HVH Industrial Solutions is an authorized distributor for Boston Gear

About Boston Gear

Boston Gear traces its origins to 1877, when it started as a small machine shop in Boston, Massachusetts, later known as Boston Gear Works. The company helped popularize standardized stock gears, which let machine builders order gears from a catalog instead of having each one made to order, and it was an early producer of enclosed gear drives.

Today, Boston Gear is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is part of Regal Rexnord, which acquired Boston Gear's former parent company, Altra Industrial Motion, in 2023. Boston Gear products are widely used in material handling, packaging, and food processing equipment, and many older machines still run on Boston Gear reducers and gears.

Boston Gear Product Lines

Worm Gear Speed Reducers

Worm gear reducers use a threaded worm to drive a worm gear at a right angle. They reach high reduction ratios in a single compact stage and run quietly, which makes them a common choice for conveyors, mixers, and packaging machinery. At high ratios, some worm reducers resist being back-driven, but this should not be relied on as a brake. Boston Gear offers worm gear reducers with a range of output shaft configurations and mounting options. See more options in our right angle gear reducers section.

Helical and Bevel Gear Reducers

Helical and bevel gear reducers are generally more efficient than worm gear reducers, which reduces energy use and heat in continuous-duty applications. Boston Gear offers in-line helical reducers, BR 800 right-angle helical reducers, R1000 right-angle bevel reducers, and RA90 right-angle reducers. Compare more options in our in-line gear reducers section.

Parallel Shaft Reducers and Speed Increasers

The Boston Gear Optimount 200 is a parallel shaft speed reducer, with the input and output shafts parallel but offset. The HM series works the other way: it is a helical speed increaser, also called a multiplier, which raises output speed above input speed for equipment such as fans, blowers, and pumps. See more options in our parallel shaft gear reducers section.

Open Gearing

Boston Gear is one of the best-known sources of stock open gearing, available in a range of materials, sizes, and pitches. The range includes:

• Spur and helical gears for parallel shafts

• Bevel gears for intersecting shafts, and miter gears, which are bevel gears with a 1:1 ratio

• Worms and worm gears for right-angle drives with high ratios

• Gear racks for converting rotary motion into linear motion

• Stem pinions, which have the gear teeth cut directly on the shaft, and drawn pinion wire, which can be cut to length to make custom pinions

Browse more options in our gear racks and pinions section.

Centric Overload Clutches

Centric overload clutches, also known as torque limiters, disconnect the drive when torque exceeds a preset value, protecting motors, reducers, and machinery during a jam. Boston Gear offers the Trig-O-Matic ORC series, the Trig-O-Matic Lite LOR series, and the WOR and HOR overload clutches.

Couplings, Bearings, Motors, and Accessories

Boston Gear also offers shaft couplings, bearings, shaft accessories, AC and DC motors, DC drives, and Micron precision planetary gearheads for servo applications. See our shaft couplings category for coupling options, or contact us for other Boston Gear products.

Replacing Boston Gear Reducers and Parts

Because Boston Gear reducers and gears have been used in machinery for decades, many requests we receive are for direct replacements. The fastest way to find the right part is the catalog number from the reducer nameplate or the part itself. If the nameplate is missing, send us:

• Photos of the unit and any markings

• Ratio, input and output shaft sizes, and mounting style

• Motor horsepower and speed, or for open gears, the pitch, number of teeth, bore, and face width

Why Buy Boston Gear From HVH Industrial

HVH Industrial is an authorized Boston Gear distributor based in Garfield, New Jersey, serving customers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of South America. We quote reducers, gears, and clutches by catalog number, help identify replacements for older units, and work closely with the Boston Gear team on specs and availability. Explore our full range of gear reducers for other designs and brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HVH Industrial an authorized Boston Gear distributor?

Yes. HVH Industrial is an authorized Boston Gear distributor. We are based in Garfield, New Jersey, and ship Boston Gear products to customers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of South America, so you can order from us wherever your facility is located.

Who owns Boston Gear?

Boston Gear is a Regal Rexnord brand. It was previously part of Altra Industrial Motion, which Regal Rexnord acquired in 2023. Boston Gear is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

What is the difference between a worm and a helical gear reducer?

Worm gear reducers reach high ratios in one compact right-angle stage but are less efficient, especially at high ratios. Helical gear reducers are more efficient and better suited to continuous duty, but they usually need more stages for high ratios. Read more in our guide on the difference between worm and helical gear reducers.

What does an overload clutch do?

An overload clutch, or torque limiter, disengages the drive when torque exceeds a set limit, such as during a jam. This protects the motor, reducer, and driven equipment from damage and reduces downtime.

Does HVH Industrial supply other gear reducer brands?

Yes. Besides Boston Gear, we supply gear reducers from Hub City, Cone Drive, and more.