In electric vehicles, the meshing of the gears can cause disruptive gearbox noise excitations. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for automotive manufacturers and suppliers of electric motors to identify and eliminate the causes of unwanted noise at an early stage. With the LHProcessMonitoring software, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH has developed a tool that detects deviations during gear production. This saves costs and reduces rejects – and is therefore also of interest to manufacturers of conventional gearboxes.

Following the flood disaster in Slovenia in August 2023, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH provided active assistance for the automotive supplier KLS d.o.o. With commitment, expertise and minimal bureaucracy, the team of engineers performed what seemed an impossible task in just 1,200 work-hours: all of the Slovenian company‘s gear cutting machines – initially thought to be damaged beyond repair – were back up and running before Christmas.

Gear skiving used to be a gear cutting method that was difficult to control due to its complex kinematics, but it now offers a genuine alternative to shaping or broaching. The synergy between machines, tools and processes provided by Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH’s Skiving³ technology package makes it possible to efficiently and flexibly machine an extremely wide variety of workpieces, including in small batch sizes. Skiving³ therefore crucially boosts productivity, quality and cost-effectiveness levels not just in series production, but in contract gear manufacturing as well.

Sustainability goals and increasing raw material prices are making the recycling of batteries from electric vehicles an increasingly pressing issue for the automotive industry. To recover the valuable raw materials and components from the battery packs, they must be disassembled and sorted at the end of their service life. Automated processes provide a basis for economic dismantling while minimizing the hazards to employees from high-voltage equipment. Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH uses its tried and tested automation technology for this and is working with research and industry to develop scalable, flexible solutions for the automotive and recycling sectors.

For the manufacturing of valves and valve kits, Linde Hydraulics GmbH & Co. KG invested in a production plant at the Ballenstedt site with five 5-axis machining centers from Grob, which are interlinked via the PHS 1500 Allround pallet handling system from Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH. This enabled the company to increase the output of this manufacturing line by 30%. The planning was quite a challenge: due to the high demand, not only did additional machines have to be integrated, but an alternative location for the plant in the historic production halls also had to be found during the project.

The opportunity to gain experience abroad and work in Europe, the USA or Asia has been an integral part of training at Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH since 2000. After a temporary interruption due to Corona, the program is once again enjoying great popularity. The young people taking part in the assignment not only experience enriching stays abroad but are also well-prepared for international service assignments.

Liebherr has been offering specialist seminars for the gearing industry all over the world for over 20 years. The gear seminars are designed as a learning and networking platform for users, where Liebherr experts and speakers from universities and from the industry discuss practical topics and specific issues relating to gear technology. At the same time, they offer participants the opportunity to share their experiences.

Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH now provides its customers with the most important drive and actuator data from a machine – its "digital fingerprint” – as a service to simplify and accelerate machine diagnostics. This makes condition monitoring easier and reduces maintenance costs.