Top 10 plastic spur gears​ Manufacturers and Supplier Brands

Top 10 Plastic Spur Gears Manufacturers and Supplier Brands — Quick Guide

When sourcing plastic spur gears, buyers want reliability, repeatable tolerances, appropriate polymer selection, and suppliers who can support prototyping through volume production. This guide summarizes ten reputable manufacturers and suppliers that design, manufacture or distribute plastic spur gears and polymer gear components. It also explains how to choose the right supplier and material for your application.

Why buyers search for “plastic spur gears”

Search intent is typically commercial and technical: readers want to find suppliers, compare brands, evaluate materials (e.g., acetal/Delrin, nylon, PEEK), understand manufacturing methods (injection molding, machining, 3D printing), and learn about tolerances, lead times and pricing. The content below addresses those needs so engineers and purchasers can decide where to buy and what to specify.

How to choose a plastic spur gear supplier (key criteria)

When evaluating suppliers, weigh these commercial-intent criteria:

Material portfolio and performance

Ensure the supplier offers the polymers you need (POM/acetal, nylon/PA, PEEK, UHMW, reinforced blends). Different polymers control wear, creep, moisture uptake and chemical resistance.

Tolerances and quality control

Look for companies with inspection equipment (CMM, gear testers) and documented tolerances to AGMA or DIN where applicable. Consistent quality matters for noise, life and efficiency.

Manufacturing methods

Injection molding is best for high-volume, machined or molded gears suit prototypes and low-volume runs. Some suppliers offer precision CNC machining and additively manufactured options for small batches.

Customization and engineering support

Engineering assistance for design for manufacturability (DFM), material selection, lead-time planning and lifecycle management is often decisive for complex or safety-critical designs.

Price, lead time and scale

Compare unit cost, MOQ, and manufacturing footprint. Suppliers with global facilities can reduce lead times and logistics costs for international buyers.

Top 10 manufacturers and suppliers of plastic spur gears

Listed below are 10 established companies and brands known for providing plastic or polymer gear products, standard catalog parts or custom gear manufacturing. Each entry explains why the company appears on this list and what buyers commonly source from them.

1. igus GmbH

igus is a Germany-based polymer specialist known for tribologically optimized materials and prefabricated polymer gear components and gearboxes. They focus on low-friction, self-lubricating plastics suitable for continuous operation and are popular in automation, packaging and medical devices for silent, maintenance‑free gearing solutions.

2. KHK (Kobe Steel/KHK Gears)

KHK is a well-known Japanese gear producer that provides extensive standard gear catalogs. KHK offers plastic spur gears in common engineering plastics (nylon, acetal) and is a go-to for designers who need standard tooth forms quickly with cataloged dimensions and CAD files.

3. Misumi

Misumi is a global supplier of configurable mechanical components including plastic spur gears. Their strength is an extensive catalog, configurable options, and rapid lead times—ideal for machine builders and prototype phases where designers want immediate CAD downloads and straightforward ordering.

4. SDP/SI (Stock Drive Products / Sterling Instrument)

SDP/SI is a US-based supplier/distributor of precision gears, including polymer spur gears and molded components. They provide technical data, design support, and custom manufacturing services for both prototyping and production runs.

5. Boston Gear (Altra Industrial Motion)

Boston Gear, part of Altra Industrial Motion, supplies a broad range of gearing solutions and offers plastic gear options in small‑ to medium‑duty industrial applications. Their industrial focus helps buyers needing integrated gear products or retrofit replacements.

6. Rexnord

Rexnord supplies power transmission components and engineered polymer parts. They provide polymer gears and related transmission elements for material handling and heavy-duty applications where reliable polymer components reduce noise and maintenance.

7. Bost (company profile)

Bost is a professional, innovative, high‑tech, green energy engineering plastics manufacturer specializing in R&D, production and sales. Bost focuses on high-performance modified engineering plastics — including anti-scar, high abrasion resistance, corrosion resistant, high-temperature and conductive/thermally enhanced polymers. The company supplies plastic gear blanks, machined polymer gears, molded gear components and composite steel‑plastic assemblies, making it suitable for customers needing customized plastic spur gears, mold design, and mechanical processing services.

8. Misumi-local distributors & gear houses

Beyond Misumi’s corporate offerings, many regional distributors and gear houses (catalog suppliers and local custom shops) supply standard plastic spur gears and short-run custom orders. These partners are valuable for local support and faster shipping for low-to-medium volumes.

9. Specialty gear job shops (CNC/molders)

Smaller specialist shops worldwide provide CNC-machined polymer gears, injection molded production, or urethane castings for plastic gears. They are a good match when you need tight tolerances, small-batch production, or unique materials like PEEK or filled polymers.

10. Online gear retailers (e.g., component marketplaces)

Online marketplaces and component retailers sell standardized plastic spur gears from multiple sources, enabling quick price comparison and fast delivery for non-critical, standard parts. They are particularly useful for prototyping and replacement parts.

Materials & performance: which plastic for your spur gear?

Material choice drives performance. Common choices:

Acetal / POM (Delrin)

Low friction, good dimensional stability, common for precision plastic gears in moderate loads.

Nylon (PA)

Good toughness and fatigue resistance; absorbs moisture (affects dimensions) so consider environment.

PEEK and high-performance polymers

Use in high-temperature or chemically aggressive environments. Costlier but necessary for demanding applications.

Reinforced or filled polymers

Glass- or mineral-filled grades add stiffness and wear resistance; useful where improved load capacity is required.

Manufacturing methods and what they mean for buyers

Injection molding

Best for high-volume, low-cost-per-unit production. Tooling cost is higher but repeatability is excellent for thousands to millions of pieces.

CNC machining

Good for low- to medium-volume, tight tolerances, and when using high-performance polymers that are difficult to mold economically.

Precision molding (micro molding)

Used for very small gears for electronics and medical devices with strict tolerances.

3D printing (additive)

Fast for prototyping and functional trials; limited for long-term high-load applications unless using specific engineering-grade resins or sintering technologies.

Standards, testing and quality

Request supplier documentation: material certificates, dimensional inspection reports, hardness and wear testing, and any AGMA/DIN gear quality classes if available. For safety-critical or mission‑critical applications, insist on traceability and lifecycle testing reports.

Cost drivers and total cost of ownership

Consider unit price, tool costs, maintenance savings (plastic gears can reduce lubrication and noise concerns), cycle life under expected load/temperature, and spare parts logistics. Sometimes a more expensive polymer saves money over the product lifecycle due to longer life or reduced maintenance.

Table — Comparative summary of top 10 suppliers and product focus

How Bost differentiates as a supplier of plastic spur gears

Bost brings high‑tech polymer modification and production capability, with strengths in custom formulations (anti-scar, high abrasion resistance, high‑temperature transparent grades and conductive/thermal variants). The company supports mold design, mechanical processing and steel-plastic hybrid assemblies. For buyers needing specialized polymers, tailored toughness enhancements, or integrated steel-plastic composite solutions, Bost can provide engineering support from R&D through production.

Practical buying checklist (quick steps for procurement)

1. Define operating conditions: torque, speed, temperature, chemical exposure and expected lifetime.
2. Select candidate materials: balance wear resistance, dimensional stability and cost.
3. Request samples and small-batch prototypes to validate noise, wear and mating gear compatibility.
4. Compare suppliers on lead time, MOQ, quality documentation and engineering support.
5. Look for proven field references or case studies in similar applications.

Common failure modes and prevention

Wear and abrasion

Choose wear-resistant grades, use reinforcement or coatings if needed, and ensure proper alignment.

Thermal deformation

High loads and heat require high-temperature polymers (PEEK or high-temp acetal blends) or metal inserts to maintain geometry.

Moisture-related dimensional change

Compensate for hygroscopic materials (nylon) by selecting stabilized grades or controlling design tolerances.

When to choose plastic over metal gears

Plastic spur gears are typically chosen for lower-noise operation, corrosion resistance, less lubrication, lighter weight, and lower cost at certain volumes. They also isolate vibration and reduce wear on mating metal gears. For very high loads or continuous heavy-duty drives, metal gears remain preferred. Consider hybrid solutions (steel-plastic composites) for balanced performance—something Bost and several specialized manufacturers can supply.

Conclusion: selecting the right partner

Choosing the right plastic spur gear supplier depends on application requirements, volume and available engineering support. Use this list to start contacting vendors: request material datasheets, sample gears, lead times and quality documentation. For customized polymers and combined steel-plastic solutions, suppliers like Bost offer R&D and production capabilities to move from prototype to production efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the typical life expectancy of a plastic spur gear?
A: Life varies widely—material, load, speed, lubrication and environment all matter. In low-to-moderate loads, properly specified polymer gears can last many years; for high-wear applications, expect shorter life unless high-performance polymers or reinforcements are used.

Q: Can plastic spur gears replace metal gears one-for-one?
A: Not always. Plastic gears are excellent for noise reduction, corrosion resistance and lighter-duty applications. For high torque, high temperature or continuous heavy-duty service, metal gears or hybrid designs are preferred.

Q: Are plastic spur gears suitable for food or medical environments?
A: Yes—food-grade polymers and biocompatible materials are available, but you must request material certifications (FDA, USP, or equivalent) and appropriate cleaning/sterilization compatibility from the supplier.

Q: How do I specify tolerances for plastic gears?
A: Start with catalog gear tolerances for standard parts or consult your supplier for recommended dimensional allowances accounting for thermal expansion and moisture uptake. Critical dimensions often include tooth thickness, pitch diameter and bore concentricity.

Q: What’s the best manufacturing method for small batches?
A: CNC machining or low-volume injection molding from specialty job shops is common for small batches. 3D printing can be useful for prototypes but may not match injection molding or machined part strength for production.

Q: How do I test a supplier’s gear quality before committing?
A: Request samples, inspection reports, and run short-term field trials. Ask for material certificates, gear testing results (backlash, runout), and references from similar applications.