Matex: Pioneering precision gears for the modern world

In a global economy where cost savings are paramount, efficient components have become more important than ever. One of the companies pushing this increase in efficiency is Japanese firm Matex.

Founded in 1921, Matex specializes in designing and manufacturing high-efficiency planetary gear reducers and injection molded plastic. It has incorporated unique innovations into the structure of its gears, allowing them to transmit power more effectively.

These gears have increased usage in today’s world, gaining traction in the EV and robotics sectors. Indeed, Matex is collaborating with Sumitomo Heavy Industries to develop precision gears for robots with lightweight and high reduction ratios using plastic or resin. As fifth-generation President Toshiaki Matoba explains, household robots must be lightweight for the safety of humans.

In the EV sector, vehicles are using more motors and reduction gears to increase comfort, and Matex has secured orders from a renowned European automobile manufacturer for its gear reducers.

The company can also assemble products in-house. As Mr. Matoba says: “We create a unit or module of the device, enabling us to deliver an all-in-one service, from design to mass production.”

The company’s growth has enabled it to expand its bases into the Philippines and wider Asia, and as its production capacity increases it is actively seeking international partners who can benefit from its cost-effective gear reducers.