For convenience the gear market is often divided; automotive, wind/energy, marine, general industry and aerospace. Combined it is estimated that the global gear market is worth more than $45 billion - this from an article written in 2004 and extraordinarily accurate in its forecasting of the changes we are seeing in today's evolving gear industry!

Evolution which, according to Gordon New, Managing Director of Ronson Gears is bringing a rapidly increasing number of mergers and acquisitions.

"In recent times we've seen The Timken Company purchase Philadelphia Gear, Australia's Hofmann Engineering purchase Carolina Gear in Canada, David Brown, a leading provider of industrial gearing solutions and support services acquire Unigear Industries of Canada, and Regal Beloit acquire Australian company CMG - which it is in the process of moving to Thailand!" said Gordon. "Now comes the latest news of Regal Beloit's acquisition of Milwaukee Gear."

Mr. Mark Gliebe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Regal Beloit Corporation speaks highly of Milwaukee Gear. "This is a very well managed business with an excellent reputation resulting from its application engineering excellence and its high precision manufacturing processes," he said. "The business will be a great fit within our Mechanical segment, allowing us to offer customers a larger range of gearing solutions while diversifying our end markets."

Long time colleague of Gordon's, Milwaukee Gear President and CEO Ric Fullington is a past Chairman of the AGMA and will be at next month's AGMA Annual General Meeting. We have no doubt these continuing mergers and acquisitions will generate some very interesting round table discussion.