robots to Volvo’s global manufacturing facilities. In the first phase, Fanuc would supply more than 700 robots to Volvo’s planned electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Kosice, Slovakia, as well as sites in Ghent, Belgium, and Daqing, China. The announcement is a part of Volvo’s larger green plan, which includes producing solely electric vehicles by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2040. This aim emphasizes the utilization of automation technology, such as Fanuc industrial robots, and the Slovakian factory would serve as Volvo’s first carbon-neutral production site. In addition to manufacturers’ investments in the deployment of industrial robotics, the flourishing trend of Industry 4.0 is another factor that propels the adoption of automation technologies and robotics, which is further expected to benefit the worm gear industry. In December 2023, Speedgrip Chuck Co, a manufacturer of designed work-holding solutions based in the US, took a step toward the next level of modern production. The company is investing US$ 1.2 million in equipment for the Industry 4.0 transformation.
Worm Gear Drives Market Analysis: Material Type Overview
Based on material type, the worm gear drives market is divided into stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, and others.
In October 2023, Boston Gear introduced its new second-generation SS700 Series Stainless Steel Worm Gear Speed Reducers. The SS700 Gen2 stainless steel speed reducer is an evolution of the first-generation series that was launched to cater to the food & beverages sector. The NSF-certified SS700 Gen2 reducers have unique new features based on inputs gathered from the customers of the first-generation series. SS700 Gen2 Series speed reducers have exceptional energy efficiency and the lowest operating temperatures available.
In January 2022, KHK USA Inc., distributor of the market-leading KHK brand of metric gears, unveiled a wide line of metric worm gears manufactured to meet the highest quality standards. KHK’s vast collection of worm gears exhibits silent operations. These gears provide smooth power transmission, making them ideal for a wide range of applications requiring a significant speed decrease in a small space. KHK worm gear pairs are available in a variety of module sizes, tooth counts, and reduction ratios. Materials used in their design and manufacturing include structural carbon steel (S45C), structural alloy steel (SCM415), stainless steel, and cast iron. Worm wheels are composed of cast iron (FC200, etc.), nonferrous metals such as phosphor bronze and specialty bronze (nickel bronze, aluminum bronze, etc.), and engineering plastics such as MC Nylon. Worm gear drives are made of cast iron, a malleable material. It is less expensive than aluminum or steel. As a result, it is frequently utilized in automobiles, industrial machinery, and other material-handling equipment. NORD DRIVESYSTEMS completely revised its two-stage SK 02040.1 helical worm gear unit in 2018. The improved SK 02040.1, composed of high-strength aluminum, replaces the preceding cast iron product. The one-piece die-cast UNICASE housing ensures maximum strength and rigidity at a low weight. Furthermore, aluminum is far more corrosion-resistant than steel and can be further protected by other methods, such as the extremely effective surface treatment.
Worm Gear Drives Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments
Boston Gear, Kohara Gear Industry Co. Ltd., Delroyd Worm Gear, Tracey Gear and Precision Shaft, Cleveland Gear Company Inc., and TWG Inc are among the key players covered in the worm gear drives market report. The worm gear drives market report includes growth prospects owing to the current worm gear drives market trends and their foreseeable impact during the forecast period.
Inorganic and organic strategies such as mergers and acquisitions are highly adopted by companies in the worm gear drives market. The market initiative is a strategy adopted by companies to expand their footprint across the world and to meet the growing customer demand. Companies in the worm gear drives market mainly focus on product and service enhancements by integrating advanced features and technologies into their offerings.