Wheel Drive Series Planetary Gearbox
Trusted Across Industries:
Agricultural Machinery
Wheeled Excavator
Telehandler & MEWP
Mining & Tunnel Vehicle
Special Purpose Vehicle
Oil Field Service Vehicle
Industrial Mobile Platform
Why Choose Our Wheel Drive Planetary Gearbox? Featuring a coaxial in-hub planetary architecture, case-hardened alloy steel gear sets, and bolt-on wheel hub flanges compatible with standard ISO and SAE axle interfaces, our wheel drive gearboxes deliver maximum traction torque in the smallest possible radial envelope, making them the preferred wheel drive gear reducer for OEM replacement and new-platform design across mobile, autonomous, and agricultural machinery worldwide.
Product Overview
The Wheel Drive Series Planetary Gearbox, also known as a wheel motor gearbox, hub drive reducer, wheel-end planetary gearbox, or in-wheel drive unit, is a purpose-engineered epicyclic transmission designed to mount concentrically within or directly onto a driven wheel hub. Unlike conventional axle-mounted or transmission-based drive systems, the Wheel Drive Series places the reduction stage at the wheel itself, eliminating long propshafts, reducing drivetrain complexity, and enabling independent wheel torque control, which is the foundation of modern electric drive and autonomous vehicle architectures.
The series spans output torque from 500 N·m to 120,000 N·m, covering compact planetary wheel drives for AGV and AMR platforms requiring sub-200 mm diameter envelopes through to heavy-duty wheel drive gear reducers for wheeled excavators and mining vehicles demanding sustained tractive effort on steep grades. Both hydraulic motor and electric motor input variants are standard catalogue items.
With the rapid electrification of mobile machinery, from warehouse AGV and AMR fleets and electric agricultural tractors to hybrid wheeled excavators, the compact, high-efficiency Wheel Drive Series Planetary Gearbox has become a critical component in modern electric powertrain design. Its coaxial layout minimises unsprung mass compared to direct hub-motor drives while delivering 3 to 5 times the torque density of equivalent helical gearboxes, making it the engineered choice wherever space, weight, and efficiency are simultaneously constrained.
Technical Specifications
All wheel motor gearbox units are factory-assembled, lubricated, and acceptance-tested before shipment. Bespoke configurations including hollow output shafts, integrated encoders, and custom hub bolt patterns are available on request.
| Parameter | Specification / Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission Type | 1 / 2 / 3-Stage Planetary | Coaxial in-hub or flange-mount layout |
| Rated Output Torque | 500 - 120,000 N·m | Higher torque on request |
| Gear Ratio Range | i = 4 - 200 | Low ratio for AGV; high ratio for heavy vehicle |
| Input Speed (Max) | 500 - 8,000 RPM | High-speed BLDC / PMSM electric motor compatible |
| Output Speed (Max) | 10 - 500 RPM | Matched to wheel diameter and vehicle speed |
| Transmission Efficiency | 95% - 98% | Critical for EV battery range optimisation |
| Housing Material | Ductile Iron GGG-50 / Aluminium Alloy | Aluminium for lightweight AGV/AMR |
| Gear Material | 20CrMnTi / 18CrNiMo7-6 / 17CrNiMo6 | Carburized, case-hardened 58-62 HRC, ground |
| Bearing Type | Tapered Roller / Angular Contact Ball | Pre-loaded for combined radial and axial wheel loads |
| Parking Brake Option | Spring-Applied, Electric / Hydraulic Release | 24 VDC standard; custom voltage/pressure available |
| Seal System | Dual HNBR Lip Seal / Duo-Cone (heavy duty) | IP65 standard; IP67 heavy-duty variant |
| Lubrication | Grease-packed / Oil-bath (heavy duty) | Grease: maintenance-free up to 5,000 hrs |
| Backlash | 8 arcmin (AGV) / 15 arcmin (standard) | Precision-lapped planet gears for AGV variants |
| Operating Temperature | -30°C to +85°C | Arctic option: -50°C with synthetic lubricant |
| Output Interface | Wheel Hub Flange / Hollow Shaft / Spline | Custom hub bolt circle and pilot diameter on request |
| Motor Interface | IEC B5 / SAE / Custom BLDC Flange | Hydraulic, BLDC, PMSM and induction motor options |
| Encoder / Sensor Port | Incremental / Absolute Encoder | For AGV/AMR closed-loop navigation control |
| Service Life | 10,000+ operating hours | Under rated load conditions |
| Surface Treatment | Epoxy primer + PU topcoat / Anodized (Al) | Salt spray 500+ hours (ISO 9227) |
| Certification | ISO 9001:2015, CE, RoHS | ATEX variant available on request |
| Weight Range | 2.5 kg - 850 kg | Varies by torque class and housing material |
| Lead Time | 5 - 35 days | AGV/AMR stock variants ship within 48 hrs |
Need a custom wheel hub interface or encoder integration? Our engineers design bespoke hub flanges and BLDC motor adaptors for new-platform development.
How the Wheel Drive Planetary Gearbox Works
The Wheel Drive Series Planetary Gearbox, also called a wheel-end reducer, hub planetary gearbox, or in-wheel transmission, applies a compact coaxial epicyclic gear arrangement to perform speed reduction and torque multiplication directly at the driven wheel, eliminating the mechanical losses and weight of a centralised gearbox-and-driveshaft system. For electric vehicle platforms, this directly extends battery range and reduces maintenance complexity.
Motor Input
A BLDC, PMSM electric motor or hydraulic motor drives the sun gear at high speed through a splined or keyed input shaft, transmitting power coaxially into the first planetary stage.
Planetary Reduction
The sun gear drives three or more planet gears meshing with a fixed ring gear. The planet carrier rotates at reduced speed with multiplied torque, repeated across two or three stages to achieve ratios up to 200:1.
Hub Flange Output
The final planet carrier connects directly to the wheel hub flange, rotating at precisely controlled speed with full rated output torque to propel the vehicle wheel.
Parking Brake Hold
Optional spring-applied parking brake locks the output hub whenever the electric or hydraulic release signal is removed, preventing vehicle movement on slopes or during emergency stop events.
Encoder Feedback
Integrated encoder port provides real-time speed and position feedback to the vehicle controller, essential for closed-loop AGV/AMR navigation and precise agricultural headland turning.
The coaxial layout eliminates bevel gear sets, driveshafts, and universal joints found in conventional axle drive systems. For electric-powered platforms, this layout minimises drivetrain losses and extends battery range by 8 to 15 percent compared to centralised transmission architectures. For autonomous platforms, independent wheel control enables zero-radius turning, diagonal movement, and millimetre-level positioning that conventional drivetrains cannot achieve.
Core Advantages of Our Wheel Drive Planetary Gearbox
From planetary wheel drives for AGV and AMR in smart warehousing to wheel drive gear reducers for wheeled excavators on construction sites, here are eight engineering advantages that define the Wheel Drive Series.
Ultra-Compact In-Hub Envelope
The coaxial planetary layout fits entirely within the wheel rim diameter, with axial length as short as 60 mm for AGV variants and under 200 mm for heavy-duty excavator wheel ends, protecting the drive unit from ground-level impact and contamination.
AGV / AMR Optimised Design
Lightweight aluminium housing, integrated encoder port, low-backlash gear train (8 arcmin), and 24 VDC electric parking brake make our compact variant the preferred planetary wheel drive for AGV and AMR platforms requiring precise closed-loop positioning in automated warehouse and factory environments.
High Torque-to-Weight Ratio
Planetary architecture distributes load across three or more planet gears simultaneously, achieving 3 to 5 times the torque density of equivalent worm or helical wheel-end reducers, delivering more torque from less mass.
Agricultural Duty Proven
Our wheel drive planetary gearbox for agricultural machinery features IP67 sealing, heavy-duty tapered roller wheel bearings for combined vertical and horizontal forces, and fertiliser-resistant coatings, proven in sugar cane harvesters, self-propelled sprayers, and electric tractor platforms.
EV-Optimised Efficiency
With transmission efficiency of 97 percent or higher and grease-packed maintenance-free variants requiring zero oil changes up to 5,000 hours, our gearboxes are designed for battery-electric and hybrid platforms where every percentage point of efficiency extends operational range.
Wheeled Excavator and Heavy Vehicle Rated
Heavy-duty variants with forged steel housings, Duo-Cone output seals, and up to 120,000 N·m output torque are engineered for severe combined axle loads of wheeled excavators and reach stackers, as direct replacements for Rexroth GFT, Brevini, and Zollern OEM wheel-end drives.
Integrated Parking Brake
Optional spring-applied, electric or hydraulic-release parking brake mounted within the gearbox housing with zero external protrusion. Holds 150 percent of rated output torque on slopes and engages automatically on power loss. Compliant with ISO 3450 and EN 15000 mobile machinery brake standards.
Direct OEM Replacement Compatibility
Hub flange bolt circles, axle spline profiles, motor flange standards, and overall envelope dimensions matched to Bonfiglioli, Brevini, Rexroth, and Zollern originals, enabling drop-in field replacement without machine modification or structural rework.
Structure Design and Material Engineering
The Wheel Drive Series is engineered as a fully sealed, self-contained hub drive module. Each structural and material choice reflects the unique demands of wheel-end service: high combined radial and axial bearing loads, contamination exposure, frequent start-stop cycling, and for AGV/AMR applications, the need for low backlash and repeatable positioning accuracy.
Housing
GGG-50 ductile iron for heavy-duty variants and 6061-T6 aluminium alloy for AGV/AMR units. CNC-machined hub flange face ensures 0.03 mm runout maximum. Ribbed exterior geometry enhances thermal dissipation under continuous-duty cycling.
Gear Train
All gears manufactured from 18CrNiMo7-6 alloy steel, vacuum carburized, case-hardened to 58-62 HRC, then precision-ground to DIN/ISO Class 5. Low-backlash AGV variants undergo additional precision lapping to 8 arcmin.
Wheel Bearings
Output shaft carries combined axle loads via heavy-series tapered roller bearing pairs (SKF/NSK/FAG equivalent), factory pre-adjusted to eliminate field shimming. Angular contact ball bearings used in AGV variants for reduced friction and higher speed capability.
Parking Brake Pack
Multi-disc spring-applied friction brake with sintered bronze discs and hardened steel reaction plates. Belleville spring stacks maintain consistent clamping force across the full operating temperature range. Wear indicator port allows condition monitoring without disassembly.
Sealing System
Standard: dual HNBR radial lip seals at output hub (IP65). Heavy duty: Duo-Cone floating face metal seal (IP67), ideal for wheeled excavator mud and water immersion. All seals HNBR compound for chemical resistance against agricultural chemicals.
Motor Interface
IEC B5 flange for standard electric motors, SAE 2/4-bolt for hydraulic motors, and custom CNC-machined adaptors for BLDC/PMSM integration. Encoder mounting boss machined to H6 bore tolerance for zero-play sensor fitment.
Surface Treatment
Iron housing: epoxy zinc phosphate primer (80 µm) plus two-component PU topcoat (80 µm), salt spray above 500 hours. Aluminium housing: hard anodizing (25 µm) for AGV indoor use, or epoxy prime plus PU topcoat for outdoor agricultural variants.
Factory Testing
5-step FAT: no-load run-in, full-load efficiency test, parking brake holding torque verification, output hub runout measurement, and IP seal air-pressure leak test. Full test report issued per unit and archived for 10 years.
Typical Application Scenarios
The Wheel Drive Series Planetary Gearbox is the traction heart of driven wheel systems across six distinct industry sectors. Each application places unique demands on the wheel motor gearbox and here is how our engineering responds to each.
AGV and AMR Autonomous Logistics
Automated Guided Vehicles and Autonomous Mobile Robots in warehousing, e-commerce fulfilment, and semiconductor fab environments demand planetary wheel drives for AGV and AMR with sub-millimetre positioning repeatability, ultra-low backlash, 24/7 continuous duty cycles, and 24 VDC electric parking brakes. Our aluminium-housed compact variants as light as 2.5 kg are specified by leading AMR OEMs for their drive wheel assemblies.
Agricultural Machinery and Electric Tractors
Self-propelled sprayers, sugar cane harvesters, and next-generation electric tractors require a wheel drive planetary gearbox for agricultural machinery that withstands extreme combined axle loads, chemical splash from fertilisers, and 12 or more hours of continuous daily field operation. Our agricultural variants with IP67 sealing and Duo-Cone output seals are the standard choice for leading precision agriculture OEMs.
Wheeled Excavator and Reach Stacker
Wheeled rubber-tyred excavators and reach stackers generate extreme vertical and horizontal wheel loads during digging and lifting cycles. Our heavy-duty wheel drive gear reducer for wheeled excavators with forged steel housing, Duo-Cone sealed output, and up to 120,000 N·m directly replaces Rexroth GFT and Brevini wheel-end planetary drives on major European and Asian platforms.
Telehandler and Mobile Elevated Work Platform
Telehandlers and MEWPs including scissor lifts and articulated boom lifts require compact wheel drives with reliable parking brake function for slope stability when elevated. Our mid-range units with IEC B5 flanges, integrated 24 VDC parking brakes, and gear ratios of 20 to 80:1 are specified by leading telehandler manufacturers for all-wheel-drive configurations.
Underground Mining and Tunnel Vehicle
Underground LHD vehicles and tunnel boring machine service vehicles operate in continuous rock dust, water spray, and steep ramp conditions. Our ATEX-certified wheel drive gearboxes with explosion-proof motor flanges, IP67 Duo-Cone seals, and high-ratio outputs are engineered for the extreme combined loads of mine ramp traction.
Special Purpose and Defence Vehicle
Airport ground support equipment, military logistics vehicles, and emergency response platforms require independent hub drives with silent operation, low thermal signature, and high cross-country mobility. Our in-hub wheel drive planetary gearboxes deliver electric all-wheel-drive capability with torque vectoring control via independent wheel speed management.
OEM Replacement Cross-Reference
Our Wheel Drive Series Planetary Gearbox is dimensionally and functionally cross-referenced to the following OEM wheel drive brands. We verify hub flange bolt circles, motor flange standards, axle spline profiles, and overall envelope dimensions before confirming replacement compatibility. OEM names are referenced for cross-compatibility purposes only.
| OEM Brand | Series / Model | Torque Class | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Rexroth | GFT Series (GFT17 to GFT3000) | 1,000 - 80,000 N·m | Wheeled excavator, telehandler |
| Bonfiglioli | W / WT / 700W Series | 500 - 60,000 N·m | Agricultural, mobile plant |
| Brevini (Dana) | WD / WT Wheel Drive Series | 800 - 100,000 N·m | Wheeled excavator, mining |
| Zollern | GFW Wheel Drive Planetary | 1,000 - 80,000 N·m | Construction, agriculture |
| Reggiana Riduttori | RR Wheel Drive Series | 500 - 50,000 N·m | Mobile machinery, AGV |
| Poclain Hydraulics | TW / MSE Series | 1,000 - 60,000 N·m | Agricultural, off-highway |
| Kawasaki Precision | MX / TM Wheel Series | 500 - 40,000 N·m | Mobile equipment |
| Dinamic Oil | OMT / HMW Wheel Series | 500 - 30,000 N·m | Agricultural, telehandler |
| Sai Hydraulics | GM / MR Wheel Drive | 500 - 25,000 N·m | Compact mobile, AGV |
| Hagglunds (Bosch Rexroth) | CA / CB Wheel Drive | 5,000 - 120,000 N·m | Mining, heavy industrial |
Don't see your model listed? We maintain cross-reference data for over 1,800 wheel drive OEM part numbers. Provide your existing gearbox model number, hub flange bolt circle, and motor interface specification and our team will confirm compatibility within 24 hours. Submit Your Cross-Reference Request
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from design engineers, procurement managers, and service technicians about our wheel motor gearbox range for AGV, agricultural, excavator, and mobile vehicle applications.
Quality Assurance and Standards Compliance
Our Wheel Drive Series manufacturing process is certified under ISO 9001:2015, with full traceability from raw material mill certificates through to final acceptance testing. Key quality control milestones include:
- Incoming Material Control: Spectroscopic composition analysis on all gear steel, hardness banding verification, and aluminium alloy certification for AGV housing batches.
- Gear Grinding and Accuracy: 100 percent CMM profile and lead measurement on planet and sun gears to DIN/ISO Class 5, with 8 arcmin backlash verification on AGV low-backlash variants.
- Parking Brake Testing: Every brake pack tested at 150 percent rated torque before assembly. Belleville spring force and disc thickness measured per unit.
- Hub Flange Runout: Output hub face and pilot runout measured to 0.03 mm TIR maximum, critical for balanced wheel rotation and tyre wear.
- Factory Acceptance Testing: No-load run-in followed by full-load efficiency test, parking brake hold test, hub runout measurement, and IP seal leak test. Full report issued per unit.
- Dimensional Inspection: All motor flanges, hub bolt circles, and axle interfaces measured against drawing tolerance with records archived for 10 years minimum.
Applicable standards include ISO 3691-4 for industrial truck safety, EN 15000 for mobile telescopic handlers, ISO 11684 for agricultural machinery safety, and ISO 3450 for earth-moving machinery brakes.
How to Select the Right Wheel Drive Planetary Gearbox
Follow these five steps to specify the correct wheel motor gearbox for your mobile vehicle application. Our engineers are available to assist at every stage.
Step 1: Define Max Traction Torque
Max tractive force in Newtons multiplied by wheel radius in metres equals required wheel output torque in N·m. Apply service factor of 1.2 to 1.8 for vehicle acceleration, gradient, and payload variation.
Step 2: Calculate Gear Ratio
Gear ratio equals motor max RPM divided by required wheel RPM. Wheel RPM equals vehicle max speed in m/s multiplied by 60, then divided by pi multiplied by wheel diameter in metres. Confirm motor rated torque multiplied by gear ratio exceeds required wheel torque.
Step 3: Specify Motor Interface
Provide motor type (BLDC, PMSM, hydraulic), frame size or flange standard, and shaft diameter. Confirm whether an encoder is required and specify encoder type (incremental or absolute, PPR, voltage).
Step 4: Confirm Hub Interface
Provide wheel hub bolt circle diameter, number of bolts, pilot diameter, and axle spline specification if applicable. Advise if hollow shaft pass-through for axle stub is required. For OEM replacement, supply the existing part number.
Step 5: Specify Environment
Advise operating environment: indoor AGV (clean and dry), agricultural (chemical, mud, water), construction (impact, dust, water), or mining and tunnel (ATEX). This determines sealing spec, coating system, bearing selection, and lubricant type.
Free Application Engineering Review: Send us your vehicle parameters including traction force, max speed, wheel diameter, motor type, and operating environment. Our engineers will select the correct model, calculate gear ratio and service factor, and provide a dimensional drawing within 48 hours completely free of charge. Start Your Free Application Review
Source Your Wheel Drive Planetary Gearbox Today
Whether you need a compact planetary wheel drive for AGV and AMR automation projects, a rugged wheel drive planetary gearbox for agricultural machinery OEM production, or a heavy-duty wheel drive gear reducer for wheeled excavators as a service replacement, our team delivers the right solution at the right price backed by 20 or more years of planetary gearbox manufacturing expertise and a global distribution network.
Explore our complete planetary gearbox range at planetary-gearboxes.net, or speak directly with a wheel drive specialist via our Contact Us page.
