Gearmotors

Looking for a gearmotor for a specific machine? At Stojan you will find geared motors for all typical applications — from meat mincers, winches, garage doors and belt conveyors to large industrial machinery. Over 300 tested drives in total, most of them dispatched within 24 hours from our warehouse in Poland.

What is a gearmotor?

A gearmotor (also called a geared motor or gear reducer with motor) is an integrated drive consisting of an electric motor and a mechanical gearbox combined in a single housing. The motor provides rotational speed, while the gearbox reduces it and at the same time increases the torque. As a result, a motor running at 1400 rpm can deliver, for example, 28 rpm at the output with 50× higher torque — ideal for driving machines that need force rather than speed.

In practice, a gearmotor replaces three separate components: the motor, the coupling and the gearbox. Fewer parts, less vibration, a shorter assembly chain and greater reliability. That is why machine designers choose gearmotors wherever a low-speed, high-torque drive is needed — from kitchen equipment to large crushers.

Types of gearmotors — which one to choose?

Helical (inline) gearmotors

The most popular type. A helical gearbox consists of two or three pairs of gears arranged in parallel. They offer high efficiency of 95–98%, long service life and low cost. The output shaft is coaxial with or parallel to the motor shaft. Used wherever there are no requirements regarding shaft orientation — conveyors, packaging machines, agitators, screw feeders.

Worm gearmotors

A worm gearbox turns the drive through 90° (output shaft perpendicular to the motor). They feature high ratios in a single stage (up to 100:1) and self-locking — with the right lead angle, the drive will not back-drive under load. Efficiency is lower (60–90%), so they run hotter and require EP oil. Ideal for winches, hoists, garage doors, meat mincers and agitators in chemical tanks.

Bevel-helical (right-angle) gearmotors

They combine the advantages of helical units (high efficiency) and worm units (90° change of direction). Bevel gears transmit the drive between two shafts at a right angle. Efficiency of 92–96% — more expensive than helical units, but more efficient than worm units. Used in food-processing machinery, heavy industry, and pump and compressor drives.

Planetary gearmotors

A heavy-duty drive with a compact design. Several planet gears revolve around a central sun gear — the load is distributed evenly, delivering very high torque in minimal dimensions. Efficiency up to 98%, low noise level. Used in robotics, precision automation, overhead cranes and electric vehicle drives.

Gearmotor applications

Catering and the food industry

The most common type is the meat mincer gearmotor — typically 0.55–1.5 kW, 50–90 rpm, single-phase 230 V. Output shaft with an M22 or M28 thread, aluminium housing. Fits mincers of size 8, 12, 22, 32, 42 and 80. In catering, gearmotors also drive dough mixers, kneaders, fruit juicers, professional food processors, automatic coffee machines and feed conveyors in bakeries.

Gates, hoists, winches

Worm gearmotors from 0.37 to 2.2 kW with an electromagnetic brake. The self-locking worm gear holds the load even during a power failure — critical for the safety of winches and hoists. Garage and fence gates usually use a 0.37–0.55 kW gearmotor; construction and workshop winches 0.75–1.5 kW; goods hoists and lifts 1.5–4 kW.

In-plant material handling

Belt conveyors, chain feeders, pallet turntables, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) — this is the domain of helical and bevel-helical gearmotors. Power is selected according to the belt load: 0.55–1.5 kW for light duty (up to 100 kg/m), 2.2–7.5 kW for heavier applications. Most often three-phase 400 V with IP55–IP65 protection.

Agriculture and processing

Tank agitators, feed dispensers, grain screens, screw feeders, slurry scrapers. Most often three-phase gearmotors of 0.75–3 kW with IP55 protection against water and dust. For food tanks, a stainless-steel or hygienic design is required.

Industrial and CNC machinery

Chemical agitators, ball mills, crushers, centrifuges, presses, machine tools. Wherever a low-speed drive with stable torque is needed. Planetary gearmotors in robotics, CNC automation and industrial manipulators — wherever precision and a short response time matter.

How to choose a gearmotor — 5 parameters

Choosing a gearmotor comes down to five decisions. Most drive problems stem from incorrect selection — it is worth taking a moment to determine all parameters before you buy.

1. Power (kW) — determined by the load. If you do not know it exactly, check the motor you want to replace (rating plate), or contact us with a description of the machine and the load. A common mistake is oversizing the power "just in case" — more power means higher starting torque, which can damage the gearing of the driven machine.
2. Output speed (rpm) — the shaft speed after the gearbox. Meat mincers: 50–90 rpm. Tank agitators: 30–200 rpm. Gates: 10–30 rpm. Winches: 50–200 rpm. Conveyors: 10–60 rpm. The lower the speed, the higher the ratio and the greater the torque.
3. Torque (Nm) — derived from power and speed: M = 9550 × P / n, where P is in kW and n in rpm. Example: 1.5 kW at 90 rpm gives 159 Nm. The lower the output speed, the higher the torque from the same power.
4. Power supply — 230 V single-phase (lower ratings up to ~2.2 kW, domestic installations, catering) or 400 V three-phase (higher ratings, industry, better efficiency). A three-phase supply requires an industrial power installation.
5. Mounting — foot mounting (B3), round flange (B5), small face flange (B14), solid or hollow shaft. It must match the existing machine — check the fixing-hole spacing, the diameter and length of the output shaft, and any thread.

Additional parameters worth considering: IP protection rating (IP55 for most applications, IP65 for pressure washing), insulation class (F or H), direction of rotation (left/right/bidirectional), an electromagnetic brake, and suitability for inverter (VFD) control.

Gearmotor manufacturers in our range

We sell gearmotors from renowned European and global manufacturers:

• NORD Drivesystems — German quality standard, a wide range of helical, worm and bevel-helical units. Good spare-parts availability, modular design.
• SEW-Eurodrive — the global leader in industrial drives. Modular design, easy replacement of parts, excellent technical support available across Europe.
• Bauer Gear Motor — compact helical and bevel gearmotors for automation and packaging.
• Lenze — heavy-duty drives for industry, integrated with Lenze inverters and servo drives.
• Indur, Cantoni Group, Mendel Polmot, Tamel — Polish gearmotor manufacturers found in older industrial installations.
• Stojan — our own gearmotors for meat mincers, including 0.55 kW and 0.75 kW versions with M22/M28 threads — proven in hundreds of catering businesses.

Product condition — reconditioned, new, OEM

Our range includes gearmotors in three conditions to suit different budgets:

• Used, reconditioned — comprehensively inspected and tested by our mechanics, ready for operation. Replacement of bearings and seals, internal cleaning, gear inspection, test run under load. 30-day start-up warranty. Attractive price — often 40–60% of the cost of a new unit.
• New — brand new, in original packaging, with the full 24-month manufacturer's warranty. Quickest installation, no risk — the best choice for production-critical machines.
• Unused (new old stock) — brand new but stored in a warehouse for a long time. They may show minor signs of storage (dust, small paint scuffs) but remain fully functional. 12-month warranty. Prices between new and reconditioned units.

Frequently asked questions about gearmotors

What is the difference between a gearmotor and a gearbox?

A gearbox is just the mechanical part that changes speed and torque — it needs a separate motor. A gearmotor is a gearbox integrated with a motor in a single housing. A gearmotor is a ready-to-use, plug-and-play drive, whereas a gearbox has to be matched and coupled to a motor.

Can a gearmotor be connected to a frequency inverter?

Yes — most three-phase gearmotors (induction motor) work correctly with a frequency inverter (VFD). This allows smooth speed control, typically in the 5–50 Hz range. For continuous operation below 25 Hz, a gearmotor with forced cooling (separately driven fan) or appropriate load derating is recommended.

How can you tell if a gearmotor is damaged?

Signs of wear: excessive noise (gear whine, bearing noise), oil leaking from the seals, output shaft vibration, overheating of the housing (above 80°C), loss of torque under load, failure to reach rated speed. In most cases it can be overhauled — replacing the bearings and seals extends its service life by another 5–10 years.

Which oil should be used in a gearmotor?

The manufacturer specifies the type and viscosity in the documentation. Most commonly: helical gearmotors — CLP 220 gear oil (e.g. Mobilgear 600 XP 220, Shell Omala S2 G 220); worm gearmotors — CLP PG 220 synthetic oil (Mobil Glygoyle 220, Klüber Syntheso D 220 EP). Change every 10,000 operating hours or 2 years, more often in heavy-duty conditions.

Contact and delivery

Have a question about a specific gearmotor? Call +48 500 385 112 or e-mail stojan@silniki-elektryczne.com.pl. We will check availability. We ship from our warehouse in Poland; delivery to EU countries is by DPD courier, usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.