Jun 30, 2010
Gleason Corporation has announced a major new investment in equipment and processes to optimize the manufacture of large module gear hobs. These cutting tools are used in the manufacture of large gears for wind energy, mining and a variety of industrial gear box applications. The Gleason Cutting Tools facility in Loves Park, Illinois (USA) is now capable of producing hobs up to 450mm in diameter, 530mm in length and up to 40 module. Through optimization of the new equipment and processes as well as lean philosophies and techniques already embraced by the facility, large module hob manufacturing lead times now range from 7-9 weeks. The cell is capable of producing DIN & AGMA AAA class hobs.
The new multi-million dollar investment includes customized equipment with on-board inspection, fast change-over and the highest accuracy and repeatability. Robert Phillips, Senior Vice president of the Company’s Tooling Products Group, said “This investment allows us to extend our global leadership in gear cutting tools and serve the fast growing markets such as wind energy with the shortest lead times in our industry”.
The large module hobs complement Gleason’s full line of gear hobbing machines for parts with diameters up to 6 meters, and even larger on request.
Gleason Corporation’s mission is to be The Total Gear Solutions Provider™ to its global customer base. Gleason is a world leader in the development, manufacture and sale of gear production machinery and related equipment. The Company’s products are used by customers in automotive, truck, aircraft, agriculture, mining, windpower, construction, power tool and marine industries and by a diverse set of customers serving various industrial equipment markets. Gleason has manufacturing operations in Rochester, New York; Rockford, Illinois; Dayton, Ohio; Plymouth, England; Munich and Ludwigsburg, Germany; Studen, Switzerland; Bangalore; India, and Suzhou, China and has sales and service offices throughout North and South America, Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region.
More information about Gleason Corporation is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.gleason.com.