EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox
The range spans nine standard frame sizes — EP-E10, EP-E16, EP-E25, EP-E30, EP-E50, EP-E80, EP-E120, EP-E160, and EP-E260 — covering nominal output torques from 1,480 Nm (E10) up to 36,600 Nm (E260), with peak torque ratings reaching 45,000 Nm on the largest frame.
Designed as a dimensionally compatible alternative to the Brevini Riduttori E10 through E260 series, the EP-E platform enables direct replacement of existing units without machine-frame modifications. Whether your plant is running aging E50 gearboxes on a packaging conveyor or E160 units in a textile mill drive train, the EP-E Series can be installed as a drop-in upgrade.
All EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox units are built to ISO 9001 quality standards, with gear geometry calculated to ISO 6336 for load capacity verification. The product is available in both inline (coaxial) and right-angle configurations, with inline being the standard and most widely specified option for conveyor, agitator, mixer, and hoist drive applications throughout Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and the wider Andean industrial market.
1. Technical Specifications of EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox
| EP-E Size | Torque n₂ x h [10.000] [Nm] | Max Torque [Nm] |
| EP-E10 | 1.480 | 2.200 |
| EP-E16 | 2.365 | 3.400 |
| EP-E25 | 3.970 | 5.200 |
| EP-E30 | 4.880 | 6.500 |
| EP-E50 | 6.300 | 7.500 |
| EP-E80 | 11.200 | 12.500 |
| EP-E120 | 16.800 | 20.000 |
| EP-E160 | 24.200 | 34.000 |
| EP-E260 | 36.600 | 45.000 |
*NOTE: Nominal torque values refer to the rated 10,000-hour life torque calculated per ISO 6336.
*NOTE: Peak torque values represent the maximum permissible instantaneous output torque for infrequent transient events.
| Parameter | Inline Planetary Speed Reducer Gearbox Specification |
|---|---|
| Gear Unit Version | Inline (coaxial) standard; right-angle option with Gleason bevel gear pair |
| Number of Reduction Stages | 1, 2, or 3 planetary stages |
| Transmission Ratio Range | 3.4:1 to 5,000:1 |
| Mounting Options | Flange mount; foot mount |
| Output Shaft Configurations | Solid keyed shaft; splined shaft; hollow shaft with shrink disc |
| Input Configurations | IEC motor adaptor flange; solid male input shaft |
| Brake Availability | DC and AC electromagnetic brakes; hydraulic brake option |
| Gear Design Standard | ISO 6336 |
| Quality Certification | ISO 9001 |
| Lubrication | Oil splash; forced-oil optional on larger frames |
| Standard Accessories | Motor flanges, torque arm supports, backstop devices, shrink disc covers |
| Replacement Compatibility | Brevini Riduttori E10, E16, E25, E30, E50, E80, E120, E160, E260 |
2. Five Key Advantages of Inline Planetary Gearbox
01 — Nine Size Range, One Unified Platform
With nine discrete frame sizes from EP-E10 to EP-E260 on a single shared engineering platform, procurement teams can standardize spare-part inventories, training, and maintenance procedures across an entire plant. The unified design philosophy means that a technician familiar with an EP-E25 unit can service an EP-E120 with minimal additional training, reducing the total cost of ownership across multi-drive installations in Colombian food processing, textile, and light manufacturing facilities.
02 — High Torque Density in a Compact Envelope
The planetary load-sharing principle means that the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox transmits considerably more torque per unit of housing volume than a conventional parallel-shaft helical reducer. For machine builders and OEMs designing compact equipment for the Colombian automation and robotics sectors, this density advantage directly reduces the structural volume reserved for the drivetrain, leaving more space for functional components and reducing total machine weight — a key factor in mobile and semi-mobile industrial equipment.
03 — Flexible Input and Output Configurations
The EP-E Series is available with IEC-normalized motor adaptor flanges for direct mounting of standard electric motors, as well as solid input shaft supports for belt-and-pulley or coupling-based drives. Output options include solid keyed shafts, splined shafts, and flange-mount variants. This configuration flexibility allows a single gearbox model to serve multiple machine types within the same production facility, simplifying stock management for maintenance departments.
04 — Direct Interchangeability with Brevini E Series
Engineers who have specified or maintained Brevini Riduttori E10 through E260 gearboxes will find the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox immediately familiar. Mounting flange bolt circles, shaft diameters, and overall length dimensions are matched to the Brevini reference, enabling direct retrofit without custom adaptors or structural rework. This dramatically reduces both downtime during replacement and the engineering effort required to approve the substitution, a significant benefit for maintenance planning in Colombian manufacturing operations with tight production schedules.
05 — Low Noise and Smooth Running at All Speeds
The EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox uses precision-ground, case-hardened helical planetary gear sets optimized for both low backlash and quiet operation. The multi-point tooth engagement characteristic of the epicyclic arrangement produces significantly lower vibration and acoustic emission levels compared to single-mesh helical or worm gear arrangements of equivalent torque rating. This makes the EP-E an ideal inline planetary gearbox for noise-sensitive environments such as food production lines, pharmaceutical packaging facilities, and textile mills where operator comfort and process hygiene standards are paramount.
3. Inline Planetary Gearbox Working Principle
The epicyclic gearbox train at the heart of every planetary gearbox consists of three concentric elements: a central sun gear, a set of planet gears arranged symmetrically around it, and a fixed outer ring gear (also called the annulus). The sun gear is connected to the input shaft and rotates at motor speed. Each planet gear meshes simultaneously with both the sun gear and the inner teeth of the stationary ring gear. Because the ring gear is fixed to the housing, the planet gears are forced to roll around the inside of the ring while spinning on their own axes. They are mounted on a common planet carrier, which rotates as the planets orbit the sun — and this planet carrier forms the output of the reduction stage.
The critical mechanical advantage of this arrangement is load sharing. In a standard single-mesh helical gearbox, the full transmitted torque passes through one tooth-contact zone at a time. In the EP-E inline planetary gearbox, three or more planet gears share the load simultaneously at equally spaced contact points around the sun gear. This distributes the stress across multiple gear faces, which is precisely why the planetary format achieves such a high torque output from such a small housing. It also explains the characteristically smooth and low-vibration power transmission of a well-manufactured inline planetary gear reducer — force impulses from individual tooth engagements are staggered and cancel partially, producing a net torque output that is far more consistent than a parallel-shaft design.
The EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox can be assembled with one, two, or three planetary reduction stages in series. Each stage multiplies the overall gear ratio by the ratio of that individual stage. A single-stage EP-E unit typically delivers ratios in the range of 3:1 to 10:1, a two-stage unit can reach approximately 100:1, and a three-stage configuration can extend to 1,000:1 and above, covering the full spectrum of industrial speed-reduction requirements from high-speed conveyor drives to slow-turning rotary agitators and drum drives.
4. Materials & Construction
The EP-E Series reflects a disciplined, application-informed approach to both. Every major structural and functional component is specified from defined material grades with traceable mill certifications, and all gear-cutting and grinding operations are performed on CNC machines maintained to sub-micron positioning tolerances.
The sun gears and planet gears are manufactured from low-alloy case-hardening steels such as 20MnCr5 or 18CrNiMo7-6. After precision hobbing, the blanks are carburized in a controlled atmosphere furnace to a case depth of typically 0.8 to 1.5 mm, then hardened to 58–62 HRC at the tooth surface while preserving a tough, ductile core.
The input flange sections are produced from EN-GJL-250 grey cast iron, valued for its excellent vibration-damping properties and dimensional stability. The intermediate coupling flanges and output supports are manufactured from EN-GJS-400-15 spheroidal-graphite (nodular) cast iron, which offers significantly higher tensile strength and ductility than grey iron and is well-suited to the bending loads imposed on the output stage housing.
5. Application Scenarios
The EP-E inline planetary gearbox covers the light-to-medium industrial drive segment where compactness, consistent output torque, and low maintenance overhead are the defining selection criteria. The following application areas represent the most common deployments of the EP-E platform in Colombia and across the Latin American industrial market.
Food & Beverage Processing
Conveyor belt drives, mixing tanks, bottling line transfer systems, and dough kneader drives all benefit from the EP-E's quiet operation and low-vibration torque output. In Colombian food plants — where INVIMA hygiene standards impose strict requirements on equipment cleanability — the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox sealed housing and painted surface simplify sanitation routines and prevent contamination risk from gear lubricant.
Textile & Fiber Processing
Yarn winding machines, fabric printing roll drives, and sizing machine drum drives operate at precisely controlled output speeds where low backlash and stable speed regulation are critical to product quality. The EP-E Series inline planetary gearbox, combined with a vector-controlled motor, delivers the speed precision these processes demand while occupying minimal floor space in cramped Colombian textile mill layouts.
Packaging & Palletizing
High-cycle packaging machinery — rotary fillers, cartoning machines, palletizer drives, and shrink-wrap conveyors — demands gearboxes that maintain consistent performance through millions of duty cycles without developing excessive backlash or bearing noise. The EP-E's precision gear geometry and preloaded bearing arrangement sustain low-backlash performance across extended operational lives, reducing maintenance intervention frequency in high-output packaging lines.
Material Handling & Light Conveyors
Belt conveyors, roller conveyors, and overhead chain conveyor drives in warehousing and distribution facilities commonly specify compact inline planetary gear reducers in the EP-E torque range. The coaxial shaft arrangement allows the gearbox to be mounted directly on the conveyor head drum shaft without offset, keeping the drive assembly tight against the conveyor frame and simplifying guarding design for safety compliance under Colombian workplace regulations.
Agricultural Machinery & Rural Mechanization
In Colombia's significant agricultural sector — coffee processing, sugarcane mills, palm oil extraction, and flower processing — inline planetary gear reducers in the EP-E size range are widely used on screw conveyors, drum separators, and husking machine drives. The ability to couple the EP-E directly to a PTO shaft or standard electric motor without custom adaptors gives Colombian agro-industrial equipment builders a reliable, interchangeable drivetrain component for both fixed and mobile machinery.
Construction Equipment & Winch Drives
Compact winches, hoist mechanisms, and slewing ring drives on smaller construction equipment and service cranes frequently specify inline planetary gearboxes in the EP-E260 and EP-E160 size range. The ability to integrate a fail-safe electromagnetic or hydraulic parking brake directly to the EP-E input stage makes it straightforward to satisfy the holding-brake requirements mandated by Colombian construction equipment safety standards for suspended-load machinery.
6. Regulatory Standards & Compliance
Industrial mechanical power transmission equipment is regulated at both national and international levels. Engineers and procurement managers sourcing an inline planetary gearbox for Colombian or export applications should be aware of the following regulatory context, which directly influences both product specification and documentation requirements.
Colombia: The Ministerio de Trabajo, through Resolución 0312 de 2019, establishes minimum standards for occupational health and safety management systems (Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo — SG-SST). Machinery incorporating power transmission components must be assessed under these provisions, with guarding and safety interlocking requirements that may affect gearbox mounting and accessibility design. NTC standards issued by ICONTEC govern the technical quality of mechanical equipment, and ICONTEC's alignment with ISO standards means that ISO 9001-certified products satisfy the documentary requirements of most Colombian industrial procurement processes. Food-sector applications are additionally subject to resolution requirements from INVIMA (Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos) regarding material contact surfaces and equipment hygiene.
European Union: The EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC requires that all machinery placed on the EU market meets essential health and safety requirements defined in Annex I. Gear units supplied as safety-relevant sub-components contribute to the CE marking assessment of the complete machine. The forthcoming Machinery Regulation EU 2023/1230 will replace this Directive progressively, with mandatory application from January 2027. Gear design verification to ISO 6336 — as applied in the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox — is accepted within the technical file supporting CE marking.
United States: OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart O requires guarding of all exposed power transmission components including gears, shafts, and couplings in general industrial environments. ANSI/AGMA gear quality standards provide the technical framework for gear unit design and inspection in US applications. The EP-E's ISO 6336 gear design aligns well with AGMA 2001 methodology, facilitating acceptance by US customers requiring AGMA-compliant documentation.
Brazil and Andean Region: ABNT NBR standards applicable to machinery safety (including ABNT NBR NM 272) govern industrial equipment imported or produced for the Brazilian market, Brazil being a major trading partner for Colombian industrial goods exporters. The Comunidad Andina's Decisión 584 establishes a harmonized occupational health and safety framework applicable across Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, setting baseline obligations for equipment risk assessment and worker protection that apply to machinery using the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox as a drivetrain component.
7. About Us
We are an experienced manufacturer of inline planetary gear reducer solutions with a strong technical foundation in industrial drive engineering. Our design and production capabilities cover the full range of inline planetary gearbox configurations — from compact light-duty units like the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox to large-scale high-torque systems for mining and marine applications. Our engineering team brings hands-on application expertise in machine design, drivetrain integration, and field troubleshooting across a wide array of industry sectors, which informs every product decision we make.
Our manufacturing facility operates CNC gear-hobbing and gear-grinding equipment capable of producing gear elements to DIN 3962 quality grades, supported by a metrology department with coordinate measuring machines, gear-testing equipment, and surface roughness analyzers for in-process quality verification.
Workshop
8. Related Products & One-Stop Drivetrain Supply
Beyond the EP-E Series inline planetary gearbox, we offer a complete portfolio of complementary drivetrain components — enabling you to source your entire mechanical power transmission system from a single qualified supplier. This one-stop supply model reduces procurement complexity, simplifies warranty management, and ensures all components are pre-verified for compatibility before leaving our facility.
Drive Motor
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What makes the EP-E Series the right inline planetary gearbox for light industrial drives in Colombian food processing plants?
A1. The EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox combines compact dimensions, low operating noise, and sealed housing construction that resists the humid, washdown-prone environments typical of Colombian food factories. Its ISO 9001-certified manufacturing and ISO 6336 gear design provide the documentation Colombian procurement teams need for equipment approval under INVIMA and SG-SST frameworks. The IEC motor adaptor input means it mounts directly to standard electric motors already common in food production lines without custom-machined adaptors.
Q2. What is the difference between the EP-E Series and the EP-S Series inline planetary gearbox, and how do I choose between them for a Colombian industrial project?
A2. The EP-E Series is designed for light-to-medium industrial drives with nominal torques from 1,480 Nm to 36,600 Nm — suited for conveyors, mixers, packaging machines, and agri-processing equipment. The EP-S Series addresses heavy industrial and marine drives with torques from 34,000 Nm up to 2,170,000 Nm, targeting applications such as kiln drives, crane hoists, and large winch systems. For most automation, food processing, and light manufacturing applications in Colombia, the EP-E is the appropriate choice. For mining, port handling, and cement plant applications requiring very high output torques, the EP-S is the correct platform.
Q3. What is the maximum gear ratio available in the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox, and is it enough for a slow-turning agitator drive in a Colombian chemical plant?
A3. The EP-E platform achieves ratios from 3.4:1 up to 5,000:1 through multi-stage configurations. For agitator drives in chemical processing facilities, which typically require output speeds in the range of 10–60 rpm from a standard 4-pole motor, two-stage or three-stage EP-E configurations in the 100:1 to 400:1 ratio range are usually appropriate. Our selection team will calculate the exact required ratio based on your motor speed and desired agitator rpm at no charge.
Q4. Are custom output shaft arrangements available for an inline planetary gear reducer when the standard keyed shaft does not fit my machine design?
A4. Yes. The EP-E platform supports splined output shafts, hollow output shafts with shrink discs, and flange-mounted output configurations in addition to the standard solid keyed shaft. For special shaft profiles, custom key dimensions, or non-standard flange bolt patterns not covered by the catalogue, our engineering department can evaluate feasibility and provide a modified unit quotation. Most shaft customizations on the EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox can be achieved within standard lead times using in-house machining capabilities.
Q5. How does an inline planetary gearbox compare to a worm gearbox for a textile machine drive in terms of efficiency and service life?
A6. An inline planetary gearbox typically achieves mechanical efficiency of 95–98% per reduction stage, significantly higher than a worm gearbox's typical 50–90% depending on ratio. At the high ratios common in textile machinery, a worm gear can lose 30–40% of input power as heat, requiring larger motors and increasing operating costs. The EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox design maintains high efficiency even at ratios above 100:1, reduces motor sizing requirements, and operates at lower steady-state temperatures — all of which translate to a considerably longer service life in continuous textile mill operation.
Q6. What certifications does the EP-E series compact inline planetary gearbox carry, and are they accepted by Colombian regulatory bodies for industrial machinery?
A6. The EP-E Series Inline Planetary Gearbox is manufactured under an ISO 9001-certified quality system, and gear design verification follows ISO 6336. These internationally recognized standards are accepted within Colombian procurement processes governed by ICONTEC NTC standards and the SG-SST framework under Resolución 0312 de 2019. Full quality and dimensional documentation — including material certificates, dimensional inspection records, and test reports — is provided with every delivered unit to support customer technical file requirements.
Q7. When should I specify a two-stage versus a three-stage EP-E Series planetary gearbox for my industrial drive application?
A7. A single-stage EP-E covers ratios roughly from 3.4:1 to 10:1. Two stages extend this to approximately 3.4:1 to 100:1, and three stages go to 1,000:1 and above. If your required ratio falls below 100:1, a two-stage unit is usually preferred as it delivers a shorter axial length and slightly higher efficiency. For ratios above 100:1, a three-stage configuration is the appropriate choice. Our selection tools can identify the exact stage count and gear arrangement for any specified ratio and input speed combination.
Editor: PXY
