Harmonic Drive

Milestones

1955

The US-American Walton Musser applies for a patent for the Harmonic Drive operating principle. His invention is fundamentally different to conventional epicyclic gears. In the beginning the development and production of the new precision gear is carried out exclusively for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1967

Between the patentee USM Corporation (Boston) and Hasegawa Gear Works (Tokio) a licence agreement is concluded. The development of all-purpose units will be started in Japan.

1970

The USM Corporation, Boston, and Hasegawa Gear Works, Tokyo, establish together two new companies: the Harmonic Drive System GmbH in Germany and Harmonic Drive Systems Inc. in Japan for the production and world-wide industrial marketing of the Harmonic Drive gear. New market requirements lead to the continuous further development of the Harmonic Drive gears in various types and sizes. The products are primarily used in industrial robots, machine tools and printing machines.

1976

The Harmonic Drive gear is applied for the first time in the European aerospace industry. The high precision and low weight of the Harmonic Drive gears are the key factors for this success. Gears are applied for the first time in the European aerospace industry by Harmonic Drive System GmbH.

1982

The positive business development - by now the company employs more than 30 people - makes new premises necessary. Buildings for sales and administration as well as for development and production are erected at the original location of the company in Langen near Frankfurt. First preparations for the transformation from a sales operation to a manufacturing company are thus initiated.

1988

The continuous expansion of the company as well as the plan for the further development necessitate a change of location. A new facility with an area of 6500 m2 is established in Limburg, located ca. 65 km northwest of Frankfurt/Main. This is followed by major investments in both, machines and personnel. At the new facility custom-made actuators and motion control systems are developed and manufactured to the same high quality always associated with Harmonic Drive.

1994

The company shares are taken over by Reinhard Ernst – a member of senior management since 1970 - and the company activities are brought together within the Harmonic Drive Antriebstechnik GmbH.