Application Watch: China grows gearmotor sector to accelerate localization of robotics industry

Dependence on foreign technology to realize industrial automation is driving upstream to downstream initiatives in the world's factory.

Motor manufacturers in China are pushing to make geared types that meet increasing demand in the country's own robotics industry. This is to take advantage of the government's plan to reduce reliance on speed reducers, a key component, from Japan, the US, Germany and South Korea. The target is to supply half of requirements domestically in 2020 and reach 70 percent in 2025.

With China being the world's top robotics market, this huge prospect is fueling investment in R&D and production. Based on projections, gearmotors for industrial robotics will surpass $588 million by the end of 2020 and post 30 percent CAGR within the next five years, according to Sohu News.

One of the major robotics speed reducer suppliers in the country, Qinchuan Machine Tool spent $147 million in 2018 and completed the construction of a 28,000sqm facility at the end of 2019. It started mass production in 2020 to realize total annual capacity of 180,000 units.

Zhejiang Shuanghuan has started manufacturing speed reducers for robotics on a large scale, and plans to boost its capacity further before the end of 2020.

Estun Automation, meanwhile, has become a shareholder in foreign companies related to robotics, which include Italy's Euclid, Barret in the US and MAI in Germany. It acquired UK-based Trio and another company in Germany, CLOOS, to strengthen development and manufacturing capability in upstream to downstream robotics.

LeaderDrive offers gearmotors with an operating life of up to 20,000 hours, exceeding the 6,000-hour requirement in this application.

Gearmotors account for nearly 40 percent of total robotics costs. Unlike conventional units, gearmotors for robotics are smaller and lighter, have a shorter drive chain and are easier to control. Based on the accompanying speed reducers, there are rotate-vector, harmonic and planetary types, with the first two widely adopted.

Between these two leading variants, rotate-vector units are expected to prevail in the Industry 4.0 sphere, owing to better stiffness and precision features.

Globally, companies from Japan, the US, Germany and South Korea dominate the speed reducer line. Nabtesco and Harmonic Drive, both from Japan, have a combined 75 percent market share. The former owns 60 percent of the rotate-vector segment and the other 15 percent of the harmonic category.

About 100 manufacturers in China offer gearmotors for robotics and most are homegrown companies.

Ningbo and Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, Suzhou and Nantong in Jiangsu, Guangzhou in Guangdong, Shanghai and Beijing are the main production bases in China for robotics gearmotors.

Mainstream robotics motors

Gearmotors with rotate-vector and harmonic speed reducers make up the typical range of gearmotors in China. The latter kind is used mostly in robotic bases, arms and shoulders.

Products come with a metal or plastic gearbox. Rated power is from 5 to 50W, speed 5 to 2,000rpm, torque 1gf.cm to 50kg.cm and speed adjusting range 1:1,000 to 10,000.

Customization is generally accommodated.

A number of companies ensure releases comply with industry standards such as CE, CSA, RoHS and UL.

All materials, including reducers, flanges, shafts, bearings, gears, and plastic and metal gearboxes, are usually sourced from domestic providers.

Input costs remain flat, keeping motor prices stable. This is the expected trend through 2021.

So far, the COVID-19 pandemic has had no significant effect on production, according to industry sources. Some suppliers have even boosted output by 5 to 10 percent, while others are confident of restarting their expansion plans in 2021.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in gearmotors from China makers.

10 to 2,000rpm gearmotor

Rated at 1.5 to 12VDC, the HC-Gearbox-001-9452 from Huayuexin Precise Ware Co. Ltd is a low-noise gearmotor with 10 to 2,000rpm speed. It measures 12x10mm.

The supplier requires a minimum order of 1,000 units. Delivery is within 25 days.

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12V-rated gearmotor

The 12V-rated gear motor with 1/800 reduction ratio from Shenzhen Aok Motor Group Ltd, the GM-37B528-160512, has 3.1rpm speed and 0.021A current at no load, and 2.6rpm speed, 0.068A current and 12kg.cm torque at full load.

An order of at least 500 units has a delivery lead time of 10 days.

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Gearmotor, 6,000g.cm rated torque

With clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, the KM-32A360-278-1217.3 gearmotor from Shenzhen Kinmore Motor Co. Ltd has 17.3rpm and 0.052A no-load speed and current, 6,000g.cm rated torque and 12VDC rated voltage. Its gearbox measures 25.8mm in length.

The minimum order of 5 units has a 10-day delivery lead time.

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Gearmotor, 24.01 or 47.04mN.m torque

Model SC-N20AGB gearmotor from Shenzhen Shunchang Motor Co. Ltd has 33 or 70rpm speed and 0.02 or 0.05A current at no load, and 24.01 or 47.04mN.m torque. Its rated voltage is 6VDC and power 0.06 or 0.27W.

The minimum order is 100 units for delivery within 15 days.

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