Reishauer RZ 550

$1,500,000 - $2,500,000+ Updated 2026-03-14

Key Specifications

Max Workpiece ⌀

550 mm (21.7 in)

max module

10 mm

max face width

300 mm (11.8 in)

grinding process

Continuous generating grinding

gear quality

DIN 1 / AGMA 15 achievable

grinding wheel diameter

Up to 300 mm (11.8 in)

Overview

The Reishauer RZ 550 is a continuous generating gear grinding machine built for high-volume production of gears up to 550 mm diameter. Reishauer is the Swiss company that essentially invented the continuous generating grinding process, and the RZ 550 represents decades of refinement of that technology. If your shop is grinding automotive transmission gears, planetary gear sets, or industrial gearbox components in volume, this machine is designed to do it faster and more consistently than any batch-process alternative.

Continuous generating grinding works differently from profile grinding. Instead of grinding one tooth slot at a time, a threaded grinding wheel meshes with the workpiece in a continuous rolling motion, grinding all teeth simultaneously. This gives the RZ 550 a fundamental cycle time advantage on production runs. Reishauer's proprietary dressing and grinding process controls produce gear quality to DIN 1 or AGMA 15 levels, with surface finishes that meet the noise and durability requirements of modern EV and hybrid transmission gears where NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) performance is critical.

The RZ 550 features Reishauer's direct-drive spindle technology on both the grinding wheel and workpiece axes, eliminating gear trains and their associated backlash from the machine's own drive system. The integrated loading system supports fast part changeover with typical load/unload times under 5 seconds, which is critical when grinding cycle times may be under 30 seconds per part. The machine's Reishauer-developed CNC control manages the complex kinematic relationships between wheel speed, workpiece speed, and feed rates that determine gear quality.

Reishauer equips the RZ 550 with in-process measurement capability using integrated probing that checks gear geometry during the grinding cycle. This closed-loop correction eliminates drift over long production runs and ensures every gear meets specification without relying on post-process inspection to catch deviation. For automotive tier-one suppliers and gear specialists grinding thousands of gears per shift, the RZ 550's combination of speed, accuracy, and process reliability makes it the benchmark for continuous generating gear grinding in its size range.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Workpiece Diameter	550 mm (21.7 in)
Max Module	10 mm
Max Face Width	300 mm (11.8 in)
Grinding Process	Continuous generating grinding
Gear Quality	DIN 1 / AGMA 15 achievable
Grinding Wheel Diameter	Up to 300 mm (11.8 in)
Workpiece Spindle Drive	Direct drive
Grinding Spindle Drive	Direct drive
Loading System	Integrated automatic loader, < 5 sec load/unload
In Process Measurement	Integrated gear probing with closed-loop correction
CNC Control	Reishauer CNC
Machine Weight	Approx. 16,000 kg (35,274 lb)

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

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Continuous generating process delivers fundamentally faster cycle times than profile grinding for production gear work
Direct-drive spindles on both grinding wheel and workpiece eliminate backlash and improve gear quality consistency
Integrated in-process measurement with closed-loop correction maintains quality over long production runs without manual intervention
Swiss-engineered precision delivers DIN 1 / AGMA 15 gear quality for demanding automotive and aerospace applications
Fast automated loading (under 5 seconds) maximizes spindle utilization on high-volume production lines
Proven track record in automotive transmission grinding where NVH requirements are most stringent

Limitations

Price exceeding $1.5 million makes this strictly a high-volume production investment with no job-shop flexibility
Continuous generating grinding requires threaded grinding wheels that are application-specific and expensive to dress
Machine is specialized for external cylindrical gears; internal gears, bevel gears, and worm gears need different equipment
Reishauer service and support, while excellent, operates from a relatively small global network compared to general machine tool builders
Steep learning curve for operators unfamiliar with continuous generating grinding process parameters and optimization

Best For

Automotive tier-one suppliers grinding transmission gears in high volume for passenger vehicle and commercial drivetrains EV and hybrid powertrain manufacturers requiring ultra-low NVH gear finishes for quiet electric drive units Industrial gearbox producers grinding planetary gear sets, helical gears, and spur gears in production quantities Aerospace gear manufacturers needing DIN 1 quality on flight-critical gears for turbine engines and gearboxes Gear grinding specialists serving multiple OEMs who need the fastest possible cycle times on cylindrical gears Shops replacing older generating grinders and need modern CNC capability with in-process measurement

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What does a Reishauer RZ 550 cost?

New Reishauer RZ 550 machines typically range from $1,500,000 to $2,500,000 or more depending on automation level, tooling packages, and options. These are capital-intensive production machines justified by high-volume throughput requirements.

02 What is the difference between continuous generating grinding and profile grinding?

Continuous generating grinding uses a threaded grinding wheel that meshes with the gear in a continuous rolling motion, grinding all teeth simultaneously. Profile grinding uses a shaped wheel to grind one tooth slot at a time. Generating is faster for production runs, while profile grinding offers more flexibility for low-volume and large-module gears.

03 What gear sizes can the RZ 550 handle?

The RZ 550 handles gears up to 550 mm diameter and module 10 with face widths up to 300 mm. This covers the majority of automotive transmission gears, industrial gearbox gears, and medium-sized aerospace gears.

04 Can the RZ 550 grind gears for electric vehicle transmissions?

Yes, and this is one of the RZ 550's strongest applications. EV transmissions have stringent NVH requirements since there is no engine noise to mask gear whine. The RZ 550's generating process and in-process measurement deliver the surface finish and geometric accuracy needed for quiet EV gear sets.

05 How does Reishauer's in-process measurement work?

The integrated probing system measures gear tooth geometry during the grinding cycle and feeds corrections back to the CNC in real time. This closed-loop system compensates for thermal drift, wheel wear, and other variables, maintaining consistent gear quality throughout long production runs without stopping for separate inspection.