Inline Planetary Gearboxes
Coaxial input-to-output planetary gear units covering 1,000 – 1,100,000 Nm across 16 frame sizes. ISO 9001 certified, 100% load-tested, direct replacement for Bonfiglioli, Brevini, and Bosch Rexroth equivalent series.
What Is an Inline Planetary Gearbox?
An inline planetary gearbox — also called a coaxial planetary reducer or straight-through planetary gear unit — is a multi-stage gear reducer where the input and output shafts share the same axis. This coaxial arrangement is the defining characteristic: the motor drives in on one end, and torque comes out at the same centreline from the other end.
The internal architecture distributes load across a set of planet gears orbiting a central sun gear within a fixed ring gear — delivering higher torque density per unit volume than conventional parallel-shaft or worm gear designs at equivalent ratings. At the same output torque, an inline planetary gearbox is typically 30–50% smaller and lighter than a helical alternative.
Inline planetary gearboxes are the workhorses of industrial machinery — conveyors, mixers, agitators, wheel drives, feed drives, packaging machines, and more — wherever continuous high-torque output, compact installation, and long service life are simultaneously required.
How to Select the Right Inline Planetary Gearbox
Two selection paths — new specification or direct replacement. Both result in a confirmed quotation within 24 hours.
Fastest confirmation method: Photograph the nameplate on your existing gearbox and email it to [email protected]. We’ll cross-reference and confirm the replacement spec within 4 business hours.
New Specification — What to Provide
- Output torque (Nm) — continuous rated and peak load values
- Required output speed (RPM) — combined with motor input speed, this defines gear ratio
- Motor interface — hydraulic (SAE flange size) or electric (IEC/NEMA frame designation)
- Output shaft type — solid keyed / splined / hollow with shrink disc
- Mounting configuration — foot, flange, or hub-mount
- Duty cycle and application environment — for service factor and IP rating selection
A
Replacement Order — What to Provide
- Brand and model code — from the existing unit’s nameplate (e.g. Bonfiglioli 311L3, Brevini EM1090)
- Gear ratio — confirmed from nameplate or equipment manual
- Input/output configuration — shaft type and motor interface already fitted
- Quantity and urgency level — in-stock vs bulk production timelines differ
- Shipping destination and preferred Incoterms
B
Where Inline Planetary Gearboxes Are Used
The inline planetary gearbox is the standard drive solution across six industries where coaxial shaft layout, high torque density, and continuous duty are all required simultaneously.
Agricultural Equipment
Feed mixer wagon drives (rated for 3× shock torque), tractor PTO implement gearboxes, harvesting head drives, and irrigation pump drives. IP65+ sealed housings for outdoor agricultural environments. Target torque range: E10–E260 (1,480–36,600 Nm).
Greenhouse Engineering
Rack-and-pinion ventilation drives, shade system actuators, and automated roof-opening mechanisms in large commercial greenhouses. The compact inline housing reduces bracket load on aluminium roof structures. IEC electric motor input standard for greenhouse installations.
Industrial Automation
Conveyor drives, rotary mixer head drives, agitator drives, and rotary table positioning in manufacturing and food processing plants. Foot and flange mount options for both base-plate and direct-machine-body installation. Full torque range EP300–EP321 series.
Construction & Crane
Tower crane hoist winch drives, wheel drives for dump trucks and site vehicles, and track drives for tracked construction equipment. Hydraulic parking brake option for FEM M5+ crane duty. 311L and EP300 series cover the 35,000–500,000 Nm range.
Water Treatment & Marine
Clarifier rake drives, thickener scraper arms, and sludge collectors for municipal water treatment. Marine deck winch drives where DNV certification is required — the S series carries DNV type approval and ABS PDA for direct marine procurement
Mining & Energy
Rope drum winches, conveyor head drives, and heavy-duty feed screws for open-pit and underground mining. The S series at up to 2,170,000 Nm rated torque covers the largest continuous mining drive requirements — 40–60% lighter than spiral alternatives at the same rating.
Inline Planetary Gearbox — Full Range Quick Reference
Key parameters across all inline series. Contact us to confirm exact specifications for your application.
| Series | Frame Sizes | Torque Range (Nm) | Max Power | Ratio Range | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E Series (EM/EC) | E10 – E260 (9 sizes) | 1,480 – 36,600 | — | Varies by size | Brevini E10–E260 (EM, ED, ET, EQ, EC) |
| 300–321 Series (L) | 300 – 321 (16 sizes) | 1,000 – 450,000 | Up to 450 kW | 3.3 – 2,700 : 1 | Bonfiglioli 311L1–L4, 300–321 L Series |
| EP300 Inline | EP300 – EP321 (16 sizes) | 1,000 – 500,000 | Up to 450 kW | 3.4 – 5,000 : 1 | Bonfiglioli · Brevini · Bosch Rexroth · Comer · Reggiana · Rossi · Zollern |
| S Series | S300 – S20000 (13 sizes) | 34,000 – 2,170,000 | — | — | Brevini S300–S7500 · DNV / ABS Certified |
Frequently Asked Questions — Right Angle Planetary Gearbox
What is the efficiency advantage of an inline planetary gearbox over a worm gear reducer?
An inline planetary gearbox achieves 96–98% efficiency per stage. A worm gear reducer at the same ratio typically achieves 60–80%. For an application running 4,000 hours per year at 10 kW, the energy cost difference can exceed $2,000 per year at standard industrial electricity rates — making the efficiency advantage financially significant on any long-running industrial installation.
Can your inline planetary gearbox replace a Bonfiglioli EM or ED series unit directly?
Yes — our 311L and EP300 inline series are dimensionally interchangeable with Bonfiglioli EM, ED, ET, and EL series units. Mounting flange, bolt pattern, shaft diameter, and port locations match the original. Send the nameplate model code for confirmation within 4 hours. No adaptor plates or shimming required for standard configurations.
Can I order a right angle planetary gearbox replacement for Bonfiglioli without sending drawings?
Yes — in most cases the nameplate data is sufficient. Send the brand name, series code, gear ratio, output torque or frame size designator, and input/output configuration. We cross-reference against our compatibility database and confirm the matching EP300R or NB300R variant within 4 business hours. For unusual or non-standard configurations, a dimensional drawing of the critical interfaces may be requested.
Are non-standard gear ratios available in the EP300R right angle gearbox?
Non-standard ratios within the production range (6.9:1 to 9,000:1) are available to order with a 10–35 day lead time. Specify your required output RPM and input motor speed — we’ll calculate the exact ratio and confirm the nearest standard option or advise on a non-standard production run depending on quantity and urgency.
What documents are included with a right angle planetary gearbox shipment?
Every order includes: signed load test report, commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading. Certificate of origin, CE declaration, and ISO 9001:2015 conformance certificate are available on request at no additional charge. All documentation is provided in English.
Get In Touch
Find Your Inline Planetary Gearbox — Quote in 24 Hours
TSend your required torque, gear ratio, motor interface, and output shaft type — or the nameplate code from your existing unit. We’ll confirm the matching series, frame size, price, and lead time within 24 business hours. No minimum order quantity. Ships to Canada, Australia, USA, Europe, and 50+ countries.
✓ E Series · 311L · EP300 · S Series
✓ Bonfiglioli · Brevini · Rexroth Drop-In
✓ No MOQ · Ships Sea / Air / DHL
✓ ISO 9001:2015 · CE · RoHS · DNV