The Chief Operations Officer at Romax Technologies, Graeme Walford has recently written an article for Gear Technology Magazine in which he discusses the future of standards and practices in the gear industry. While it rehashes a lot of the information that we are all already aware of (hybrid vehicles will require quieter and more efficient gearboxes, wind turbine technology is evolving with the need for more durable gear mechanisms) he makes several good points regarding the new generation of opportunities awaiting gear manufacturers.
Most notably is his concise (however brief) discussion of prototype efficiency and the need to derive quality and quantity components from the same resources while ensuring that parts manufactured will endure harsher environments. Walford is aware of the challenge that this presents to gear manufacturers, and of these changes on the horizon, he remarks:
"As we move into the future, a new generation of opportunities awaits the gear industry. Going forward, the gear industry will need to utilize and embrace new and developing technologies to ensure that it remains as competitive as possible. The gear industry has a bright future, one that will carve out new practices and standards as we seek to meet the challenges this future brings with it."
As gear technology becomes more essential to the evolution of the automobile and renewable energy industries, it is important for gear manufacturers to focus on optimization and efficiency with their products. This means further educating employees and prepping engineers to do more work with the same, or even less starting materials. As our industry becomes more frequently tapped for innovation and reliability, we must strive to meet the challenges we are faced with head on.
The May issue of Gear Technology Magazine is available as a .pdf here:
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