Practical relevance outlasts all trends
While new drive concepts attract the most attention at trade fairs, different criteria apply in practice. The decisive factors remain which components run reliably for years, generate little noise, can be integrated into existing machines, and can be quickly replaced in the event of a malfunction. Bonfiglioli worm gearboxes have been meeting these requirements for decades—and will continue to do so in 2026. The sales success of the VF44 shows that the industry has not “outgrown” this technology, but has deliberately retained it because it is simply the best solution in many applications.
Where worm gearboxes are superior in practice
1. Smooth running instead of gear backlash
In contrast to helical gearboxes or bevel gears, power transmission in worm gears takes place via a continuous sliding motion between the worm and the worm wheel. There are no tooth-to-tooth impacts, no changing flanks and no jerky transitions.
The result is completely smooth running:
- no impacts when starting up
- no rumbling during load changes
- no noticeable vibrations at low speeds
This smooth running is a decisive advantage, especially in conveyor technology, packaging machines or dosing applications.
2. Quieter with every hour of operation
Worm gearboxes do not become louder during operation – they become quieter. The worm and worm wheel run in, the contact area increases and the surface pressure decreases. The gearbox becomes quieter, more consistent and mechanically “smoother.”
The opposite is true for many gear drives: as wear increases, the backlash grows, noise levels rise and vibrations put strain on bearings and housings.
3. Designed for continuous operation
A correctly designed worm gear is not a wearing part in the traditional sense. The bronze alloy of the worm wheel wears down in a controlled and extremely slow manner without breaking off or wearing unevenly. This keeps the contact pattern stable and the gearbox reliable for many years.
Especially where:
- machines are difficult to access
- there is no in-house maintenance team
- 24/7 operation prevails
worm gearboxes are the most reliable solution.
4. Original VF: Brand quality makes the difference
From the outside, worm gearboxes almost always look the same. A housing, a shaft, a type plate. The decisive differences lie inside – and separate industrial quality from cheap goods.
5. Materials that deliver what they promise
Bonfiglioli manufactures the worm from precision-ground, hardened steel and the worm wheel from a high-performance bronze alloy. This combination is optimized for load capacity, heat dissipation and long service life.
No-name gearboxes often use softer alloys. The load-bearing capacity deteriorates more quickly, efficiency decreases, play increases – and with it noise and wear.
6. Dimensional accuracy instead of chance
A worm gear can only function cleanly in the long term if the center distances, flank positions and bearing clearance are exactly right. Bonfiglioli manufactures in reproducible series quality with tightly controlled tolerances. This ensures that nothing jams, nothing knocks, and that the gear runs cleanly right from the start. With cheap products, on the other hand, there is a wide variation: with luck, one gearbox will run well, but the next one will howl or vibrate – with all the consequences that has for bearings and seals.
7. Seals and bearings that last for years
Gearboxes must keep the oil inside the housing and dirt outside. Bonfiglioli relies on proven seals, clean shaft seats and bearings matched to the axial worm forces. These components are still available as spare parts even after years from BEST partners such as MOLL-MOTOR. This shows the difference between “bought cheap” and “replaced cheaply.”
The VF44 as the industry standard
It is no coincidence that the relatively small VF44 2025 was the best-selling gearbox at MOLL-MOTOR. With ~55 Nm, it covers precisely the range in which worm gearboxes demonstrate their strengths across a wide range of industries and mechanical engineering applications: compact design, smooth running, reliable torque transmission in thousands of proven applications – for conveyor technology, presses, packaging lines, and countless special applications.
Bonfiglioli’s VF gearbox portfolio ranges from sizes VF27 and VF30 to size VF250, which delivers ~7,100 Nm of torque. All sizes are available from MOLL-MOTOR. Permanent stocking in Austria extends up to gear size VF185 (~3600 Nm) and offers a wide variety. Even the large VF150 (~2,000 Nm) is available immediately from stock in quantities of over 50 in various reduction ratios. This means that even heavy industrial drives can be secured at short notice – a decisive factor when downtime is not an option.
Pole position also for 2026
The success of the VF44 shows that industry and mechanical engineering in Austria still thrive on sound technical decisions today. Worm gearboxes are not a relic, but a permanently relevant component of reliable drive concepts. A brand-name product such as the Bonfiglioli VF44 also delivers a long, predictable service life, low noise levels and long-term operational reliability—exactly what maintenance engineers and designers want.
