DC & AC Gearmotors for Various Industries

Gearmotors, consisting of a motor and a gearbox, are designed for applications that require high output torque and low speed. They are used in the industrial sphere, such as in jacks, cranes, elevators, clamping devices, conveyance or material handling systems and robotics, as well as in the automotive industry.

Most industrial gearmotors run on AC power and are fixed-speed designs, variants having a variable speed or a fixed gear ratio also being available. DC power gearmotors are typically found in vehicles, specifically in windshield wiper, power seat and window motors as well as truck winches.

AC gearmotors have the advantages of constant speed and high efficiency, in addition to being cost-effective as they eliminate the need for a separate gearing system. DC units, while more expensive because of their complex control system, offer high performance and precision in exchange. Because of these features, they are used in robotics and automation systems, including those found in homes such as smart locks, curtains and blinds.

Both AC and DC gearmotors have their advantages, especially when considering the specific requirements of their intended uses.

Globally, these motors have a steadily growing market thanks to their wide range of applications. They reached $23.66 billion in 2022 and this is projected to increase to $37.51 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.93 percent from 2023, according to Verified Market Research.

Some of the major players in this industry include Nabtesco, Harmonic Drive, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Flender and SEW-Eurodrive, all with factories in China. They are part of a hundreds-strong manufacturing pool consisting mostly of small and medium-scale companies. Ningbo Zhongda Leader, Leaderdrive, Guomao and Sheng Ji Tong are among China’s top suppliers. Leaderdive realized a total turnover of $63.67 million in 2022, rising by 0.54 percent year on year, and is expected to reach $170 million within the next five years. This will make it a major gearmotor company for robotics worldwide.

China manufacturing

Chinese manufacturers offer gearmotors for the industrial, automotive, robotics, space and aviation industries. The majority cater to the entry-level and midrange segments, with more advanced units destined only for high-end customers.

These companies continue to emphasize high motor efficiency, precision and reliability, low noise and power dissipation, and long operating life span on their R&D and production agenda. This is to benefit from increasingly popular applications such as electric vehicles and robotics. Shenzhen Weizhen, for example, has developed gearmotors for intelligent service robotics and precision instruments.

Thanks to established and emerging applications, China’s gearmotor industry is poised for sustained growth. Its market scale was $18.87 billion in 2022, a 5 percent increase from the previous year, and this is forecast to reach $19.81 billion this 2023 and $22.92 billion by 2026, according to Guanyan Report, a specialized market research company.

In the industrial robotics sphere, the forecast for gearmotors is a CAGR as high as 30 percent from 2021 to 2025 based on Zhongtou Consulting’s estimate. This category finished 2020 with a $570 million total.

There is also a two-digit growth projection for planetary gearmotors in 2023 and 2024 in terms of shipments to global markets. In 2021, China exported 232.58 million units or a 17 percent increase year on year, according to Zhiyan Consulting.

Encouraged by this upward trend, Chinese manufacturers are pursuing expansion plans. Ningbo Zhongda Leader, a key supplier in this motor category, has announced that it has allocated $15.97 million for a new intelligent gearmotor project in Foshan. The facility will begin mass production within two years and will enable the company to realize a total turnover of $29.91 million. The company, investing $36.8 million, has also set up subsidiaries in Singapore and Thailand to widen its coverage worldwide.

Mainstream DC & AC gearmotor selection in China

AC and DC motors in various specifications are widely available from Chinese suppliers. They are CE-approved, RoHS-compliant and UL-listed.

Common AC types have a rated voltage of 110, 220, 277 or 380VAC, operating frequency of 50/60Hz, rated power ranging from 75 to 3,700W and speed of 3 to 6,000rpm. These are for robotics, industrial and automotive applications.

Typical DC units have 2.4 to 24VDC rated voltage, 0.07 to 20W output power and 4 to 3,500rpm. They come in variants for automotive use, as well as for electric bicycles, home appliances, medical equipment and power tools.

Manufacturers welcome requests for customization, products based on which represent between 20 and 70 percent of their shipments. They source gears, bearings, shafts, frames, cases and other materials and components from domestic or foreign companies as required.

The cost of these inputs has not changed much in the past 12 months and will likely remain the same in the next six months, keeping product prices steady.

AC gearmotor, 5,000rpm±15% free-load speed

Company: Dongguan City Lianfeng Motor Co. Ltd

Model 5425-220V from Dongguan City Lianfeng is a 220VAC, 50Hz gearmotor with 0.32A±15 percent free-load current and 70W±15 percent free-load power. This CE-marked unit, with 5,000rpm±15 percent free-load speed, 16mm/sec maximum vibration and ≤80dB noise, is hipot tested to 1,500VAC/sec at 10mA.

MOQ: 1,000 units

Lead time: 30 days

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DC gearmotor, 20 to 1,000rpm speed

Company: Shenzhen Shunchang Motor Co. Ltd

Shenzhen Shunchang offers this 3 to 24VDC gearmotor, the 37GB528, with 20 to 1,000rpm speed. Overall motor dimensions are 37x60mm.

MOQ: 100 units

Lead time: 24 days

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DC gearmotor, 3,500, 3,600, 4,500, 4,700rpm no-load speed

Company: ZJTEX Electric Group Co. Ltd

Suitable for use in automatic office and bank equipment, and household appliances, the ZJ-PG22-180 gearmotor from ZJTEX has 12 or 24VDC rated voltage, 3,500, 3,600, 4,500 or 4,700rpm no-load speed and up to 90 percent efficiency.

MOQ: 500 units

Lead time: 35 days

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