Tuinte Chooses the New PFII Gearbox from Apex Dynamics
Sometimes everything comes together perfectly. While Tuinte was working on a technically challenging project for the offshore industry, Apex Dynamics demonstrated its flexibility in responding to its customers’ needs. We had barely launched a new product when we were able to deliver it in record time. What started with a request for advice grew into an example of our speed, agility, and technical precision. The new PFII series played a key role in this: a compact, coaxial gearbox with hollow shafts that combines high performance with an exceptionally short delivery time.
About Tuinte
Tuinte is a high-tech manufacturing partner and knowledge center for mechanical engineering, component production, and assembly. One-stop shopping: designing, producing, improving, and maintaining (sub)systems, machines, and modules, supported by excellent project management. They meet the high precision and quality requirements expected in high-tech industries such as Aerospace & Defense, Semiconductors, High-end Food, Energy, and Consumer Goods. Tuinte utilizes modern technologies in CNC milling and turning, sheet metal and construction work, cleanroom assembly, welding robots, and certified welding techniques.
Offshore challenge
For an offshore application, Tuinte developed a winding system that allows various cables to be fed through in a controlled manner and placed in a rotating basket. The height adjustment of the loading arm (nozzle) is performed via a spindle with a worm gear drive, controlled by a Siemens servo motor. During initial field tests, the available torque margin for adjusting the loading arm proved insufficient; the effective efficiency of the spindle system was lower, requiring more torque for smooth operation.
Therefore, Tuinte posed the following question to Apex Dynamics. “Good afternoon Eric,” began the message to Sales Manager Eric Megens. “As we briefly discussed this afternoon, we have a problem with the Z-axes (two of them) on our TKF machine. A solution could be to add a reduction gearbox with i=1:3. In terms of mounting options, we need a right-angled gearbox, or possibly a straight gearbox with female connectors (hollow shaft). Could you advise us on which reduction gearboxes would be best for this? And do you also have STEP files for these so we can test them to see if they fit?”
It turned out to be a just-on-time question. Just a week earlier, Apex Dynamics had introduced the PFII series: a straight gearbox with a hollow input and output shaft. The worm gearbox used at Tuinte had a 20 mm stub shaft—exactly the diameter of the hollow shaft of the PFII090. The desired 3:1 gear ratio was also available. This tripled the input torque on the worm gearbox and reduced the speed, which positively impacted the worm gearbox’s efficiency.
From request to delivery in record time
The PFII also fit perfectly into the design in terms of space. The four-week delivery time was tight, but feasible. Nevertheless, Tuinte wanted to receive the gearboxes a week earlier to allow for more extensive testing. Megens explains that he contacted the planning department at Apex Dynamics Inc. to inquire about the possibility of faster delivery. Because the product had only just been launched, they actually expected it wouldn’t work out. But even Apex Dynamics in Taiwan surprised them: “In this case, we prioritize the delivery and we will deliver one week earlier.”
And so it happened that Apex Dynamics was able to deliver a product that had only been launched two weeks earlier within three weeks. “That’s exceptional,” says Megens. “Normally, in technology, the iron triangle of quality, speed, and price applies: choose two. But in this case, we were able to meet all three.”
About the PFII Gearbox Series with Hollow Input and Output Shafts
The PFII series from Apex Dynamics is a compact, coaxial gearbox with a hollow input and output shaft. The series combines high efficiency with a low-maintenance design and is designed for applications that combine precision, torque, and space savings. Thanks to its robust design and wide range of applications, the PFII is a powerful solution in the medium-end planetary gearbox segment.
Key Features:
- Coaxial design with hollow input and output shafts for a compact design.
- Gear ratios from 3:1 to 1000:1 and nominal torques up to approximately 228 Nm.
- Radial clamping ring coupling on the output shaft, easy to install and low-maintenance.
- High efficiency thanks to optimized tooth geometry.
- Immediately available from stock and easily configured with the Apex Dynamics DesignTool.
A collaboration that brings everything together
Every party benefited from the solution: Tuinte was able to serve its customer on time, Siemens received a system that met all requirements, and we at Apex Dynamics demonstrated our proactive approach and ability to deliver extremely quickly when needed.
This successful collaboration with Tuinte underscores that innovation often arises at the intersection of collaboration and timing. Thanks to the new PFII gearbox and the close communication between the two companies, a technical challenge was quickly transformed into a joint success.
You can find more information about the PFII series on the specific product page. Do you have a question about the application of this or other gearbox series? Contact us directly and you will receive an immediate and clear response.
