Eastern Gear, a specialist in high-precision gear solutions, is set to penetrate the next-generation robot drive component market through a strategic partnership with KH Vatec, a global leader in IT and metal processing components.

On the 22nd, Eastern Gear announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KH Vatec for "Technical Advancement and Commercialization Cooperation of High-Precision Reducers for Robots." The partnership aims to create synergy by combining Eastern Gear's proprietary gear design technology with KH Vatec's extensive manufacturing infrastructure.

The two companies agreed to conduct joint R&D on core technologies—ranging from design and materials to processing—while collaborating on establishing mass production systems and discovering new value-added business models. Furthermore, they plan to maintain a constant technical cooperation channel to plan next-generation product lineups and proactively respond to global robot market demands.

A key strategy involves shifting focus from the existing mid-to-large-sized reducer market (with center distances of 80mm or more) to develop and mass-produce ultra-small reducers of 30mm or less. This targets the demand for next-generation small-scale, high-precision reducers, including humanoid robot hand drive units. Additionally, the adoption of MIM (Metal Injection Molding) technology is expected to realize a 20-30% cost reduction, significantly enhancing price competitiveness.

Eastern Gear, a selected company for the "Super Gap Startup 1000+ Project," holds original technology for Globoid Worm Gears. Unlike traditional methods that rely on point or line contact, this technology utilizes a "surface contact" structure, greatly improving durability and precision. This allows for a 30% reduction in volume while maintaining high power output. This innovation was showcased at CES 2025 and led to the company’s membership in the "K-Humanoid Alliance."

Following KH Vatec's equity investment, this MOU represents a strategic expansion of their partnership. By integrating Eastern Gear’s precision design with KH Vatec’s MIM expertise, the companies aim to localize high-precision reducers—which currently rely heavily on imports—and secure a competitive edge in the global market.

Kwak Yu-hyeon, CEO of Eastern Gear, stated, "The synergy with KH Vatec will be instrumental in enhancing product perfection as we gradually expand our mass-production lineup, including AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) lift modules and high-precision robot joints." He added, "By integrating the core technologies and manufacturing know-how of both companies, we plan to continuously introduce innovative products with strong competitiveness in the global market."

Source : https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/009/0005626328?sid=101