Involution Technologies

What Involution Technologies does

Involution Technologies Limited is a UK-based gearbox design and supply company specializing in epicyclic "flexible pin" gear transmissions for wind, tidal, and wave turbines and for hybrid and electric commercial vehicles. The company holds exclusive access to the Hicks flexible pin technology originally developed by Ray Hicks MBE, and applies it across a product family that includes the InvoDrive hybrid drivetrain (2MW–15MW for wind), the Invo-EDU and Invo eAxle heavy commercial electric drive units (12–80 tonne trucks), the E-AXLE-R8R high-performance automotive e-axle (100kW–350kW), electric wheel hub drives, and large mining truck drivetrains. The technical differentiator is uniform load distribution across gear tooth faces via flexible pins, enabling compact, lightweight, multi-megawatt gearboxes with high reliability.

The firm operates a capital-light, partner-led business model with three revenue streams: licensing detailed gearbox designs to OEMs' nominated manufacturers; supplying finished gearbox and drivetrain assemblies via manufacturing partners DePe Gear (UK) and Hangzhou Advance Gearbox Group (China); and engineering/consultancy services spanning concept, design, prototype build supervision, and lifecycle support. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales direct to global wind, tidal, and EV OEMs, supplemented by government-supported R&D collaborations (Innovate UK, UKRI, APC UK) and technology partnerships with motor, inverter, and simulation providers (Helix, Magtec, AEM, Edrive, YASA, Lyra Electronics, CMB.Tech).

Involution was founded in 2013 by Mark Cunliffe, with Dr Frank Cunliffe serving as Chairman & CTO. The leadership team is led by technical founders and former Orbital2 engineers, and the company's operating footprint spans Leamington Spa (UK), Northern Czech Republic (engineering), and China (sales), serving named customers including Siemens, SIMEC Atlantis Energy, Shanghai Electric, Hyundai, Doosan, Dongfeng, David Brown-Samsung, and Proteus Marine Renewables.

Name

Involution Technologies

Legal name

Involution Technologies Limited

Website

https://invo-tech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UK-based designer and supplier of proprietary "Hicks" flexible pin epicyclic gearboxes and integrated drivetrains for global wind/tidal turbine OEMs and heavy commercial electric vehicle manufacturers, licensing designs and supplying finished assemblies via partner manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drivetrain and gearbox design

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612), Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (33635), Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Gearmotors, Gearboxes & Speed Reducers (IMAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Truck & Commercial Vehicle Powertrain Manufacturing (Diesel/CNG/Hydrogen/Hybrid) (IMACABAJ), Axle, Differential & Final Drive Manufacturing (Front/Rear/E-axle housings) (IMACAHAG)

Keywords

• Epicyclic gearbox design
• Wind turbine drivetrains
• Electric drive units
• Hybrid vehicle transmissions
• Flexible pin technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Warwick

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensed Gearbox Design Services: INVOLUTION provides detailed gearbox designs as licensed designs to be built by nominated contractors, including complete manufacturing drawings, prototype build/test supervision, and ongoing QA audits of manufacturers.
2. Finished Gearbox and Drivetrain Supply: INVOLUTION supplies completely finished gearbox/drive train assemblies directly to OEMs in cooperation with their manufacturing partner, offering a full service from concept to end of life including technical support.
3. Engineering and Consultancy Services: Full gearbox design and engineering service including design studies, advice on correct application of gearbox designs into turbines, lifecycle technical support, and training gearbox manufacturers in build methods.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Involution Technologies Limited is a gearbox design and supply company that develops epicyclic flexible pin gear transmissions and fully integrated drivetrain/electric drive units for wind, tidal/wave turbines and hybrid/electric vehicles. It provides either detailed licensed gearbox designs (with manufacturing drawings, prototype supervision, and ongoing QA) for OEMs to build via nominated contractors, or completely finished gearbox and drive train assemblies supplied in cooperation with its manufacturing partners. Offerings span medium-speed hybrid wind drivetrains (2MW–15MW), heavy commercial vehicle electric drive units (12–80 tonne trucks), high-performance automotive e-axles (100kW–350kW), electric wheel hub drives, and large mining truck drive systems.

Product overview

Involution Technologies Limited (ITL) is a specialized gearbox design and supply company serving wind/tidal/wave turbine and hybrid electric vehicle markets. The company's product portfolio centers on innovative epicyclic flexible pin gear transmissions. Core products include the InvoDrive series for wind turbine applications (2MW-15MW), the Invo-EDU and Invo eAxle for heavy commercial vehicles (12-80 tonne), the E-AXLE-R8R for high-performance automotive applications, and various electric wheel hub drive systems. All products leverage the proprietary "Hicks" flexible pin technology for compact, reliable drivetrain solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INVODrive: Fully integrated medium speed hybrid drive trains for wind turbines ranging from 2MW to 15MW power capacity.
• Invo-EDU
• E-AXLE-R8R

Products and services

• InvoDrive

Quantifiable outcome

• Compactness: 12MW InvoDrive weighs only 78t (gearbox) and 113t (with generator) for 12MW rated input power
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and historical/core.

• HelixcoreTechnology or IntegrationHelix is a supplier of high-power density electric motors (SPX330 twin-drive motors) to INVOLUTION's Invo-EDU product. The collaboration integrates Helix motors with INVOLUTION's novel kinematic gear arrangement for heavy commercial vehicle electric drive units. CTI-4 SIC inverters from Helix are also integrated into the Invo-EDU system.
• DePe GearcoreTechnology or IntegrationDePe Gear is a manufacturer of high-quality gears and acts as INVOLUTION's UK manufacturing partner. DePe Gear supplies yaw and pitch systems for Proteus Marine Renewables projects and collaborates on gearbox manufacturing, providing INVOLUTION with domestic UK production capability.
• Hangzhou Advance Gearbox GroupmajorTechnology or IntegrationHangzhou Advance Gearbox Group in China is INVOLUTION's manufacturing partner for main drive gearbox supply. Through this partnership, INVOLUTION supplies finished gearbox products to customers globally, including the supply of main drive gearboxes for Proteus Marine Renewables.
• MagteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINVOLUTION has collaborated with Magtec since 2013 on electric wheel hub drive systems. Together they supplied Dongfeng (top four automotive manufacturer in China) with an Electric Hub Drive system for a 4X4 prototype truck. The partnership also produced a Two Stage Wheel Drive (22") project for a major OEM in China.
• EdrivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdrive collaborated with INVOLUTION on the E-AXLE-R8R project, providing leading proprietary high-fidelity simulation tools. Edrive produced over 10,000 optimized EDU design candidates using inputs from INVOLUTION and their simulation tools, enabling the selection of a highly optimized prototype EDU solution.
• Lyra ElectronicssupportingTechnology or IntegrationLyra Electronics participated in the collaborative E-AXLE-R8R project with INVOLUTION, contributing to the development of the scalable EDU platform with market leading motor and power electronics technology.
• CMB.TechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMB.Tech participated in the E-AXLE-R8R collaborative project, contributing to positioning the product for pilot sales and wider licensing into automotive and commercial vehicle markets.
• Advanced Electric Machines (AEM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerINVOLUTION has collaborated with AEM since 2013 in the hybrid commercial/construction electric vehicle market, contributing to the development of advanced electric machine solutions.
• YASAsupportingTechnology or IntegrationINVOLUTION has collaborated with YASA since 2013. Current project at concept evaluation stage involves Involution-designed gear hubs with YASA axial flux motors for an airport tug application (Two Stage Wheel Drive 22.5").
• Orbital2historical/coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrbital2 was founded by Ray Hicks MBE and Dr Frank Cunliffe to reintroduce the flexible pin gear transmission to wind and tidal turbines. Dr Frank Cunliffe now brings this extensive experience to INVOLUTION, having developed 8 European/Asian technology licensees and manufactured 30+ gearbox designs at Orbital2.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dana Incorporated: Specializes in drivetrain, sealing, and thermal management for commercial vehicles and increasingly for EV applications (Dana TM4 motors, e-axles). Direct competitor to Involution's Invo-EDU and electric wheel hub products in the heavy commercial EV segment.
• ZF Friedrichshafen: Major Tier-1 automotive supplier with leading eAxle (electric drive) product lines for passenger and commercial vehicles, plus wind turbine gearbox expertise through legacy ZF Wind Power. Directly comparable to Involution's Invo-EDU and E-AXLE-R8R offerings on the EV side and competes in the wind drivetrain space.
• Allison Transmission: Specializes in commercial vehicle automatic transmissions and is expanding into fully electric drivetrains for trucks and buses. Comparable to Involution's heavy commercial vehicle e-transmission work (Invo-EDU) and shares the focus on heavy-duty electrified drivetrains.
• Flender (Siemens): Leading manufacturer of mechanical and electromechanical drive systems, particularly dominant in wind turbine gearboxes under the Winergy brand. Direct peer in multi-megawatt wind gearbox design and licensing.
• Hansen Industrial Transmissions (Sumitomo Heavy Industries): Specializes in wind turbine gearboxes and industrial planetary gear systems, now part of Sumitomo. Direct competitor in the multi-megawatt wind gearbox design space alongside Involution.
• BorgWarner: Major automotive supplier transitioning heavily to electrified drivetrains (eAxles, integrated drive modules, electric motors). Directly comparable to Involution's E-AXLE-R8R and Invo-EDU platforms for passenger and commercial EVs.
• Bonfiglioli: Italian manufacturer of gearboxes, gearmotors, and planetary gear units with strong presence in wind energy (Bonfiglioli Wind) and industrial drivetrains. Directly comparable to Involution's epicyclic flexible pin gearbox technology for wind and industrial applications.

Broad incumbents

• Robert Bosch: Massive Tier-1 automotive supplier with broad portfolio including eAxle systems, EV motors, and power electronics. Competes with Involution across all EV product lines but operates across many automotive segments beyond drivetrains.
• Magna International: Large automotive systems integrator offering eDrive systems, complete electrified drivetrains, and contract manufacturing. Comparable to Involution's automotive eAxle work but at much greater scale and broader scope.

Emerging players

• Romax Technology: Provides gearbox design, simulation, and engineering software used across wind, EV, and industrial drivetrain development. Adjacent technology and tooling provider to Involution's core gearbox engineering market; Involution has used similar simulation approaches with Edrive.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Involution Technologies