ZF Unveils New Spur Gear Drive to Boost the Future of Indian Rail Mobility

ZF’s New Spur Gear Drive Powering the Future of Indian Rail Mobility

In a significant stride toward advancing India’s railway modernization, ZF has unveiled its single-stage spur gear drive, an innovation designed specifically for the nation’s demanding rail network. True to its commitment of Redefining Indian Mobility,” ZF’s latest gearbox combines precision engineering with durability, promising reliable and efficient performance even under the country’s most challenging conditions. The new system will be showcased at ZF’s Booth 5.114 in Hall 5, alongside the company’s diverse rail portfolio.

India’s railways traverse diverse terrains from scorching plains and humid coasts to snowy highlands demanding exceptional endurance from every component. Recognizing this, ZF has engineered a gearbox that not only withstands these extremes but enhances operational efficiency. Markus Gross, Head of Product Line Rail Drive Systems at ZF, emphasized that the new driveline offers both reliability and performance, ensuring smooth operations across millions of kilometres of service life.

Built on components proven in decades of high-speed rail applications, the gearbox features a newly developed spherical cast housing optimised for India’s harsh environmental and oscillatory conditions. Despite its robust design, it remains lightweight at approximately 315 kg, supporting axle loads of up to 17 tons and achieving speeds of 180 km/h. Its superior gearing design delivers high efficiency while reducing lifecycle costs a testament to ZF’s engineering legacy of producing over 30,000 advanced rail gearboxes.

Aligned with the Make in India vision, assembly of this gearbox is carried out at ZF’s new Coimbatore facility, reinforcing the company’s local-for-local strategy. Akash Passey, President of ZF Group in India, highlighted that this localized approach strengthens supply chains, enhances delivery timelines, and ensures products are tailored for Indian conditions. With initial orders already secured and deliveries slated for early 2026, ZF’s innovation marks a defining milestone in India’s journey toward safer, faster, and more efficient rail mobility an enduring symbol of global expertise powered by Indian engineering spirit.