In many different industries, the gearbox is a very critical component in each individual operation.
Regardless of what the specific application is, from coal mining to moving an airline traveler’s baggage,
the conveyors rely on the gearboxes to convert speed and torque into motion. In this day and age where
technology is being used to make our lives easier in many different aspects, the power transmission
industry seems to be lagging behind in this trend. The gearbox in its simplest form has not seen many
technological changes in the last 20 years.
Many end-users rely heavily on the gearboxes in their applications. They also want it to last as long as
possible, but still pay a minimal cost for the same product and lifespan. However, without proper
maintenance, regardless of the gearbox design, the useable life of the gearbox could be significantly
shorter than desired. In some cases, the end-users fully understand that maintenance is a requirement
for long life of the equipment. They just do not have: a) adequate staffing in their maintenance
departments; b) the funds to support a maintenance program; or c) the time to devote to maintenance.