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SEW-EURODRIVE
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Global manufacturer of motors, gearboxes, automation
SEW-EURODRIVE
Work Here?
Global manufacturer of motors, gearboxes, automation
Overview
SEW-EURODRIVE provides power transmission products and services worldwide, including electric motors, gear units, gearmotors, electronics, and automation technology that move machines reliably. Its products convert electrical energy into controlled mechanical motion via motors and gear systems, with drive electronics and options like variable speed and decentralized controls. The company differentiates by a global manufacturing and service network: 15 production facilities, 79 Drive Technology Centers, 60+ technical sales offices, and a wide distributor network across 53 countries. Its goal is to help customers optimize drive performance at scale with integrated products and expert application support, combining global reach with local service.
About SEW-EURODRIVE
Industries
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
null
Founded
1931
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- August 11, 2026 PxG economy series widens sales into cost-sensitive machine builders.
- July 9, 2026 Dune Express win showcases heavyweight conveyor credibility in North America.
- March 20, 2026 Wilmington training center and Austria's new St. Florian center expand regional reach.
What critics are saying
- OrchestrationSuite, MOVIDYN, and MAXOLUTION must beat Siemens, ABB, and Bosch Rexroth stacks by 2027.
- Custom projects like Dune Express tie reputation to flawless field performance and uptime.
- If software integration stalls, SEW-EURODRIVE stays a hardware supplier facing margin pressure.
What makes SEW-EURODRIVE unique
- SEW-EURODRIVE bundles gear units, drives, controls, software, and service under one stack.
- Its 2026 SAFELOG partnership targets software-defined intralogistics across mobile and stationary automation.
- Dune Express used 36 custom X.e gear units for 42-mile continuous-duty performance.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
Tuition Reimbursement
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Employee Assistance Programs
Uniform Subsidies
Company News
SEW-EURODRIVE expands PxG planetary servo gear unit portfolio. by Editor Aug 10, 2026 Photo credit: SEW-EURODRIVE. SEW-EURODRIVE has expanded its PxG planetary servo gear unit portfolio with the introduction of the PxG economy series, adding three performance classes for machine builders and OEMs seeking cost-effective servo performance for standard industrial automation applications. The new P1.G, P2.G and P3.G gear units extend the existing PxG family below the P5.G, P6.G and P7.G precision range. The expanded portfolio allows customers to match gear unit performance more closely to application requirements rather than specifying higher levels of precision, torque capacity or load capability than the machine requires. Right-Sized Performance for Standard Automation The PxG economy series is designed for applications with low to medium technical requirements. Typical uses include packaging equipment, assembly machinery, material handling systems, carton erectors, gantry robots and machine tool portals. Each performance class addresses a different level of mechanical demand. P1.G is intended for standard applications with relatively low overhung loads. P2.G provides additional load capacity for applications with increased radial forces. P3.G combines cost-optimized straight gearing with higher-capacity bearings for applications requiring greater mechanical strength while remaining within project budget constraints. A Broader Modular Servo Platform The PxG economy series is available in five sizes with peak torque ratings from 11 to 500 Nm. The gear units are offered in one- and two-stage configurations, provide rotational clearance from 6 to 12 arcminutes, and have a rated service life of more than 20,000 hours. The modular system includes solid-shaft designs with smooth, keyed or splined output options, depending on the performance class. Food-grade lubrication options and multiple mounting interfaces support use across a range of machine designs. The series is also integrated into SEW-EURODRIVE engineering tools, including SEW-Workbench, DriveCAD and DriveConfigurator, to support selection and system design. Benefits for Machine Builders The PxG economy series expands customer choice across the servo portfolio by providing cost-optimized performance, simplified selection, flexible integration, long-term reliability and scalable portfolio coverage. The three application-focused performance classes help reduce unnecessary over-specification, while clear differences in load capacity and application range make it easier to match the gear unit to the machine. Shaft and mounting options support new machine designs and drive replacements. More than 20,000 hours of rated service life supports dependable operation in dynamic automation applications. Customers can select economy or precision performance within the same PxG product family as application requirements change. Expanding Customer Choice The new economy range complements the existing PxG precision portfolio with a lower-cost option. Together, the economy and precision series give customers a broader range of planetary servo gear units within one modular platform. The project required advanced thermal validation, high torque capacity, precision mechanical integration, and long-term reliability across one of the most demanding conveyor applications ever constructed. "Every automation application has different performance requirements," Anecia Hoffield, Servo product manager, SEW-EURODRIVE USA. "The PxG economy series gives machine builders more flexibility to select the performance their machines actually need while maintaining the quality, engineering support and long-term reliability they expect from SEW-EURODRIVE." The introduction of the PxG economy series continues SEW-EURODRIVE's expansion of modular motion solutions designed to help OEMs balance machine performance, system cost and long-term operating value.
Industrial gear manufacturing: two companies, two centuries, one philosophy. By Tony Gunn | The WorldWide Machinist Ask most people what powers modern industry, and they'll point to something flashy. A robot arm. A screen full of data. Something with blinking lights. Nobody points to the gearbox. And yet strip away the geared motors, the gearboxes, the muscle and joints hidden inside mining equipment, conveyors, and production lines - and the whole system stops moving. This week, two companies reminded me why industrial gear manufacturing is the quiet foundation everything else stands on. One started with electric motors in 1931. The other started with a blacksmith's forge in 1901. Both are still building the future with the same philosophy they started with. SEW Eurodrive: industrial Lego. The story began in Germany in 1931, when Christian Pähr founded Süddeutsche Elektromotoren-Werke. What began as a small German motor company evolved into one of the most influential drive-technology businesses on the planet. Today, SEW Eurodrive employs approximately 22,700 people, operates in 57 countries, and generates more than €4.2 billion in annual revenue. SEW helped transform the geared motor from a fixed product into a modular industrial platform. Motors, gearboxes, ratios, shafts, brakes, encoders, inverters, controllers, and software can be combined to create precisely the right solution for an application. It is industrial Lego. SEW's Brazilian journey began in 1977, with the Brazilian company formally established in 1978. Brazil became an increasingly important part of SEW's global manufacturing and engineering strategy. The company purchased a 300,000-square-meter property, began production there in 2010, and completed the transfer of its mechanical and electrical manufacturing operations in 2014. Today, the Indaiatuba complex contains approximately 100,000 square meters of constructed space. Indaiatuba now produces and assembles multiple families of industrial gear units, including the X, XP, P, and MC series, supporting some of the most demanding applications in mining, agriculture, sugar and ethanol, steel, cement, pulp and paper, ports, and bulk-material handling. SEW was able to influence machine concepts around its manufacturing requirements, while Liebherr Gear Technology and Automation Systems gained the opportunity to refine new technologies under genuine production conditions. SEW-EURODRIVE manufactures the muscle, joints, and nervous systems hidden inside modern industry. Liebherr helps provide the gear-manufacturing technology and automation needed to produce those systems with extraordinary accuracy and consistency. This is a story that must be seen to be appreciated. No magazine or podcast can tell this story as it should be told. Full story coming soon. WEG-Cestari: from a blacksmith's forge to 95,000 gearboxes a year. The story reaches back to 1901, when Italian immigrant Luigi Cestari opened a small blacksmith and saddlery operation in Aparecida do Monte Alto, Brazil. He began producing forged components for animal-drawn vehicles. More than 120 years later, that small workshop has evolved into one of Brazil's most important names in mechanical power transmission. When WEG joined forces with Cestari Group in 2011, it combined Cestari's gearbox knowledge with WEG's global expertise in electric motors, variable-frequency drives, automation, and energy efficiency. Today, WEG-CESTARI REDUTORES E MOTORREDUTORES S.A operates two Brazilian manufacturing facilities, in Monte Alto, São Paulo, and Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul. More than 880 employees, over 50,000 square meters of built space, and annual production exceeding 95,000 gearboxes and geared motors. This is a Brazilian industrial powerhouse producing the mechanical joints that keep mining, steel, agriculture, sugar and ethanol, petrochemical, and general manufacturing operations moving. That is where WEG-CESTARI's continued investment in Liebherr Gear Technology and Automation Systems becomes so important. Over the years, the company has invested in Liebherr equipment to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, productivity, and repeatability of its gear production. The investment also says something important about WEG-CESTARI's philosophy. A company does not preserve a century-long reputation by framing its history and hanging it in the lobby. It preserves that history by continually purchasing better technology, training its people, improving its processes, and refusing to let yesterday's success become tomorrow's excuse. WEG-CESTARI began when transportation still depended on horses. Today, its gearboxes help move mines, mills, steel plants, farms, conveyors, crushers, pumps, and production systems across some of the world's toughest industries. The tools have changed. The buildings have grown. The tolerances have become microscopic. But the philosophy remains - build it properly, make it dependable, and invest in the technology required to keep improving. Two different starts, one shared philosophy. Christian Pähr started with electric motors in Germany in 1931. Luigi Cestari started with a forge and a saddlery shop in Brazil in 1901. Neither one had any idea their companies would eventually be measured in tens of thousands of square meters and tens of thousands of gearboxes a year. What connects both stories isn't the size they eventually reached. It's what they refused to do along the way. Neither company decided that a good reputation was something to protect by standing still. SEW turned the geared motor into a platform other manufacturers could build entire operations around. WEG-CESTARI turned a blacksmith's forge into a facility producing 95,000 gearboxes a year - without ever treating its history as an excuse to stop investing in what comes next. Industrial gear manufacturing doesn't get the spotlight. It's not the flashy robot arm or the screen full of data. It's the muscle and joints hidden inside everything that actually moves. But talk to the people running mines, steel plants, and production lines around the world, and they'll tell you exactly which part of the operation they can't afford to have fail. This is a story that must be seen to be appreciated. Full story coming soon. Full videos are dropping soon on The WorldWide Machinist channels. Subscribe, follow, and stay close - these ones are going to remind you why American manufacturing still matters.
SEW-EURODRIVE to showcase industry-focused innovation and lifecycle support at Electra Mining Africa 2026. From advanced drive technology and digital solutions to plant modernisation and aftermarket services, SEW-EURODRIVE will demonstrate how its customer-centric approach improves productivity, sustainability and long-term asset performance. 0 20 3 minutes read Industry-specific focus and life cycle support are the standout features of SEW-EURODRIVE's presence at Electra Mining Africa 2026, according to Jonathan McKey, National Sales & Marketing Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE. "Our exhibition stands will reflect how we partner with customers across the full operational lifecycle - from new installations through to maintenance, upgrades, optimisation and long-term asset management," McKey says. "The overarching message is about business integration and modernisation, to take customers further down their sustainability and productivity journey." He highlights that SEW-EURODRIVE has expanded its offerings not only through exciting innovations in equipment and solutions, but through services to assess customers' existing infrastructure and enhance it for more efficient and productive operation. This philosophy shapes both of the company's stands at the show. "Visitors to our main stand in Hall 5 will appreciate the industry-focused layout facilitating conversations that are both relevant and technically focused," he explains. "Instead of a generalised display, visitors will be able to engage directly with specialists aligned to specific sectors including mining, materials handling and logistics." To enhance the value of these vital face-to-face discussions, SEW-EURODRIVE will have management and technical experts on hand throughout the exhibition. Dedicated meeting areas will also allow for more private discussions around operational challenges, project requirements or longer-term strategic partnerships. At the company's second exhibition stand which is in Hall 4, SEW-EURODRIVE will focus on its electronics offerings while also showcasing its on-site energy surveys. The company's experts will demonstrate how they use advanced tools to conduct these surveys and the important benefits they deliver. "We will unveil selected newer technologies on our stands with the focus on showing how this innovation is driven by customer need," McKey says. "We avoid promoting products for their own sake; rather, we use these forums to ask visitors about the technical challenges they face and then we design our solutions to address them." This extends beyond physical equipment to include digital tools, training, service agreements and maintenance programmes. SEW-EURODRIVE will also be showcasing its training, digital solutions, after-sales and maintenance service. "Another theme at the exhibition will be the modernisation of existing plant infrastructure," he says. "This is particularly relevant to mining operations where legacy equipment often remains in service for decades." While older systems may still be functional, their performance may be compromised and cost effectiveness may not be optimal. SEW-EURODRIVE increasingly works with customers to evaluate existing installations, comparing them against current technologies and identifying opportunities for improvement. This can include energy surveys, drivetrain assessments, maintenance reviews and broader operational optimisation studies. "We can modernise those products, give better service life and make an impact across multiple facets of a customer's business - including running costs," he says. "We can enhance all of that by modernising the plant with technology." Importantly, the company aims to reduce the disruption often associated with upgrading legacy infrastructure with specialised solutions to streamline the transition while mitigating the associated risk. Another key talking point across the stands will be SEW-EURODRIVE's growing service capability in South Africa including its expanded aftermarket support, reverse engineering and repair services. This capability extends beyond servicing its own products, to include other OEMs' equipment. "Our recently expanded facilities in Aeroton, Johannesburg, have further improved our service capabilities not just for our own product but also for non-SEW products," he says. "With our depth of technical expertise and specialised workshop equipment, we can reverse engineer and repair obsolete products back to workable health." By visiting SEW-EURODRIVE, Electra Mining Africa visitors can begin a holistic discussion about their current operational demands and future plans at their specific mine or industrial plant. The experienced SEW-EURODRIVE people on hand at the exhibition will help plot the road the improved asset performance. "Our presence further underscores that mining remains a major global growth sector for us, especially as mines look for ways of getting minerals out of the ground more efficiently," McKey says. "This pressure is accelerating demand for modern drive technology, automation and broader operational optimisation which are the areas where we see growing opportunity." McKey also expects plenty of interest from Electra Mining Africa visitors in infrastructure development and asset improvement more broadly. He notes that SEW-EURODRIVE is increasingly becoming involved in projects that not only support industrial operations, but help modernise economies through better engineering, improved reliability and smarter technologies.
CASE STUDY: inside ThredUp's high-tech transformation of its four-story conveyor system. ThredUp - one of the world's largest online resale platforms for women's and children's apparel - depends on a highly efficient and reliable conveyor system to ensure timely, accurate order fulfillment. However, recurring failures within its automated chain drive operations were causing costly downtime and disrupting performance. By partnering with SEW-EURODRIVE, ThredUp implemented a precision-engineered, decentralized motion solution that eliminated sensor failures, prevented mechanical jams, and restored reliable, continuous operation across its four-story automated system. Challenge: inaccurate positioning, mounting failures, and wasted downtime. ThredUp's four-story overhead chain conveyor moves thousands of garments daily, but its basic VFD controls, proximity sensors, and problematic chain-count tracking led to frequent sensor misreads, sequencing errors, and complex wiring. Falling garments jammed catenary drives, and each chain break caused up to 12 hours of downtime - halting fulfillment and costing thousands in missed revenue. This legacy approach created several critical pain points: * Imprecise control: Sensor miscounts from misaligned chains delivered the wrong garments for processing. * Excessive wiring: Multiple sensors per chain required large floor-mounted cabinets and expensive wire runs. * Manual resets: 600+ chains required time consuming re-zeroing after power loss. * Frequent failures: Fallen garments caused jams and structural damage, resulting in critical downtime. * Limited scalability: Cabinet and wiring demands restricted expansion. * The customer needed a smarter, safer, and more scalable system. Solution: intelligent motion with zero guesswork. SEW-EURODRIVE partnered with ThredUp to deliver a fully decentralized, precision-controlled solution using MOVIGEAR(R) Performance mechatronic drives with integrated absolute encoders and MOVIKIT(R) Positioning software. Key Solution Features: * Absolute encoder feedback: Eliminated proximity sensors; new drives retain exact position - even after power loss. * MODULO positioning: Used MOVIKIT(R) logic to divide continuous motion into precise virtual frames. * Decentralized architecture: Eliminated large control cabinets; power and Ethernet daisy-chained between drives. * Condition monitoring: Real-time speed and torque monitoring to prevent damage. * Quieter operation: MOVIGEAR IE5 units significantly reduced noise. * Energy efficient: High-efficiency drives supported sustainability goals. Results: scalable automation. Zero downtime. Total confidence. The implementation of 360 MOVIGEAR Performance drives on ThredUp's overhead conveyor lines improved their automation processes. * Pinpoint Accuracy: Garment retrieval positioning is now accurate to within 1/100th of a frame * System Uptime: Zero unexpected downtime due to jams or sensor loss * Simplified Design: No more referencing routines or cabinet-based wiring nightmares * Scalable Framework: SEW's MOVI-C modular automation framework scales easily * Operational Safety: Chain-jam shutdowns now occur automatically within milliseconds and keep production moving, and damage to near zero. * Quieter Facilities: Operator feedback confirms a more comfortable work environment "SEW didn't just solve a problem - they transformed our entire chain delivery system. We gained accuracy, safety, scalability, and peace of mind." - Keith Hiyama, VP of Automation and Industrial Engineering, ThredUp Why it matters: SEW solves what others can't. ThredUp's original request was simple: improve positioning. But SEW-EURODRIVE delivered much more. Its modular MOVIGEAR Performance system didn't just fix the old problem - it eliminated an entire class of future failures. From absolute accuracy to predictive protection, SEW built ThredUp a smarter, cleaner, more resilient motion solution that no one else could provide. "Thanks to SEW's engineering support, we achieved positioning control down to the frame without adding a single sensor. Movigear proved to be the ideal solution for this application." - Mike Demeo, National Business Development Engineer - Drives & Automation, SEW-EURODRIVE-USA Applications summary. | Application Area | SEW-EURODRIVE Product(s) | | Original System 1 HP motor with Cabinet-mounted Drive | MOVIGEAR Performance MGFAS4-DFC-C/DI/AZIZ/DSP/PE/PG/BW1 * Size 2 MOVIGEAR * Encoder Absolute AZ1Z * Ratio 36.61 | Speed 2000 rpm * Fieldbus Ethernet IP * DynaStop holding brake * MOVIKIT Positioning (Modulo) | Sponsored content by SEW-EURODRIVE-USA
Discover more Manufacturing Enterprise Technology Trade Fairs & Industry Shows Main navigation. Breadcrumb. * startseite / * special: Interpack 2026 / * Drive and automation components enhance flexibility in packaging machines. SEW-Eurodrive at Interpack 2026 Drive and automation components enhance flexibility in packaging machines Wednesday, 29. April 2026 | Redaktion At Interpack 2026, SEW-Eurodrive will showcase drive and automation components for packaging machines. Photo: SEW-Eurodrive Drive and automation components are the focus of SEW-Eurodrive's exhibition at Interpack 2026. The company is showcasing solutions for flexible and future-proof packaging systems that can be efficiently implemented in both development and operation. The focus is on software-based approaches, decentralized drive technology, and modular concepts that enable rapid adaptation to varying requirements. Automation components for software-defined factories. With the "OrchestrationSuite" software solution, SEW-Eurodrive is introducing a foundation for the software-defined factory. The platform enables centralized management of software versions and the controlled implementation of changes. Adjustments can be reset if necessary, thereby increasing operational reliability. In addition, important data is regularly backed up and documented in a structured manner. This ensures that system development remains transparent and traceable. Another key feature is the AI-supported generation of PLC code, which can assist development processes. Decentralized automation components for modular machines. With "MOVIDYN," SEW-Eurodrive is expanding its portfolio to include a DC-based multi-axis solution for modular machine concepts. The system is based on a coupling module, distribution modules, and decentralized drives. This structure reduces the number of central components in the control cabinet. This reduces space requirements, cabling, and installation effort. The solution is designed to flexibly scale machine concepts while simplifying integration. Compact drive unit for use in packaging and logistics systems. The compact "MOVIONE" drive unit is designed for use in packaging and logistics systems. It can be operated with high-efficiency motors or used as a standalone decentralized inverter. It integrates easily into existing systems with minimal effort. This makes the solution suitable for applications in primary, secondary, and final packaging. The goal is to provide standardized and cost-effective drive solutions. Control solutions for motion control applications. With the "MOVI-C CONTROLLER" type "UHX15A," SEW-Eurodrive is expanding its control portfolio in the lower power range. The controller is designed for three axes and is suitable for applications with a limited number of axes. It provides the full range of functions of the "MOVIKIT" software modules and supports both simple positioning tasks and more complex motion sequences. These include, for example, speed and torque coupling. Pre-built software modules simplify implementation and reduce commissioning time. Platform solutions for mobile automation. Using the "Platform2Go" platform, SEW-Eurodrive is also demonstrating solutions for autonomous mobile robots. The concept enables rapid deployment and integration into existing processes. The portfolio includes various load-handling devices and custom adapters. The platform utilizes the contactless power transmission system "MOVITRANS," combined with high-performance lithium iron phosphate batteries and laser contour navigation. This enables transport processes to be executed with precision even in confined production environments. You can find SEW-Eurodrive at Interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf in Hall 6 at Booth C49. Discover more Enterprise Technology Trade Fairs & Industry Shows Manufacturing Discover more Trade Fairs & Industry Shows Enterprise Technology Manufacturing Suitable providers for the topic. This could interest you.
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About SEW-EURODRIVE
Industries
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
null
Founded
1931
SEW-EURODRIVE is Hiring for 30 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today