Markets for planetary gearboxes in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa are expected to grow by nearly 8 percent by 2009 to $2.3 billion because of expected increases in demand for wind turbines needed for the wind-energy industry.
The British market research firm IMS Research (www.imsresearch.com) said it expects demand for planetary gearboxes to reach $459 million in North America and South America,
and $1.8 million in Europe, the Middle East and Africa as wind-energy programs increase. The research company sees increasing uses of wind-powered electrical energy production increasing, fueled by rising prices for oil and by sustained concerns for global warming.
The wind-energy production will demand high-torque planetary gearboxes, and demand could increase to nearly 10 percent worldwide in the future, the research company said.
