News Archive - Zero-Max

Zero-Max at the AAA Friedrichshafen

Petra Becker — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:45:35 +0000

Zero-Max at the AAA Friedrichshafen

Zero-Max Germany at all about automation in Friedrichshafen: Innovative solutions for you – that’s what drives us.

ZERO-MAX Germany will be exhibiting alongside Miki Pulley Europe AG at all about automation in Friedrichshafen – the regional trade fair for industrial automation, robotics, and digitalization. Find out more about our unique solutions in the fields of drive technology, linear technology, and hydraulics.

Booth: B2-323

Date: March 10–11, 2026

Location: Messe Friedrichshafen, Neue Messe 1, 88046 Friedrichshafen

These Zero-Max exhibits await you:

Composite Disc Coupling from the Power Series
High-performance Overhung Load adaptor (OHLA)
Roh’Lix linear actuator

Take the opportunity to talk to our experts in person, learn more about our latest developments, and be assured that at Zero-Max, there is always something beyond the ordinary to see.

Get your free trade fair ticket now!

We look forward to seeing you at our booth B2-323 and to many exciting conversations in Friedrichshafen!

Der Beitrag Zero-Max at the AAA Friedrichshafen erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

Seasons Greetings 2025

Petra Becker — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:29:49 +0000

Merry Christmas and a successful New Year 2026!

The entire Zero-Max team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year! 🎄 Thank you for your trust, partnership, and the exciting projects we’ve accomplished together.

In 2026, we’ll continue to stand for precision, quality, and reliability – creating strong connections in every sense. We look forward to new inspirations and continued success in the year ahead!

Der Beitrag Seasons Greetings 2025 erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

Torque Tender –Torque Limitation for Safety of Operation

Petra Becker — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:26:53 +0000

In modern machines and drive systems, power density and process speeds are constantly increasing. At the same time, the demands on protective mechanisms that shield expensive machine components from overload, blockage, or incorrect operation are also increasing.

The Zero-Max Torque Tender was developed precisely for this purpose: as a compact, low-maintenance, and high-precision torque limiting system—reliable, repeatable, and ready for immediate use.

What is a Zero-Max Torque Tender?

A torque tender is a mechanical overload protection device that engages or disconnects when a defined torque is reached in order to protect downstream components.

It acts as a “safety coupling” – but with a unique operating principle that allows extremely precise force limitation without complex settings or constant readjustment.

What is the difference between the Torque-Tender and conventional safety couplings?

Classic Safety Coupling (Ball-Detend Principe)

Classic safety couplings often work using the “ball detent principle,” i.e., when a defined disengagement torque is exceeded, the balls are pushed out of their defined position.

How the Zero-Max Torque-Tender works

The spiral springs used define the release torque of the Torque-Tender and thus differ in their mode of operation from safety couplings with a ball- detent principle. In the event of overload, the positioning pin is pushed out of its rest position on the outer housing, thereby disconnecting the connection.

What makes the Zero-Max Torque Tender unique?

Various disengagement options available

Different disengagement torques possible in both directions of rotation (CW/CCW)
(e.g., clockwise 5 Nm and ounterclockwise 8 Nm)
Free wheel option
Unilateral and/or bilateral blockage behavior

High degree of individual customization

Special sealing technology
Customization to specific components (gears, pulleys, etc.)
Custom coatings
Specific material selection

Extremely precise torque limitation

Reproducible and reliable disengagement torques
Ideal for applications where an exact limit is crucial
Protection against overload, crash, blockage, or operating errors

Self-reset after overload

After reducing the load (torque reduction), the Torque Tender automatically returns to its original position
No manual reset required
Maximum process availability – no downtime for reset procedures

Robust, compact, and low maintenance

Very simple, robust mechanics (optimized for installation space)
Practically wear-free – no components requiring frequent adjustment
Works reliably even under dirty conditions and when exposed to temperature and vibration influences

Plug-and-play integration

Configured ex works with defined disengagement torque
Easy to integrate into existing and new drive systems
No special knowledge or complex settings required

In which areas of application is the Torque-Tender primarily used?

Packaging machines
Pharmaceutical and medical technology
Conveyor technology and material handling
Food and beverage industry
Mechanical engineering
General automation
Special machine construction
Printing and converting machines
Manual operation (e.g., handwheel operation)

Der Beitrag Torque Tender –Torque Limitation for Safety of Operation erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

Visit to the Zero-Max Headquarters USA

Petra Becker — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:27:56 +0000

Exchange, Training and Insights into OHLA Assembly

Our colleague Christoph Schadt visited the Zero-Max headquarters in the USA to further strengthen the close collaboration between our international teams. The agenda included technical training sessions, constructive knowledge exchange, and a tour of the production and assembly areas. A particular focus was placed on the Overhung Load Adaptors (OHLAs), which are an important part of our product portfolio.

The direct insights into the manufacturing processes and the close cooperation with the U.S. team help us to continuously expand our expertise and provide our customers in Europe with the best possible drive and coupling solutions.

Through visits like this, we ensure that our Zero-Max products are developed, manufactured, and supported worldwide to the highest standards – delivering reliability, precision, and innovation in every application.

Der Beitrag Visit to the Zero-Max Headquarters USA erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

New: CD Couplings Power Series

Petra Becker — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:23:16 +0000

New and innovative: Composite Disc Couplings from the Power Series

After many years of development, Zero-Max officially presents a milestone in the world of shaft couplings!

Zero-Max Inc. is proud to present its newly developed Power Series shaft coupling based on composite disc technology. Noteworthy features include significantly increased power density, resulting in higher torque capacities in an extremely compact design. This innovative new development utilizes the advantages of proven Zero-Max composite disc technology and is designed to meet the growing demands of industry and technology. In addition, further hub designs and standardized adapter and flange connections have been developed, which are optimized for commercially available gearboxes, transducers, and other components.

Applications with particularly demanding motion requirements, such as frequent speed changes, acceleration and braking processes, start-stop operation, and indexing and reversing movements, benefit especially from this newly developed product solution.

Another particular advantage is its use at high operating speeds with enormous torques in limited installation situations.

This revolutionary shaft coupling thus offers an enormous increase in transmissible torque in extremely confined spaces, supported by a high level of torsional stiffness.

Wide variety of designs and sizes – New hub designs and flanges

Split hub designs – larger bore sizes and higher torques
Integral clamping hubs – optionally with/without
Shrink disc transmission – high torque transmission without key connection
Adapter flange design – for direct mounting on ISO 9409-1 pattern bolt holes, suitable for gearboxes, motors, actuators, and robotics
Flange hubs – for direct connection to machine flanges, particularly compact and torsionally rigid
Customized designs – individual modification options to meet customer requirements

CD Power series – the addition to the traditional composite disc coupling

Common areas of application among others:

Packaging machines
Pick-and-place systems
Test benches
Indexing applications (in general)
Special machine construction
Automation
Off-highway vehicles

Statement from Brian Mishuk (Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Zero-Max Inc.):

“The CD Power series has been specially developed and designed to handle the extreme conditions of highly dynamic applications, including those with flange gearboxes. The wide range of available designs, such as clamping, shrink disc, adapter, or flange hubs, allows flexible adaptation to a wide variety of machine types while maintaining consistently high performance.”

Häufige Einsatzbereiche sind u.a.:

Verpackungsmaschinen
Pick-and-Place-Anlagen
Prüfstände
Indexier-Anwendungen (im Allgemeinem)
Sondermaschinenbau
Automatisierung
Off-Highway-Fahrzeuge

Statement von Brian Mishuk (VP Sales & Marketing Zero-Max Inc.):

„Die CD Power-Serie ist speziell entwickelt und ausgelegt worden um extreme Bedingungen hochdynamischer Anwendungen – einschließlich solcher mit Flanschgetrieben zu bewältigen. Die Vielzahl an verfügbaren Ausführungen wie Klemm-, Schrumpfscheiben-, Adapter- oder Flanschnaben ermöglicht eine flexible Anpassung an die unterschiedlichsten Maschinentypen – bei gleichbleibend hoher Performance.“

Der Beitrag New: CD Couplings Power Series erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

What is an Overhung Load Adaptor (OHLA)?

Petra Becker — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:06:06 +0000

What is an Overhung Load Adaptor (OHLA)?

An Overhung Load Adaptor is a compact bearing housing with an integrated bearings and output shaft that is mounted between a drive (e.g. hydraulic motor, electric motor or gearbox) and a mechanical load.

The goal is to transfer overhanging radial and axial forces from the drive shaft to the OHLA in order to protect the drive. These forces are generated, for example, by mounted pulleys, gear wheels, sprockets or translational loads (e.g. screw conveyors or linear drives), which would act directly on the drive shaft.

🔧 Main functions of an Overhung Load Adaptor:

Absorption of radial and axial forces (e.g. from pulleys, sprockets, chain wheels, couplings).
Protection of the drive (e.g. hydraulic motor, electric motor or gearbox) from excessive loads.
Shifting the load point from the motor bearing to the robust OHLA bearing.
Torque transmission remains guaranteed.
Integrated contamination barrier provides protection against contamination
Face and foot mounting option
and much more.

🛠️ Typical design:

Housing:

Robust cast housing

Precisely machined mounting surfaces and bores for axial and radial alignment with the drive unit
Integrated mounting threads or flange surfaces for mounting on the motor or machine

Shaft bearing arrangement:

Heavy duty bearings:
- Heavy-Duty spherical roller bearings (for combined radial & axial forces)
- or Deep-grooved ball bearings
- The bearings are mounted in precise fits in the housing, with defined preloads for backlash-free operation and durability

Shaft (Output):

Connection of the OHLA to the drive system (e.g. coupling, chain, gear wheel)
Mounting e.g. with feather key, splined shaft or multi-tooth profile
Sealing system against contamination and leakage (contamination barrier)

Mounting flange:

Suitable for standardized hydraulic motors (e.g. SAE A-F)
Alternative: standard flanges (NEMA, ISO, IEC, ISO)
Customer-specific connections with centering and mounting holes

Sealing system

Radial shaft seals or labyrinth seals protect bearings and interiors against dust, dirt, moisture or escaping lubricants
Depending on the environment, also designed as a multiple sealing system (e.g. for construction or off-road machines)

Lubrication

Bearings are greased at the factory (maintenance-free) or can be regularly maintained via grease nipples
High-temperature grease or special lubricants for industrial and heavy-duty applications

📦 Examples of applications:

🚜 1. Agricultural and construction machinery

Excavator hydraulic motors with side drive: e.g. chain drive via gear wheel or chain
Harvesting machines: e.g. drive of screw conveyors, chain drives or power take-off shafts (PTO)
Forestry machines: e.g. on pulley and toothed belt systems on cutting rotors on forestry shredders or mulchers
Wheel loaders or tracked vehicles: Protection of the wheel hub drives when loads are applied from the side

🏗️ 2. Conveyor technology & material handling

Belt conveyors: drive pulleys with high belt tension
Roller drives: for heavy goods or high lateral forces
Sorting systems: e.g. for pallets or parcels

🛠️ 3. Mechanical and plant engineering

Screw conveyor: Motor mounted at the front, screw generates axial load
Hoists / cable winches: Cable pulleys exert axial forces on the drive shaft
Industrial agitators: Transverse loads due to liquids and shaft vibration

🛢️ 4. Oil & Gas industry / offshore

Pump drives with pulleys: e.g. for drilling rigs or frac units

Pipe extraction machines: with highly eccentric load support

🚀 5. Special machines & test benches

Test benches with shifting torques: e.g. for electric motors or couplings

Test systems for belt drives: controlled application of force to the test object

⚓6. Maritime applications

Deck winches & cable winch drives: Drive winches for anchors, mooring lines or towing lines
Hydraulic and centrifugal pumps on board: ballast water pumps, cooling water, fire extinguishing systems
Shaft drives: Mechanically driven propeller or thrust systems

✅ Reasons for using overhung load adaptors – with examples

High radial and axial loads on the output shaft
→ e.g. for belt or chain drives that pull strongly sideways
→ Example: Conveyor belt drive in a rock crushing system
Protection of pumps, gearboxes or motor bearings against overload
→ OHLA absorbs the bearing forces, not the connected device
→ Example: Hydraulic pump on a wheel loader
Extending the service life of sensitive components
→ Significantly reduces bearing and shaft wear or damages
→ Examplel: Electric motor in a mobile forestry machine
Shaft misalignment or misalignment in the structure
→ OHLA can absorb slight misalignments
→ Example: Installation in compact tunnel boring machine with limited installation space
Use in harsh environments with high levels of dust or dirt
→ OHLA with reinforced seal protects the inner components
→ Example: Use on a mobile rock drill in opencast mining
Easier servicing due to decoupled assemblies
→ Components can be replaced faster
→ Example: Replacement of a hydraulic motor in the quarry conveyor truck

🧰 In summary, wherever:

the drive unit cannot or should not absorb all the forces/loads itself
lateral (radial) loads occur, e.g. due to belts, chains, gear wheels
high axial loads caused by pressure or tension

Need technical details or special solutions? Our team will be happy to assist you.

Der Beitrag What is an Overhung Load Adaptor (OHLA)? erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

Visit to the land of the rising sun

Petra Becker — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:54:41 +0000

Visit to the land of the rising sun

Together with the European Miki Pulley sales team, our colleague Christoph Schadt (Sales Manager Zero-Max D/A/CH) visited our parent company in Japan. Among other things, the Technical Center in Sagami and the state-of-the-art production sites in Yonezawa were visited.

“An impressive insight into the possibilities and capabilities that the individual sites can offer,” was our colleague’s summary. Informative discussions on strengthening international cooperation and upcoming developments were discussed and analyzed in detail.

Especially for continuously changing market situations, a constant exchange is crucial in order to achieve new innovations and improvements. Since its foundation, the Japanese family-run company Miki Pulley has stood for unique product solutions in direct exchange with the customer.

The particularly warm hospitality we received during our stay deserves special mention.

Rest assured, our customers and interested parties can look forward to an exciting year 2025 with many new insights.

With this in mind: “Arigato gozaimasu”

Der Beitrag Visit to the land of the rising sun erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

Zero-Max Crown IP65 right-angle gearbox – A clean solution!

Petra Becker — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:44:07 +0000

Zero-Max Crown IP65 right-angle gearbox - A clean solution!

Zero-Max Inc. had its Crown right-angle gearboxes certified by an independent institute with protection class IP65 back in 2020.

The nickel-plated aluminum housing offers protection against corrosion and is available in gear ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 as well as in 2-way and 3-way designs and counter-rotating shafts, enabling reliable and smooth power transmission. Historically, Zero-Max Inc. looks back on over 60 years of successful market presence of Crown right-angle gearboxes with a proven and robust product design, which opens up new areas of application with IP65 certification.

Zero-Max Crown IP65 right-angle gearboxes are ideal for applications in food processing and packaging, as well as harsh environments such as frequent cleaning processes. The IP65 classification enables use under environmental influences such as dust, contamination and the ingress of splash water. Further product features of the IP65 right-angle gearboxes include nickel-plated housings with corrosion-protected stainless steel shafts and NBR-coated shaft seals, which provide additional protection against cleaning chemicals or similar in demanding applications.

As standard, Crown right-angle gearboxes enable an operating speed of 2000 rpm and feature heat-treated spiral bevel gears (AGMA class 10) and lifetime lubrication with food-safe lubrication (H1). In addition, the sealed and tamper-proof product design with hardened and precision ball bearings offers maintenance-free operation. The lubrication properties enable an application range of -20°C to +100°C, higher operating temperatures are possible on request.

Zero-Max IP65 right-angle gearboxes offer a clean, water-repellent product design (hygienic design) which prevents bacterial deposits.

Right angle gearboxes from Zero-Max Inc. are available in a variety of sizes and model series with a wide range of power, torque and speed requirements. Gear ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 are available as standard with shaft diameters of 3/8″, ½”, 5/8″ and 1″.

Zero-Max Inc. is a leading supplier of power transmission and motion control products. In addition to backlash-free shaft couplings, safety couplings and right-angle gearboxes, Zero-Max Inc. offers other innovative precision products in the field of power transmission technology. Products from Zero-Max Inc. are known worldwide for their innovative design combined with the highest quality, performance and durability.

Der Beitrag Zero-Max Crown IP65 right-angle gearbox – A clean solution! erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

Seasons Greetings 2024

Petra Becker — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:53:41 +0000

Merry Christmas and a successful New Year

As an eventful year draws to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you:
Thank you for the trusting cooperation, the exciting projects and the successful partnership.

We wish you, your families and teams a peaceful Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year 2025, full of energy, inspiration and shared successes!
We look forward to continuing to stand by your side in the new year.

Der Beitrag Seasons Greetings 2024 erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.

75 years of Zero-Max

Petra Becker — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:19:45 +0000

Zero-Max Celebrates 75 Years of Innovative Product Successes

Becoming an industry-leading manufacturer of Motion Control and Power Transmission components came quickly for Zero-Max by being responsive to customer’s needs with innovative products and exceptional service. Its first product was a unique Mechanical Variable Speed Drive that solved application challenges in varied industries, with many of these drives still in use 75 years later. With the successful entry into many different industrial markets with the Variable Speed Drive, Zero-Max capitalized on its field-proven reputation to launch through the years an entire spectrum of high-performance motion control products. These included widely applied flexible shaft couplings, including CD^® Couplings, ServoClass^® Couplings, as well as ETP^® Shaft Locking Bushings, Crown^® Right Angle Gear Drives, OHLA^® Overload Overhung Load Adaptors, and many additional products, all having limitless customized design options. These Zero-Max motion control devices enabled manufacturers of all types of machinery – from agricultural tractors and workboats to robotic handling systems – to make their products operate more efficiently and more profitably. Most important, many of these Zero-Max products became industry standards while providing flexibility for customer’s designs and improving the capabilities of their machines.

As global acceptance of Zero-Max products was realized, the company early on added a world-wide distributor network providing factory-assisted sales and product service. Zero-Max has more recently expanded by adding Offices and Personnel in Denmark and Germany as well as its headquarters in the United States.

“Zero-Max strives to live by its Core Values: Best in Class Service and Solutions, Hold Ourselves Accountable, and Do The Right Thing. When faced with complex decisions, we always go to our Core Values”, states Bob Mainz, President of Zero-Max.

Beside the standard product offering, Zero-Max offers product customization capabilities to design and modify to specific customer application requirements – from just a single custom product to hundreds and even thousands of units. Customized designs may be for applications ranging from precision shaft couplings for torque transducers on test equipment, to torque limiters for timing screws used in food packaging applications, to couplings driving a printing press, to electrification applications utilizing our shaft couplings or Overhung Load Adaptors to interface custom electric motors with driven components on mobile equipment, among countless other applications.

Zero-Max is continually updating products and product lines to keep up with customer’s needs for their equipment. An example is an upcoming expansion to the CD Coupling product line to include a higher power density, allowing more torque in a smaller dimensional package, with larger sizes becoming available.

“In our continuous improvement culture, we are not resting on our 75-year head start, instead we are continually working to improve the performance of our products and services we provide to the most important people in our World, the customers!”, added Mr. Mainz.
Today and for the future, Zero-Max is the established and leading provider of motion control and power transmission solutions and one of the industry’s most trusted coupling and motion control component manufacturers.

Even after 75 years, Zero-Max is keeping its eye on the future.

Der Beitrag 75 years of Zero-Max erschien zuerst auf Zero-Max.