Right-angle gearbox design combines worm and planetary stages to unlock new possibilities for demanding industrial and medical applications

Dunkermotoren, a global leader in precision drive solutions, announced the expansion of ist gearbox portfolio with a new generation of WG combination gearboxes, engineered for applications that require very high reduction ratios, precise positioning, and a compact right-angle design - all in one integrated and economically efficient solution.

The new WG series combines a worm gearbox with an integrated planetary gearbox, enabling reduction ratios that conventional right-angle or single-stage gearboxes cannot achieve. While right-angle gearboxes are already relatively compact by nature, the WG design offers an especially favorable ratio of reduction to installation size, making it possible to realize very high ratios without a disproportionate increase in gearbox dimensions.

This clever combination of proven technologies delivers high torque transmission and excellent positioning accuracy, while helping OEMs simplify mechanical design and create more flexible machine layouts.

Solving Space, Torque, and Precision Challenges—Simply and Efficiently

Many modern machines - especially in automation, robotics, and medical technology – must  balance tight installation spaces with increasing demands for torque, accuracy, and cost efficiency. The WG combination gearboxes are designed to address these challenges in a simple, robust and application-oriented way. Compared to single-stage bevel gearboxes, which are very compact but offer only a limited reduction range, the WG series enables significantly higher reduction ratios while remaining space-efficient. At the s ame time, spur gearboxes are typically more economical at low ratios, but are also limited in terms of achievable reduction.

The WG combination gearbox closes this gap by offering a balanced solution in terms of reduction range, installation size, and overall system cost, especially for applications that exceed the limits of single-stage concepts. By transmitting power at a right angle while supporting multi-stage reduction in a compact form factor, the WG series enables:

- Very high reduction ratios with an excellent ratio of reduction to gearbox size

- High acceleration and peak torque capability for dynamic motion

- Accurate, repeatable positioning for sensitive adjustment and swivel movements

 This makes the WG gearboxes particularly well suited for swivel arms, positioning systems, lifting and adjustment axes, and other applications where simplicity, precision, and load capacity must go hand in hand.

 Proven Technology, Cleverly Combined

The WG series is based on well-established gearbox technologies, intelligently combined to meet the rising requirements of industrial and medical applications. Each gearbox stage used in the WG combination is already proven in the field – both as a standalone solutionand within combined configurations.

This approach:

- Reduces technical and integration risk

- Ensures reliable performance across multiple stages

- Supports long service life under demanding duty cycles

- Enables a very attractive ratio of performance, reduction capability, and cost

Designed for Demanding Industrial and Medical Use

Developed for industrial automation, medical technology, and mobile systems, the WG combination gearboxes deliver reliable performance even under high loads and dynamic operating conditions. Defined self-locking characteristics and low-noise operation further expand their suitability for sensitive environments, including operating tables, patient beds, and medical handling equipment.

The robust mechanical design supports high acceleration torques and consistent performance, even where compact dimensions and economic efficiency are critical.

Multiple Sizes, Broad Motor Compatibility

The new WG combination gearboxes are available in three sizes—WG 52, WG 63, and WG 75 - and can easily be adapted to a wide range of Dunkermotoren motor platforms. Thanks to their efficiency and compact design, the WG series is also well suited for battery-powered, mobile, and autonomous systems, where energy consumption, space, and system cost must be carefully balanced.

Typical Applications

- Conveyor and material handling systems

- Robotics and automation equipment

- Lifting, adjustment, and positioning drives

- Medical devices and patient handling systems

- Mobile and autonomous automation solutions

“Instead of developing an entirely new concept, we deliberately combined proven gearbox technologies in a smart way,” said Benedict Hermann, Manager R&D Gearboxes at Dunkermotoren. “The WG combination gearboxes offer a very attractive ratio of reduction to size and cost, making them an efficient and reliable solution for the increasing demands in industrial and medical technology.”

A Practical and Economic Solution Where Conventional Concepts Reach Their Limits With the introduction of the WG combination gearboxes, Dunkermotoren expands ist portfolio with a simple, robust, and economically attractive right-angle solution for applications where conventional gearbox concepts no longer provide the required balance between reduction range, size, and cost.