February 2021

n NEWS February 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com 6 It could take three years for gears market to recover from 7% drop THE GLOBAL MARKET for industrial gearboxes and geared motors dropped by more than 7% in 2020 as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, and it could take until 2022 for sales to recover to their 2019 levels, according to a new report from Interact Analysis. The decline during 2020 has resulted in short-term difficulties for gear manufacturers, the report says. However, it expects a period of sustained recovery and growth through 2021 and 2022, with slower growth in the period to 2024. It suggests that the need for more automated and flexible equipment in a post-Covid industrial landscape will be a major driver of this demand. In terms of technologies, geared motors will see the fastest recovery, with a CAGR of 3.6%. This will be driven, in part, by end-users increasingly seeing the benefits of buying packaged systems from one vendor. Heavy-duty gearboxes will continue to be the second- largest gearbox market, but growth in this area is predicted to be slow, with a CAGR of 0.9% over the period to 2024. These products depend on industries such as metals and mining which have seen severe Covid- induced dips in output and will take longer to recover. The report predicts a boom in sales of gear products for use in the logistics, and food and beverage, sectors as rapidly increasing e-commerce and automation create a growing demand for conveyors and packaging machinery – two of the largest markets for industrial gearboxes. By contrast, because of how the aerospace and automotive sectors have suffered during the pandemic, sales of geared motors for use in these sectors will be slow to recover. “Lighter-duty geared motor and solo gearbox products will recover more quickly than heavier-duty products,” predicts Interact’s lead analyst, Tim Dawson. “These solutions tend to be used more extensively in machinery sectors and end-user industries that have been less impacted by the pandemic. “Some industries – such as warehousing and logistics – have been positively stimulated by the virus,” he adds, “and are increasing investment in automated machinery incorporating geared equipment in response to high e-commerce demand, and the need to reduce the human workforce to enforce social distancing. This last factor is a significant driver of growth we would never even have conceived of six months ago. Such is the changing world we live in.” www.interactanalysis.com The time it takes for the global market for geared motors and industrial gearboxes to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will vary for different technologies THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTOR RUBIX UK has acquired Knowlton & Newman which provides electromechanical repair services to customers in the South of England. The acquisition is part of the Rubix’s network development strategy, and follows its recent acquisition of the industrial automation specialist, Matara. “It is an excellent fit for both parties,” says Rubix UK CEO, Mark Dixon. “As Europe and the UK’s number one multi- specialist provider of industrial supplies and services, we are keen to expand our offer in electromechanical repair solutions. The synergies in terms of sectors, geography and overall strategy offer huge potential.” Previously family-owned Knowlton & Newman, which was founded in 1973, specialises in the repair and replacement of electric motors, pumps and gearboxes. With sites in Southampton, Portsmouth and Chatham, it employs 65 people and had sales worth £8.2m in the year ending 31 March, 2020. Knowlton & Newman’s customers operate mainly in the utility, marine, pharmaceuticals, food, aggregates and petrochemical sectors. Knowlton & Newman will continue to operate independently but will play a strategic role in extending Rubix’s offering in electromechanical repairs services, which it regards as a key growth area. The acquisition will also add a southern regional hub to Rubix’s existing engineering service centres in the Midlands, South-West and North of England. Knowlton & Newman’s managing director Mike Knowlton will report to Nigel Banks, managing director of Rubix UK’s Services Division. Rubix is Europe’s largest supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul products and services. It was created by the merger of IPH with Brammer in 2017, following the acquisition of Brammer by Advent International. It has 8,500 employees in 22 countries serving more than 20,000 customers. The business had combined sales worth €2.4bn in 2019. www.rubix.com www.knowlton-newman.co.uk Rubix adds repairer Knowlton & Newman to its fold