A gearmotor is a homogeneous and compact unit consisting of a gear unit and a motor. In electrical drive technology as produced by SEW‑EURODRIVE, it is also always an electric motor. The idea of a "motor-gear unit aggregate" can be traced back to a patent from the Bruchsal-based design engineer and entrepreneur Albert Obermoser in 1928: He invented the "Vorlegemotor" (geared motor)

Since then, the gearmotor has been developed further and further and new types of gear unit have been invented. In terms of motors, direct current technology has become less important, therefore gear units are nowadays most often combined with AC motors or servomotors.

The central role in the gearmotor is performed by the gear unit and its gear unit stages, the gear pairs. These features transmit the force of the motor from the input end to the output end. The gear unit therefore functions as a converter of speed and torque.

In most application cases, the gear unit slows down the rotational speed of the motor while at the same time transmitting significantly higher torques than the electric motor alone could provide. With that in mind, the design of the gear unit determines whether a gearmotor is suitable for light, medium or heavy loads and for short or long power-applied hours.

We refer to a reduction ratio or gear ratio based on whether a gear unit steps down or steps up the incoming speed from the motor (called the input speed). The speed ratio i between the input speed and output speed of the gear unit serves as a measure of this.

Another important measured variable for a gearmotor is the maximum torque on the output side. This torque is specified in newton meters (Nm) and is the measurement for the force of the gearmotor and the load that it can move with that force.

The primary factor in determining the type of gearmotor is the direction of flow force of the gear unit. There are three different basic designs in this regard: Parallel-shaft gear units, right-angle gear units, and planetary gear units.

In the automotive industry you can find gearmotors throughout the manufacturing process, from the press shop to final assembly. Likewise in the beverage industry where they move bottles, packaging units, and crates of drinks and are used when filling containers or sorting empty goods. Every intralogistics company relies on drives, whether they have to store, sort or supply goods.

The same with airports, where nothing would work without gearmotors and passengers would spend futile hours waiting for their bags at baggage claim.

Handling machines and robots, which require a high level of dynamism and accuracy, would be unthinkable without servo gearmotors.

Last but not least, there would be no such thing as fairground rides in the entertainment industry and the feeling of butterflies in your stomach on the roller coaster would probably be unheard of.