TGB Group Slewing Drives
TGB Group’s slew drives are synonymous with quality and precision. With a track record of over 30 years designing and manufacturing the best rotary solutions on the market, we continue to innovate in the pursuit of maximum performance under the most demanding conditions.
Slewing ring
With one or two rows of balls to support the highest loads.
Screw worm
It can be straight or globoid depending on the needs or type of slew drive.
Housing
Designed to be watertight and provide robustness to the system.
Greasing nipple
Located in strategic places to ensure proper lubrication of moving parts.
Motor flange
It is used to adapt the connection of the hydraulic or electric motor, also to adapt the placement of an encoder.
Top plate
A top plate is used to give a little thickness and avoid contacts during rotation.
What is a slew drive?
A slew drive is a compact and robust rotary system engineered to provide rotational movement while supporting heavy loads in diverse applications such as solar trackers, construction equipment, and industrial machinery. This essential component integrates a slewing ring within a housing, where a worm gear transmits torque to enable smooth and controlled rotation. TGB Group, a leading slew drive manufacturer, produces high-quality, durable slewing drives that deliver reliable performance in harsh environments and extreme conditions.
The slewing drive is built to handle high axial and radial loads, withstanding tough operating conditions. Its enclosed design protects internal components like the worm gear, bearings, and motor cap, ensuring longevity and low maintenance. These systems feature grease nipples for convenient lubrication, which prolongs the life of the slew drive. Additionally, TGB Group’s slew drives can be adapted to hydraulic motors or gearboxes via an adapter flange, offering flexibility and precision in various industries, including renewable energy, construction, and oil and gas.
Designed for efficiency and high torque capacity, TGB Group’s industrial slewing drives are ideal for a wide range of applications, from solar energy systems to heavy-duty lifting machinery and wind turbines, providing optimal performance, reliability, and precision.
Slew Drive Applications
Slew Drives for Solar Trackers
Solar slew drives are critical components in solar tracking systems, providing precise rotation to optimize solar panel positioning throughout the day. This precision significantly boosts energy efficiency and power output. Solar tracking slew drives are designed to endure harsh environmental conditions such as high winds and extreme temperatures, making them ideal for single-axis and dual-axis solar trackers. The use of these drives in photovoltaic systems enhances the capture of sunlight, leading to better performance.
Recommended series: DAD Dual Axis Series and TVR Series for efficient solar tracking applications.
Slew Drives for Construction Machinery
In the construction industry, slew drives for excavators and crane slew drives provide heavy-duty rotation and load-bearing capacity. These drives enable precise control over heavy machinery, making them essential for crane operations, excavation, and other construction applications. Their ability to handle large loads with precision enhances operational safety on construction sites. Slew drives are used in excavators, cranes, and winch systems, ensuring reliable and efficient performance in construction environments.
Recommended series: BE Standard Series and TE Series for construction machinery like cranes and excavators.
Slew Drives for Wind Energy
In the wind energy sector, slew drives are vital for the rotation and adjustment of wind turbines, ensuring that the turbine blades are always optimally aligned to capture the maximum amount of wind energy. Wind turbine slew drives provide reliable performance in extreme weather conditions, contributing to efficient wind power generation. These drives are engineered to withstand the dynamic loads and environmental stresses associated with wind energy applications.
Recommended series: TE Standard Series for precise control in wind turbine yaw and pitch systems.
Slew Drives for Industrial Automation
Slew drives offer precise rotational movement and reliability in industrial automation systems. Whether used in robotic arms, assembly lines, or packaging machinery, slewing drives for automation enhance the performance of industrial processes by providing smooth, controlled movements. They are integral to the automation industry, where precision and efficiency are paramount. Slewing drives improve the accuracy and speed of automated systems, boosting productivity in industrial operations.
Recommended series: LBE Light Series and BE Standard Series for robotics and automated production lines.
Slew Drives for Mining Equipment
In the mining industry, heavy-duty slew drives are essential for the safe and efficient operation of large-scale machinery, such as drilling rigs and excavators. These drives are designed to handle the extreme conditions of mining operations, including heavy loads, dust, and debris. The durability and robust construction of these drives ensure reliable performance in the harshest environments. Slewing drives in mining equipment improve operational efficiency and reduce downtime by offering smooth rotational control for heavy machinery.
Recommended series: TE Series and Double Worm Series for high-load applications in mining machinery.
Slew Drives for Marine Equipment
Marine slew drives are engineered to provide controlled rotational movement in marine cranes, winches, and other heavy-duty marine equipment. These drives are built to withstand corrosive marine environments and the mechanical stresses associated with marine operations. Slew drives for marine applications ensure safe and reliable performance in loading and unloading operations on ships and offshore platforms, where precise movement and robust construction are critical.
Recommended series: BE Standard Series for marine cranes and offshore operations.
Slew Drives for Defense and Aerospace
In defense and aerospace applications, slew drives are used for precision control in equipment like radars, missile launchers, and communication systems. These drives must meet stringent requirements for accuracy and durabilityunder extreme conditions. Slew drives ensure smooth rotation and precise positioning, making them critical in military operations and aerospace technology. The ability to perform reliably in extreme environments makes them a preferred choice for these industries.
Recommended series: TGP Pinion Series and BE Standard Series for military equipment and aerospace systems.
Slew Drives for Agriculture
In the agriculture industry, slew drives are used to enhance the performance of irrigation systems, harvesters, and sprayers. By providing smooth rotational movement, they improve the efficiency of agricultural machinery, reducing energy consumption and increasing productivity. Slew drives for agriculture are designed to operate reliably in harsh conditions, ensuring durability and long-lasting performance in the field.
Recommended series: LBE Light Series and BE Standard Series for agricultural machinery.
Slewing Drives for Transport
Slewing drives for the transport sector are key components in mobile equipment that require reliable, safe, and controlled rotational movement, such as special trailers, mobile platforms, lifting systems, or industrial vehicles. These systems allow loads to be oriented, positioned, or rotated with precision, even under dynamic working conditions.
TGB Group slewing drives for transport applications are designed to provide mechanical robustness, high load capacity, and stable operation under vibrations, impacts, and continuous duty cycles. Their compact design facilitates integration into vehicles and mobile machinery, maintaining an optimal balance between performance, weight, and reliability.
The use of slewing drives in transport applications improves maneuverability, operational safety, and system efficiency, especially in equipment operating in industrial, logistics, or public works environments.
Recommended series: BE Standard Series and LBE Light Series, suitable for transport applications that require reliable, compact slewing solutions adapted to different load levels.
Slewing Drives for the Leisure Industry
Slewing drives for the leisure industry play a key role in mechanical attractions, mobile platforms, rotating stages, and recreational equipment where rotational movement must be precise, smooth, and safe. In these applications, beyond mechanical performance, it is essential to ensure reliability, motion control, and stable operation during repetitive and prolonged duty cycles.
TGB Group slewing drives are designed to be integrated into leisure systems that require controlled rotations, synchronized movements, and a high level of operational safety. Their robust and compact construction allows them to withstand variable loads and tilting moments generated by the movement of people or mobile structures, maintaining stable and predictable behavior.
Thanks to their versatility, these slewing drives adapt to both fixed installations and mobile equipment used in theme parks, fairs, simulators, or stage platforms, contributing to a smooth and reliable experience for the end user.
Recommended series: LBE Series for light and compact applications where precision and low weight are critical, and BE Standard Series for leisure systems requiring higher load capacity and greater structural margins, while maintaining controlled and safe rotational movement.
Slewing Drives for Medical Equipment
Slewing drives for medical equipment are key components in applications where precision, reliability, and smooth motion are essential. They are commonly used in diagnostic tables, imaging equipment, patient positioning systems, and mobile medical devices, where precise control of rotational movement directly affects safety and procedural quality.
TGB Group slewing drives enable stable, controlled, and repeatable rotation, facilitating the precise positioning of equipment and sensitive loads. Their compact design supports integration into medical devices with space constraints, while their robust construction ensures reliable operation even under continuous duty cycles.
In addition, the ability to adapt mechanical configurations and shaft options simplifies integration into different medical equipment designs, both in hospital environments and in clinical or laboratory applications, where high operational reliability and reduced maintenance are required.
Recommended series: LBE Series, suitable for lightweight medical equipment and positioning systems where low weight and high precision are priorities, and BE Standard Series, recommended for larger medical devices requiring higher load capacity and safe, stable rotational movement.
Slewing Drives for Environmental Equipment
Slewing drives used in environmental equipment play a key role in systems dedicated to waste treatment, recycling, water treatment, biomass management, and environmental monitoring. These applications require controlled, reliable, and continuous rotational movements, often operating in aggressive environments with humidity, dust, chemicals, or prolonged outdoor exposure.
TGB Group slewing drives are designed to operate stably under these conditions, ensuring precise and safe rotation even during prolonged duty cycles. Their sealed design and mechanical robustness help reduce maintenance requirements and ensure a long service life, which are critical factors in environmental installations where operational reliability is a priority.
Recommended series: BE Standard Series, suitable for medium-load environmental machinery such as recycling equipment, sorting systems, waste treatment units, or water treatment plants, where a balance between load capacity, durability, and ease of integration is required. LBE Light Series (for more compact applications) is recommended for auxiliary equipment or rotation systems with lower loads, where weight and overall size are determining factors.
These solutions allow slewing drives to be integrated into a wide range of environmental machinery, adapting to the technical requirements of each project without compromising system reliability or operational safety.
Slew Drives for Oil and Gas Industry
In the oil and gas sector, slew drives are crucial for the operation of drilling rigs, cranes, and other heavy machinery. These drives provide the precision needed for critical tasks, such as rotating drilling platforms and lifting heavy loads. Slew drives for oil and gas applications are designed to withstand high-pressure environmentsand offer reliable performance under extreme conditions, making them indispensable in oil and gas exploration and production.
Recommended series: TE Series and BE Standard Series for oil and gas equipment.
Types of Slewing Drives
TGB Group develops different types of slewing drives designed to cover a wide range of industrial applications, from compact solutions to systems capable of supporting high loads and demanding working conditions. Each type responds to specific technical requirements in terms of load capacity, type of drive system, and application environment, allowing the most suitable solution to be selected for each project.
Fixed Slewing Drive
The fixed slewing drive is designed for applications where controlled rotational movement is required with a stable mechanical structure and without direct integration of complex hydraulic or electric systems. It is commonly used as a structural element in industrial equipment, providing support for rotation and absorbing axial loads and tilting moments generated during operation.
It is a suitable solution for applications where the drive system is indirect or external, and where mechanical robustness, structural simplicity, and long-term reliability are key priorities, especially in stable industrial environments.
Mechanical Slewing Drive
Mechanical slewing drives integrate mechanical transmission systems that allow the movement from the drive unit to be transformed into precise and controlled rotation. At TGB Group, this type of solution is used in applications where a balance between positioning accuracy, load capacity, and ease of integration in industrial machinery is required.
They are commonly found in lifting equipment, platforms, mobile machinery, or industrial systems where rotational control is critical and must remain stable even under variable loads. Their compact design and ability to operate in repetitive cycles make them a versatile option across multiple sectors.
Hydraulic Slewing Drive
The hydraulic slewing drive is designed for applications that require high torque, continuous operation, and high mechanical resistance. It uses hydraulic power to generate rotational movement, making it particularly suitable for heavy machinery, mobile equipment, offshore applications, and demanding industrial environments.
This type of slewing drive stands out for its ability to support high axial loads and large tilting moments, while maintaining stable performance even under severe conditions. In addition, its compatibility with industrial hydraulic systems facilitates integration into equipment where this type of drive system is already present.
TGB Group Slew Drive Series
BE Standard Serie
High precision and low backlash for industrial applications.
LBE Light Serie
Aluminum housing for light system requirements.
TE Serie
High loads holding torque with globoid screw worm.
TGO Open Serie
Open housing for clean environment applications.
TGP Pinion Serie
Pinion drive for high speed rotation applications.
Double Worm
Dual screw worm series for high torque requirements.
TVR Vertical
High loads holding torque with globoid screw worm.
DAD Dual Axis
High loads holding torque and full angle rotation.
BE Standard Series
The BE Standard Series is a high-precision slewing drive that offers low backlash for industrial applications. It features a globoid worm gear design and can handle heavy loads in harsh environments. Its fully enclosed housing with IP65 protection makes it ideal for applications in construction and excavation machinery, including crane slew drives and excavators.
LBE Light Series
The LBE Series is the lightweight version of our BE slew drives, utilising an aluminum housing to reduce system weight. This slew drive is ideal for lifting platforms and other applications where weight reduction is crucial. It maintains high precision and durability, making it an excellent choice for aerial platforms and lightweight sensitive applications. It can be a very small slew drive, really compact and lightwaight.
TE Series
The TE Series features a globoid worm gear slew drive with helicoidal teeth, offering superior load capacity thanks to its 4-point contact design. This series is prepared for high torque and heavy duty applications for heavy duty applications and is fully sealed to guarantee IP65 protection. The TE slew drive is particularly suited for industrial automation and high-demand systems like slewing drives for solar trackers.
TGO Open Series
The TGO Series is an open version of the TGE slew drive, designed for use in clean environments where full sealing is not required. This slew drive is ideal for automation applications where a simplified design can offer sufficient protection and reliability. Common applications include turntable drives and light industrial slewing drives.
TGP Pinion Series
The TGP Series is designed specifically for pinion and slewing ring drive systems. It offers optimal performance for applications requiring compact rotary motion, such as agricultural machinery and irrigation systems. This series is robust and adaptable to various industries that need faster rotation speed and non-blocking system.
Double Worm Series
The Double Worm Series is designed for applications requiring high load capacity and increased torque. The dual worm slew drive configuration distributes loads more evenly, making it ideal for mining equipment and heavy-duty slewing drives. It offers excellent control for systems that need consistent high torque output.
TVR Vertical Series
The TVR Series, a single axis slewing drive, is specifically designed for vertical applications like single axis solar trackers. Using bearings or bushings to stabilize the internal slew drive gearbox, this series ensures smooth operation in vertical slewing drives. It provides precision and stability for systems requiring vertical movement.
DAD Dual Axis Series
The DAD Series offers complete rotary motion in both vertical and horizontal directions. Ideal for dual axis slew drives applications like solar tracking and radar systems, the DAD Series provides unmatched flexibility and control. With the ability to handle high torque in two planes, it is a go-to choice for complex systems that require full 360-degree motion.
Why Choose TGB Group Slew Drives?
Reliability and Precision
TGB Group’s slew drives are renowned for their reliability and precision. With a robust design, our slew drive bearings and slewing rings offer smooth and accurate performance in heavy-duty applications like industrial automation, construction, and solar tracking systems. Our slew drive motor solutions ensure minimal maintenance and long-lasting durability in even the harshest environments.
Industry Experience and Global Reach
With over 30 years of experience, TGB Group is a leader in slew drive manufacturing, providing custom solutions for industries worldwide. Our global presence and extensive experience allow us to cater to unique needs, whether for small slew drives in specialized applications or large slew drives for demanding industries.
