Gear Motions History
Our gear manufacturing journey began in the 1960s, when Rawling Gear was acquired by Samuel T. Haines. The ten-man company served a local New England market for custom gear products. The company grew, renovated and enlarged its facility, and began to look for new opportunities.
In 1973, Sam Haines II joined the firm with a business plan for purchasing “Turn Around” specialty gear shops, and shortly thereafter, Gear Motions was incorporated. Our vision was to develop a regional network of companies whose unique specialties could be leveraged to better serve the wide-ranging needs of our customers. Our newly formed organization would be able to bring the management, marketing and financial strengths of larger size while maintaining the unique service aspects of smaller regional shops.
Oliver Gear, in Buffalo, NY, was our first acquisition in 1973, and Nixon Gear was purchased out of bankruptcy in 1978. It was also around this time that Gear Motions began its sales and marketing activities in earnest; developing a national sales force providing coverage from the East Coast to Texas.
In the early 1980s, the Plastic Gearing Services Division was created to provide design and development of high strength plastics gearing for the emerging business machine market. In 1988, Gear Motions acquired Gear Supply and Broaching, a California gear manufacturing company. During the 1990s and early 2000s, these businesses were either consolidated into existing facilities or sold.
Our ESOP Story
In 2005, Gear Motions embarked on its journey to become an Employee-Owned Company by instituting an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The culmination of this endeavor transpired in 2010 when Gear Motions achieved complete employee ownership, with every single employee holding a stake in the company. This pivotal transition not only ensured the company’s steadfast presence at its current location but also guaranteed its sustainability for the foreseeable future.
What is an ESOP?
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) represents a retirement plan qualified under federal tax and pension regulations, which is both endorsed and incentivized.
Upon initiating an ESOP, companies establish a trust that acquires a portion or the entirety of the company’s shares, holding these shares in retirement accounts designated for employees. As the value of the company’s stock fluctuates, the worth of employees’ accounts follows suit.
ESOPs offer distinct advantages to employee owners, institutions, and the communities in which they operate. ESOPs have demonstrated their ability to inspire employees, elevate productivity, enhance employee retention, excel in delivering employee training, preserve local employment.
History continues…
In 2012, Gear Motions acquired Pro-Gear Co. Inc., a gear grind only manufacturer in Buffalo, NY. This acquisition allowed Gear Motions to add more capability to our group of precision gear manufacturers who seek gear grind only capabilities. Also in 2012, Gear Motions partnered with KBE+, a design and engineering firm specializing in the design, analysis and test services for gear systems and mechanical transmissions. KBE+ specializes in the analysis of gear systems from design, through prototype testing, to manufacture.
In January 2014, Gear Motions acquired Niagara Gear in Buffalo, NY, adding to our family. Niagara Gear manufactures precision ground spur, helical and pump gears for a large and diverse global customer base.
Gear Motions opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Tonawanda, NY in 2023. Today, Oliver Gear and Niagara Gear now operate under one roof, enhancing our manufacturing capabilities. Oliver Gear and Niagara Gear are two well-established gear manufacturing companies with a long history of providing quality products and services to their customers. Both companies have unique stories of their own, but they share a common goal of providing exceptional quality and personalized service to exceed customer expectations.
In 2023, Auto Gear Inc. joined the Gear Motion’s family. Auto Gear located in Syracuse, New York,
specializes in efficient and economical low-volume gearbox production, from design to delivery. Auto Gear was founded by Irving H. Sollish in 1945 and has evolved to be a premier designer and manufacturer of gear box, transmission and transfer cases serving the commercial, industrial, and high-performance automobile industries. Auto Gear’s gearboxes are found on the streets, strips and tracks of North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Whether you are looking for a gearbox for your race care, or a gear for that very special car in your driveway, Auto Gear is here to help. Committed to providing outstanding quality and value.
Today, we celebrate 50 years in business and 131 years in gear manufacturing. Throughout our long and storied history, Gear Motions has continually evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of the industry.
As we celebrate this significant milestone, we extend our sincere appreciation to our loyal customers, dedicated employees, and supportive partners who have played a vital role in our journey. Evolution will never move us away from our core principles and values to provide the highest quality product to our customers through innovation, technology, and superior customer service.
