Maximum performance in the smallest of spaces

Nabtesco’s strain wave gear actuators deliver maximum performance within a minimal footprint and offer flexible plug-and-play integration. They excel through superior precision and dynamic response combined with high reliability, significantly reducing engineering and integration effort. This shortens development times and boosts automation efficiency.

In drive systems, the gearbox, motor, sensors, bearings, and interfaces must be precisely matched to one another and tailored to the specific application. The coordination and design work involved consumes development resources and can delay time-to-market. Nabtesco’s high-performance strain wave gear actuators provide the solution: all components are optimally matched and integrated into a single, compact unit. The result is high functionality, a space-saving design, and ease of use.

Compact strain wave gear actuators with high power density

These strain wave gear-based actuators are ideal for applications requiring a compact design, high precision, and zero backlash. The fully assembled drive systems combine the gear set, bearings, housing, and electric motor—including encoder and optional brake. They feature high power density, delivering outstanding performance in confined spaces. A variety of sizes, gear ratios, and torque ranges—as well as hollow-shaft versions—allow for precise adaptation to diverse requirements. Various sensor types can be accommodated, and additional components such as torque, temperature, or position sensors can be integrated. Comprehensive corrosion protection and an IP65 rating often eliminate the need for separate housings or seals. Automotive-Compliant Manufacturing in Germany

The backlash-free strain wave gear actuators are manufactured at the Ovalo GmbH facility in Limburg (Lahn) in accordance with automotive standards (IATF 16949 certification), achieving nearly 100% value creation within Germany. This ensures the highest levels of quality, safety, and stability—combined with high production volumes, short development cycles, full traceability, and cost-efficiency—across the entire spectrum from one-piece flow to mass production.

From robotics to mobility

These actuators are used in a wide range of applications across robotics and automation, mechanical engineering, medical technology, and mobility. They excel particularly in scenarios requiring a combination of high positioning accuracy, a compact design, and ease of integration. Typical fields of application include cobot and robot joints, handling and positioning systems, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and steer-by-wire solutions.
Actuators for High Loads

In addition to strain wave gear-based solutions, Nabtesco also produces actuators featuring cycloidal gears. Designed for higher torque, these units reduce design complexity in applications involving heavy loads and demanding load profiles.

Expertise in mechatronic drive systems

Nabtesco’s actuator solutions are backed by comprehensive system expertise spanning mechanics, electronics, and digitalization—all consolidated within the corporate group. Customers benefit from streamlined development processes and seamlessly integrated technologies from a single source.