Gearing Up for the Future Through Innovation and Precision

A Group Built on Innovation and Synergies

Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH, headquartered in Düsseldorf, is a leading manufacturer of precision gears and a key innovator in robotics and automation.

What many people don’t know: The gearbox specialist is part of a strong group of companies and over 8,000 employees worldwide – the Nabtesco Corporation!

Although many people might not realize it, chances are they’ve used Nabtesco's technology in their day-to-day lives. Nabtesco's motion control solutions play a crucial role in countless everyday applications. Be it planes, trains, ships, trucks, or construction machinery, they use Nabtesco's motion control solutions. You’ll find it in automatic doors, knee prostheses, electric wheelchairs, patient beds, and X-ray machines, too. Beyond that, the manufacturing of everyday things such as furniture, clothes, and packaging relies on Nabtesco's precision solutions.

Creating Value Through Knowledge Sharing

Daniel Obladen, Director of Sales & Marketing at Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH, highlights the advantages of being part of a global network. "As part of the Nabtesco Corporation, we benefit from the strength of an internationally positioned and diversified group. The corporation brings together the expertise and technologies of approximately 60 companies and over 8,000 employees worldwide, making it a global innovator."

He also emphasizes that this strong network gives customers a competitive edge by reducing costs, optimizing processes, and minimizing risks.

Powering Industries with High-Precision Gear Solutions

Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH is the specialist for precision gearboxes within the corporate group. For over 35 years, the gearbox manufacturer has been supplying the industry with groundbreaking drive solutions, steadily supporting the growth of its customers. To date, over 13 million Nabtesco high-precision gearboxes are in operation worldwide across a wide range of industries and applications.

The company offers the most extensive and comprehensive range of precision gear solutions on the market. Its product portfolio includes cycloidal and strain wave gears, the latter manufactured at the Ovalo GmbH site in Limburg.

These innovative gear systems are known for their precision, safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. They ensure accurate motion control and precise positioning, even under high acceleration forces, heavy loads, or in hygiene-sensitive environments such as food processing, medical devices, and cleanroom applications. With these capabilities, users can achieve significant performance improvements in their processes.

Redefining Work Through Automation

Daniel Obladen views automation as a powerful tool for building a better future. “We see automation as a tool that helps create safer and more efficient processes. Our gear systems ensure that no one has to work in hazardous environments or perform monotonous tasks anymore,” he highlights.

As an example, Obladen highlights the current advancements in the medical sector: “Nabtesco’s solutions help improve imaging techniques, allowing for tumor detection at early stages. They also support patient care, robotic surgeries, and rehabilitation. Additionally, other tasks such as the delivery of medications, meals, supplies, disinfection, and laundry are also improved using Nabtesco’s expertise.”

Nabtesco provides end-to-end support to customers, from consultation and selection through design, manufacturing, and maintenance. This approach allows customers to focus on their core work.

Engineering Solutions for Mobility, Manufacturing, and Beyond

Formed in 2003 through the merger of two established companies, Teijin Seiki (founded in 1944) and NABCO (founded in 1925), Nabtesco brings together about 150 years of engineering expertise.

Today, Nabtesco operates across four key business sectors: Component Solutions, Transport Solutions, Manufacturing Solutions, and Accessibility Solutions. Through its various subsidiaries, the company also serves as a system and component supplier for a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, and healthcare.

The company’s products power a wide range of applications that require precise movement and controlled stops. This includes braking systems for rail transport, actuators for aircraft elevators and rudders, drive systems for excavators, and control components for various applications. The company also provides automatic door systems and advanced motion technology for the healthcare and social sectors.

Pioneering the World’s First Intelligent Knee Prosthesis

Nabtesco Corporation pioneered the development of the world’s first microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint. The advanced system senses the user’s walking speed, adjusts the hydraulic cylinder, and automatically regulates the knee joint’s swing-phase speed. This allows for comfortable, safe, and natural movement, helping users regain a sense of normalcy and independence.

One of the most inspiring ambassadors for this technology is Mari Katayama. The Japanese artist and model lost both her lower legs at the age of nine due to tibial hemimelia. In 2011, she launched the High Heel Project to demonstrate the freedom of choice. She believes everyone should have freedom regardless of disability. By pairing prosthetics with high heels, Mari has challenged perceptions. Since 2022, Nabtesco Corporation has been a proud partner of the project.

Elevating Performance while Ensuring Reliability and Sustainability

Nabtesco Corporation's core expertise is delivering optimal motion control across land, sea, and air. Its Flight Control Actuation Systems are essential for precisely controlling an aircraft’s pitch, roll, and yaw axes, ensuring safety and comfort during flight. These systems are used by many major aircraft manufacturers.

In the maritime industry, Nabtesco’s high-performance solutions are trusted for their functionality and reliability. One key application is the precise control of main engines, where advanced technology reduces fuel consumption and emissions. This helps lower the environmental impact of the shipping industry.

On land, buses, trucks, and trains benefit from Nabtesco’s modern braking systems and energy-efficient components, which enhance performance. These technologies make transportation safer and more sustainable.

Nabtesco’s portfolio extends beyond transportation, including:

• Automated packaging machines that fill and seal sterile food pouches with precision. It helps keep hygiene standards high while cutting down on waste during packaging.

• Eco-friendly electrification solutions for construction machinery. With a 30 percent global market share in excavator drive systems, the company plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable practices in the construction industry.

• Efficient wireless charging solutions. It is essential for drones, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and service robots.

• A Condition Monitoring System with Fail-Safe (CMFS), which prevents failures in wind turbines and extends their operational lifetime.

Furthermore, the company's expertise extends to automatic door technology. Its automated door systems open up barrier-free access to shops, hotels, restaurants, and hospitals. Beyond that, this technology powers transportation hubs worldwide with automatic train doors, platform screen doors, and airport gate systems.

Innovating for a Better Future

Whether in transportation or manufacturing, Nabtesco’s advanced solutions enhance everyday life while minimizing environmental impact.

As Daniel Obladen puts it, “Our technologies are shaping the future. In many applications, they not only introduce innovation but also outperform conventional alternatives in both performance and cost-effectiveness.”

Discussing Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH’s product portfolio, he adds, "Our mission is to drive automation through robotics. We aim to reduce hazardous and repetitive tasks for humans so that they can focus on more meaningful and skill-driven work."

Company Information: Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH

Nabtesco is one of the world’s leading specialists in the development, design, and manufacturing of precision gear systems. Its product portfolio includes cycloidal and strain wave gears, offering the most extensive and comprehensive range of precision gears on the market.

These high-performance reduction gears cover a wide range of applications. They are essential in machine tools and industrial robotics, with more than 60 percent of all industrial robots worldwide relying on Nabtesco technology. Additionally, they play a key role in material handling, packaging, and factory automation, ensuring efficiency, durability, and precision in demanding applications.

With over 8,000 employees across multiple production facilities, sales offices, and service centers worldwide, Nabtesco provides comprehensive customer support tailored to individual needs.