Gear manufacturing has come a long way in the more-than-100 years that Federal Gear has been in operation. Throughout these changes, we’ve invested in new equipment, we’ve incorporated new technologies, and we’ve gone through multiple generations of engineers.
Even so, we can’t help but keep looking forward. So how could gear manufacturing change in the next 20 years?
Material Availability
Certain materials for gears may begin to fall out of style as new, cutting-edge materials start to become more cost-effective. For example, today, most gears fall into several categories including plastic, ceramic or metallic, to name a few. Ceramic gears are good for machines that need non-magnetic or non-conductive parts, or for biotech applications. Metal gears are easier to manufacture and are good for most other applications. Metallic glass, a futuristic material, may be able to combine the advantages of both in one, all-applicable material.
Precision Machines
Today’s gear manufacturing machines are more precise and with more options and capabilities than ever before, but technology never stops advancing. Better machines will likely introduce even tighter controls, resulting in even more reliably precise finished products.
Reshoring
Though millions of manufacturing jobs have been lost to developing countries in the past few decades, we’ve recently seen a trend toward reshoring—the gradual transition of manufacturing jobs back to the United States. This trend could increase quality and U.S.-based spending, especially if it continues to grow.
Automation
Already, we have machines that can automate the majority of the gear manufacturing process, but in the next 20 years, we may see even more automation—including AI-driven design and supervision, and automated quality control processes.
No matter what changes come next, Federal Gear will be here to accommodate them, and continue providing some of the best gear manufacturing services in the country. If you’re ready to get a quote or reach out for more information, contact us today!