Reishauer RZ 408

$800,000 - $1,400,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

max gear pitch diameter

408 mm (16.1 in)

max face width

450 mm (17.7 in)

gear module range

0.5 - 8 mm

gear types

External spur, external helical

grinding method

Continuous generating gear grinding (Wälzschleifen)

wheel type

Dressable CBN (vitrified bond, electroplated) or conventional abrasive

Overview

The Reishauer RZ 408 is the high-production flagship gear grinding machine from Reishauer AG, built around the company's continuous generating gear grinding process (Wälzschleifen) for the volume automotive transmission gear market. The machine handles gears up to 408 mm pitch diameter — the capacity needed to cover the widest range of passenger car and light truck transmission gears, including ring gears, large planetary gears, and all forward ratio gears in modern manual, automatic, DCT, and EV transmission designs.

The RZ 408's defining characteristic is its throughput optimization for the automotive OEM and Tier 1 gear grinding line environment. Cycle time per gear is minimized through Reishauer's high-frequency spindle system, aggressive yet stable dressing strategies, and synchronized part-handling automation. The machine integrates with industry-standard gantry loaders, pallet systems, and trunnion-style rotary transfer systems. Multiple machines are commonly installed in a row with shared automation to form a flexible gear grinding cell. Reishauer specifies the RZ 408 as capable of processing hundreds of thousands of gears per year per machine in continuous three-shift automotive production.

The continuous generating process uses a threaded (worm) grinding wheel meshing continuously with the gear blank. Both the wheel and workpiece rotate in precisely controlled synchrony so that the wheel generates the involute tooth profile across the full face width simultaneously. This produces the combination of high throughput and DIN 3-4 quality that the automotive transmission market demands. Profile modifications — crowning, tip relief, helix angle modifications — are programmed in Reishauer's GearPro software and applied during the continuous generating process without additional passes.

Quality monitoring is integrated throughout. Post-process gear measurement (via Klingelnberg, Gleason, or Zeiss CMMs) feeds SPC data back to the grinding process, and the RZ 408's control can apply automatic pitch, profile, and lead corrections based on measurement feedback — enabling closed-loop quality control across a production shift without manual process adjustment. The control runs on Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl with Reishauer's GearPro gear grinding software.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Gear Pitch Diameter	408 mm (16.1 in)
Max Face Width	450 mm (17.7 in)
Gear Module Range	0.5 - 8 mm
Gear Types	External spur, external helical
Grinding Method	Continuous generating gear grinding (Wälzschleifen)
Wheel Type	Dressable CBN (vitrified bond, electroplated) or conventional abrasive
Gear Quality	DIN 3 - 4 / ISO 3 - 4 in production
Profile Modifications	Full — crowning, tip relief, lead, helix, profile modifications via GearPro
Quality Control	Closed-loop SPC — automatic correction from post-process CMM measurement
CNC Control	Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl with Reishauer GearPro
Automation Interface	Gantry loader, rotary transfer, pallet system — multiple configurations
Production Volume	Automotive production rate — hundreds of thousands of gears per year per machine in 3-shift operation

Specifications sourced from reishauer.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Continuous generating grinding achieves DIN 3-4 gear quality at automotive production throughput rates — the highest accuracy at the highest volume
408 mm pitch diameter capacity covers the full range of automotive transmission gears including ring gears and large planetary components
Closed-loop quality control with automatic CMM feedback correction enables unattended production shift operation with consistent quality
Profile modification programming via GearPro allows gear noise engineers to optimize contact patterns and load distribution directly in the grinding program
Module 0.5-8 mm range covers virtually all automotive and light commercial vehicle transmission gears
Reishauer's decades of automotive gear grinding application engineering provides unparalleled process development support for new transmission programs

Limitations

Investment cost requires a long-running, high-volume gear production program to achieve acceptable cost-per-gear economics
Worm grinding wheel specification, sourcing, and dressing expertise is a specialized skillset — requires application engineering support from Reishauer initially
Limited to external spur and helical gears — internal gears require a different process
Machine complexity and process control sophistication demands highly trained grinding process engineers on staff or close Reishauer application support
Not appropriate for low to medium volume gear production where the investment cannot be amortized across sufficient parts

Best For

Automotive OEM and Tier 1 transmission gear plants grinding passenger car, light truck, and SUV transmission gears in high-volume multi-shift production DCT (dual-clutch transmission) and EV transmission gearbox manufacturers demanding DIN 3-4 NVH quality for quiet EV driveline performance Automatic transmission manufacturers grinding planetary ring gears, sun gears, and carrier-mounted gears at scale Commercial vehicle (truck and bus) gearbox plants grinding transmission gears in large batch production Aerospace power and accessory gearbox manufacturers requiring the combination of highest achievable quality and efficient production for medium-volume gearbox programs

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the price of a Reishauer RZ 408?

The Reishauer RZ 408 typically prices between $800,000 and $1,400,000 new, depending on grinding wheel configuration, automation integration, and measurement system options. The investment is targeted at high-volume automotive and commercial vehicle transmission gear production.

02 How does the RZ 408 achieve DIN 3-4 quality in production?

Reishauer's continuous generating process produces DIN 3-4 accuracy through precise CNC synchronization of grinding wheel and workpiece rotation, high-accuracy machine geometry, active thermal compensation, and CBN wheel systems that maintain consistent cutting conditions across millions of parts. Closed-loop feedback from post-process CMM measurement enables automatic correction of systematic errors across a production shift.

03 What is the difference between the Reishauer RZ 408 and the RZ 160?

The RZ 160 handles gears up to 160 mm pitch diameter and is optimized for high-volume compact automotive gears — the smaller-diameter gears found in car transmissions and EV gearboxes. The RZ 408 handles gears up to 408 mm, covering larger automotive gears (ring gears, large planetaries), commercial vehicle gearbox gears, and industrial gears. Both use Reishauer's continuous generating process.

04 Can the Reishauer RZ 408 be integrated into an automated production line?

Yes — the RZ 408 is designed for production line integration. Standard interfaces support gantry loaders, rotary transfer systems, and pallet automation. Multiple RZ 408 machines are commonly configured in a row with shared automation infrastructure. The machine's closed-loop quality system and remote monitoring capability integrate with MES and statistical quality systems.

05 What is vitrified bond CBN and why is it preferred in automotive gear grinding?

Vitrified bond CBN (cubic boron nitride) grinding wheels combine CBN abrasive — harder than aluminum oxide and silicon carbide — with a porous glass bond that allows free-cutting action and excellent coolant penetration. In automotive gear grinding, vitrified CBN wheels provide very high wheel life (grinding tens of thousands of gears per dress), consistent cutting temperature control that prevents workpiece burn, and the ability to grind hardened steel at high material removal rates without compromising surface integrity.