Gear Motions

What Gear Motions does

Gear Motions, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned precision gear manufacturer headquartered in Syracuse, New York, operating through four divisions: Nixon Gear (precision ground spur, helical, and pump gears, Syracuse), Oliver Gear (custom gears including large pitch and large diameter gearing up to 10 feet, Tonawanda), Niagara Gear (precision ground gears, Tonawanda), and AutoGear (low-volume custom gearboxes, transmissions, and transfer cases, Syracuse). Founded in 1973 by Samuel T. Haines and transitioned to 100% ESOP ownership by 2010, the company supplies custom cut and precision ground gears — ground gears, spur, helical, bevel, worm, pump gears, splines, sprockets, and gearboxes — to OEM customers across aerospace & military, industrial & commercial, material handling & robotics, medical devices, mining, oil & gas, printing & packaging, pumps, and specialty automotive (including EV and power take-off) markets.

Manufacturing relies on advanced capital equipment — Reishauer RZ260 and RZ550 gear grinders (the latter described as the only system of its kind in the world, with Felsomat robotic automation), a newly added Studer S151 cylindrical grinder, and cobot integration — supporting tolerances at AGMA 14 or better with total gear errors below .0003 inches (7.62 micrometers). Quality systems are ISO 9001:2015 certified, and the company is a member of AGMA, MACNY, and NAM. The business model is direct B2B sales to OEMs on a quote-based, net-30 terms structure with no channel intermediaries; revenue is generated through one-time custom product orders and repeat OEM programs, with international exports (75+ years of experience) covering the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Name

Gear Motions

Legal name

Gear Motions, Inc.

Website

https://gearmotions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gear Motions is a 100% employee-owned precision gear manufacturer in Syracuse, NY, producing custom cut and ground gears, gearboxes, and transmission components for OEM customers across aerospace, industrial, automotive (including EV), and specialty equipment markets worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Gear Manufacturing

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gearmotors, Gearboxes & Speed Reducers (IMAGACAF), Aerospace Bearings, Bushings & Motion Components (IMABANAB)

Keywords

• Precision gear manufacturing
• Custom gear cutting
• Gear grinding services
• Power transmission components
• OEM gear supplier

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Gear Manufacturing: Manufactures and sells custom cut and precision ground gears to OEMs worldwide. Products include spur gears, helical gears, pump gears, bevel gears, worm gears, sprockets, timing pulleys, shafts and splines. Also manufactures custom gearboxes and transmissions. Revenue from one-time product sales and repeat OEM orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Gear Motions manufactures and sells custom cut and precision ground gears for OEMs worldwide, producing spur gears, helical gears, pump gears, bevel gears, worm gears, sprockets, timing pulleys, shafts, splines, and fully assembled custom gearboxes and transmissions. Operations span design, prototyping, gear cutting, precision grinding, and gearbox assembly across its Nixon Gear, Oliver Gear, Niagara Gear, and AutoGear divisions in Syracuse and Buffalo/Tonawanda, NY.

Product overview

Gear Motions is a precision gear manufacturing company operating as a network of divisions (Nixon Gear, Oliver Gear, Niagara Gear, and AutoGear) that produces custom cut and ground gears for OEMs worldwide. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products including ground gears, spur gears, helical gears, pump gears, bevel gears, worm gears, splines, sprockets, and custom gearboxes. Manufacturing capabilities are supported by engineering services (reverse engineering, design for manufacturability, prototyping, redesign) and advanced gear grinding services using Studer and Reishauer equipment with robotic automation. The company serves diverse markets including aerospace & military, industrial & commercial, material handling & robotics, medical devices, mining, oil & gas, printing & packaging, pumps, and specialty automotive. All gears are proudly made in the USA with quality standards up to AGMA Q15 or DIN 2.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ground Gears Precision ground gears manufactured to demanding tolerances and surface-finish requirements using Reishauer and Studer grinding equipment for OEM customers across aerospace, automotive, printing, and industrial markets.
• Spur Gears Custom cut and ground spur gears for OEM industrial applications, available in multiple sizes and configurations for power transmission needs.
• Helical Gears Precision helical gears with angled teeth for smoother operation and higher load capacity compared to spur gears, manufactured for OEM customers.
• Pump Gears Precision gears designed for pump applications including hydraulic and fluid handling pumps, manufactured to tight tolerances for reliable performance.
• Bevel Gears Conical gears with teeth cut on the cone surface, used for transmitting motion between intersecting shafts.
• Worm Gears Gear pairs consisting of a worm (screw) and worm wheel for high reduction ratios in compact configurations.
• Splines Internal gear profiles used for torque transmission between shafts and mating components.
• Sprockets Toothed wheels designed to engage with chains or timing belts for power transmission applications.
• Gearboxes Custom gearbox design and manufacturing services including power take-off (PTO) units, with low-volume production capabilities from the AutoGear division for automotive, commercial, and industrial applications.
• Custom Gears Bespoke gear manufacturing tailored to specific customer requirements and demanding specifications across all gear types.
• Power Take-Off (PTO) Gears Gears for power take-off mechanisms that transfer power from vehicle engines to auxiliary equipment such as hydraulic pumps, generators, and agricultural tools.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Gears Precision gears and gearboxes designed for electric vehicle applications, supporting the growing EV market with custom gear solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gear quality up to AGMA 14 or better with total gear errors less than .0003 inches (7.62 micrometers)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KBE+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Design and engineering firm partnership established 2012. Specializes in design, analysis and test services for gear systems and mechanical transmissions. Supports analysis from design through prototype testing to manufacture.
• KinatechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-backdriveable motion control system partnership. Kinatech holds any load in place without using electricity, pneumatics, hydraulics, friction, or external braking. Gear Motions partnered with Kinatech and exhibited together at Motion + Power Technology Expo 2021. Represents groundbreaking gearbox technology.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cone Drive: Cone Drive is a US-based manufacturer of precision gear drives, gearboxes, and speed reducers serving industrial, solar, and motion control OEMs. Both firms occupy the same precision power-transmission niche with overlapping customers in industrial and high-precision applications.
• Arrow Gear Company: Arrow Gear is a US precision gear manufacturer specializing in custom-cut and ground gears, spiral bevel gears, and gearboxes for aerospace, defense, and industrial customers. Highly comparable in products, precision-grinding capability, and target OEM segments.
• Rush Gears: Rush Gears is a US-based custom gear manufacturer offering spur, helical, bevel, worm gears and gearboxes in low-to-medium volumes. Directly comparable in custom precision positioning, B2B/OEM sales motion, and small-batch manufacturing focus.
• W.M. Berg: W.M. Berg manufactures precision gears, gear components, and mechanical drive parts for industrial automation and OEM customers. Overlapping capabilities in precision components and direct B2B sales make it a relevant comparable for Gear Motions' small/medium gear business.
• Bison Gear & Engineering: Bison Gear manufactures fractional horsepower gearmotors, gear reducers, and related power transmission components for industrial OEMs. Overlaps with Gear Motions' gearbox and motion-control businesses, particularly in industrial segment.
• KHK Gear (Kohara Gear Industry): KHK (Kohara Gear) is a Japanese manufacturer of stock and custom precision gears (spur, helical, bevel, worm) for industrial customers. Closely comparable in product catalog and precision gear focus, though primarily a higher-volume catalog/semi-custom supplier versus Gear Motions' full-custom posture.

Broad incumbents

• Eaton Corporation: Eaton is a large diversified industrial manufacturer with significant transmission, gearing, and supercharger divisions. It is both a customer and a broader competitor with much wider product breadth across gears, clutches, and drivetrain systems.
• Bonfiglioli Riduttori: Bonfiglioli is a major global manufacturer of gearmotors, gear reducers, and drive systems for industrial automation, mobile machinery, and renewable energy. Comparable as a gearbox/gearmotor supplier with overlapping customer profiles but at substantially larger scale.
• Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Drive Technologies): Sumitomo Heavy Industries manufactures industrial gear reducers, gearmotors, and precision power transmission equipment globally. Comparable in gear/reducer technology but competes at much greater scale and with broader international footprint.
• Nidec Corporation: Nidec is a global leader in motors, gear reducers, and precision motion components. Comparable technology stack (precision gear/motor integration) but operates at enormous scale across automotive, appliance, and industrial end-markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gearmotions
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8iJ7ygIZ7q0EAwJ40UTfnw
• Facebookfacebook.com/gearmotions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2908397
• Instagraminstagram.com/gear_motions

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gear Motions