This week on The Downtime, co-host Sarah Wynn explores Neugart’s gearbox offerings for packaging applications. The podcast, from WTWH Media, features sales manager Luke Rein and mechanical engineer Joey Suprick about Delta robot s, food-grade lubrication, customization, and a real-world packaging line solution.

On the Control Engineering side, co-host Sheri Kasprzak shares a Dodge Industrial case study on how the Optify platform improved line reliability.

Plus, Stephanie Neil, VP and editorial director at WTWH Media, joins the co-hosts for a birthday trivia game celebrating Wynn.

The Downtime · The Downtime | Episode 17: Gimme S'more Precision

Gearboxes for Delta robot pick-and-place

Neugart offers its NDF inline series of gearboxes, which are designed specifically for pick-and-place applications with Delta robots.

“Delta robots rely on speed, precision, and low inertia to excel in these pick-and-place tasks,” explained Rein, adding that the NDF supports rapid cycles while maintaining consistent accuracy.

Neugart’s WPLN070(left) gearboxes support packaging applications in demanding environments. And the NGV (right) is designed for automated guided vehicles. — Neugart’s WPLN070 (left) gearboxes support packaging applications in demanding environments. And the NGV (right) is designed for automated guided vehicles. Source: Sarah Wynn

Food-grade lubrication and customization

For food and beverage packaging, Neugart offers units made with NSF H1-certified food-grade lubrication.

“It expands the service life of the gearboxes,” said Suprick. “It also ensures that the environment where these gearboxes will be used makes sure there’s no contamination if any contact occurs.”

The company offers color and finish customization for OEMs, serving both functional and branding purposes.

“White is often chosen for food-grade or pharmaceutical applications due to its clean appearance and easy contamination detection,” said Rein. “Jet black or silver finishes may align more with the corporate branding or machine aesthetics.”

Real-world OEM gearbox solution

Rein shared an example of when Neugart assisted an OEM manufacturer experiencing persistent motor shaft slippage on their packaging equipment.

“Despite their best efforts, the input couplings were slipping. This created crashes, and we really thought this was due to inconsistent motor mounting practices, both at their factory and in the field,” said Rein.

He teamed up with Suprick, who investigated the application using the company’s NCP sizing software.

“We identified the root cause, and it was the variability in how motors and gearboxes were being mounted by different individuals across locations,” said Rein.

Neugart developed a custom keyed input coupling for the customer, which created a positive mechanical engagement between the motor shaft and gearboxes.

“The result was a dramatic reduction, in many cases, elimination of issues such as registration loss, product jamming, and machine crashes,” said Rein. “This tailored approach not only solved the OEM’s immediate problem, but it also enhanced the long-term reliability and performance of their packaging line.”

Trends in packaging gearboxes

Rein and Suprick share trends around compact, lightweight drivetrains and the push for quieter, more precise packaging machinery – hear their full takes in this episode. Learn more about Neugart here.

Luke Rein (left) and Joey Suprick (right) of Neugart collaborate to deliver precision-engineered gearbox solutions, enhancing performance and reliability in packaging applications. The pair joined The Downtime podcast to discuss solutions for packaging OEMs. Source: Neugart

Episode 17: Gimme S’More Precision | Show notes & time stamps

00:16 – The co-hosts kick off the episode

00:42 – Kasprzak shares that it’s Wynn’s birthday

01:31 – Wynn shares her story on Fanuc’s R-50iA controller and tote consolidation demo

02:24 – Kasprzak reveals that Neil will join the podcast to celebrate Wynn’s birthday and National S’mores Day

03:34 – Kasprzak introduces a story on condition monitoring from Dodge Industrial

04:45 – Wynn sets up her interview with Neugart’s Luke Rein and Joey Suprick

05:46 – Neugart interview begins with Rein and Suprick introducing themselves

07:35 – Inside gearbox design for packaging machinery

08:50 – Rein discusses gearboxes for pick-and-place with Delta robots

10:37 – Food-grade lubrication options for gearboxes

13:36 – Rein shares gearbox customization options

14:48 – Rein and Suprick provide gearbox trends in packaging machinery

17:08 – Rein shares a real-world problem-solving situation involving a packaging OEM

20:33 – Neugart interview wraps up

23:22 – Wynn and Kasprzak host a National S’mores Day and birthday celebration with Neil. Wynn hosts a trivia game with Neil and Kasprzak competing

24:17 – Kasprzak nearly sets her house on fire by making a s’more

38:05 – Winner of the Wynning trivia game is declared

41:38 – S’mores and birthday celebration end

42:41 – The co-hosts wrap up the episode

About The Downtime co-hosts

The Downtime is a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media that features insights from its automation and controls publications. It’s co-hosted by Wynn, who serves as the senior editor (digital) for Packaging OEM, and Kasprzak, who is the managing editor for Plant Engineering, Control Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer.