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Robots and automation equipment rely on various drive components to generate precise movement. A reducer is a key component that converts a motor’s rotational motion into the speed and torque required by the equipment. Because reducers are integrated directly into drive systems, their dimensions, mounting structure, and connection method must be considered as part of the overall design of robot joints and automation equipment.
As Korea’s robotics and automation industries continue to grow, interest in Korean-made reducers is also increasing. In this context, localization means more than simply manufacturing reducers in Korea. It also involves developing independent reducer designs, adapting products to specific equipment requirements, and building a technological foundation that can support future product development.
For the Korean cycloidal reducer industry to achieve sustainable growth, manufacturers need to strengthen independent design capabilities, accumulate product development experience, and establish product lineups that can address a wide range of equipment requirements.
This article examines the key areas that can help Korea’s cycloidal reducer industry strengthen its competitiveness.
Why Korean Cycloidal Reducers Are Needed
Key Summary Building the capability to design and manufacture reducers in Korea gives robot and automation equipment developers more options during the development process.
When developing robots and automation equipment, engineers need to select components that match the equipment’s size, structure, available installation space, and intended use. Because a reducer is installed inside the equipment, its dimensions, mounting method, and connection structure must be considered together with surrounding components.
When reducers are designed and manufactured in Korea, equipment developers can communicate their technical and application requirements more directly with the manufacturer. Requirements related to product specifications, mounting methods, and equipment integration can be shared more efficiently, making it easier to respond to design changes that arise during development.
A more diversified component supply base can also benefit Korea’s robotics and automation industries. Equipment developers can compare multiple products and select reducers suited to their design conditions, while reducer manufacturers can broaden their product lineups by responding to a wider range of application requirements.
This interaction between equipment developers and component manufacturers can help create a stronger foundation for the continued development of Korean drive components.
Building Independent Design Capabilities
Key Summary For the Korean cycloidal reducer industry to grow, manufacturers need the capability to design, modify, and develop products independently.
A reducer is closely integrated with the internal structure of the equipment in which it is installed. Even when two systems serve similar purposes, differences in equipment size, mounting method, or internal configuration can result in different requirements for reducer dimensions and fastening structures.
For the Korean cycloidal reducer industry to grow, manufacturers need the capability to design and modify products independently. Rather than limiting production to existing specifications, they need to be able to adjust product dimensions, internal configurations, and connection structures according to the requirements of the target equipment.
As these design capabilities accumulate, they provide a stronger technical basis for developing new products. Manufacturers can make more informed decisions about which structures are suitable for production, what factors need to be considered when integrating reducers with surrounding components, and how future product lineups should be organized.
The experience gained through individual development projects also becomes part of a company’s broader engineering foundation. By applying accumulated design data and application experience to subsequent products, manufacturers can develop their product lineups in a more systematic way.
Independent design capability is therefore not limited to the development of a single reducer. It can become a foundation for continuously improving existing products and developing new solutions for emerging robotics and automation applications.
A Product Lineup for Diverse Equipment Requirements
Key Summary Because reducer size and structural requirements vary by application, manufacturers need a product lineup covering multiple sizes and configurations.
Reducers can be used in the drive systems of various types of equipment, including robot joints, mobile equipment, and manufacturing systems. However, the available internal space and connection methods differ from one application to another, making it difficult to address every design condition with a single product.
Compact equipment may require reducers that occupy minimal installation space, while larger systems may require different dimensions, mounting structures, or connection methods. When sensors, wiring, and other components are also installed inside the equipment, engineers must consider the space required for the entire drive system rather than the reducer alone.
Reducer manufacturers therefore need to offer products in multiple sizes and configurations so that equipment developers can select a solution suited to their design conditions.
Clear technical information is also important during the selection process. Providing detailed information on product dimensions, mounting methods, and connection structures allows equipment developers to assess whether a reducer is suitable during the early stages of system development.
Offering actuator-type products alongside component-level reducers is another way to address different development approaches. Depending on the system architecture, an equipment developer may choose to integrate the reducer directly with other components or select an actuator that combines the motor and reducer into a more integrated drive solution.
By offering different product formats and specifications, Korean reducer manufacturers can support a broader range of robotics and automation applications.
The Bonsystems BSR Cycloidal Reducer
Key Summary The Bonsystems BSR is a component-level cycloidal reducer developed using engineering capabilities established in Korea, with a product lineup designed to address different installation spaces and connection requirements.
The Bonsystems BSR is a component-level product based on a cycloidal reduction structure. It is developed for use in drive systems such as robot joints and automation equipment, with multiple specifications available to address different installation spaces and connection methods.
The value of the BSR goes beyond the fact that it is developed and manufactured in Korea. Its structure is based on independent engineering capabilities accumulated by Bonsystems in Korea, while requirements identified through equipment applications are reflected in the product development process.
Bonsystems designs the dimensions and thickness of the BSR with the confined installation environments of robots and automation equipment in mind. By reducing the space occupied by the reducer, engineers may gain greater flexibility when arranging surrounding components such as motors, sensors, and wiring.
Some BSR models, including the BSR 070 and BSR 080, feature a Pinless structure that reduces some of the coupling elements used in conventional pin-based configurations.
The Pinless structure simplifies the reducer’s internal component configuration. A simpler internal structure can help reduce the number of components that need to be managed during assembly while also reducing structural complexity.
Rather than focusing on repeatedly producing a single standardized product, Bonsystems is expanding the BSR lineup to address the different design requirements of robots and automation equipment.
Based on engineering capabilities developed in Korea, Bonsystems independently designs cycloidal reducers, develops products suited to different equipment structures, and continues to expand the BSR lineup according to application requirements.
Through this approach, the BSR represents one direction in which the Korean cycloidal reducer industry can develop: strengthening independent design capabilities, accumulating application experience, and creating a broader range of products for different equipment designs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Why are Korean-made reducers important?
A. Korean-made reducers can broaden the range of drive components available to robot and automation equipment developers in Korea. Closer communication between reducer manufacturers and equipment developers can also make it easier to share design requirements and respond to application-specific needs during development.
Q2. What should be checked first when selecting a reducer?
A. The available installation space, reducer dimensions, mounting method, and connection structure with the motor and output shaft should be reviewed first. It is also important to check whether sufficient space remains for surrounding components such as sensors and wiring.
Q3. What types of equipment can the BSR be considered for?
A. The BSR can be considered for drive systems that integrate reducers at the component level, including robot joints and automation equipment. For actual applications, the installation space, connection method, and required product specifications should be reviewed together.
References
• [1] Bonsystems Official Website — https://www.bonsystems.com
• [2] Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy – Materials, Components and Equipment Policy — https://www.motie.go.kr
• [3] Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) — https://www.kiria.org
• [4] KIPO KIPRIS – Patent Search — https://www.kipris.or.kr
Bonsystems
A specialist in Pinless cycloidal reducers and actuators
