160th Anniversary of Gleason Corporation
February 28, 2025
Gleason Corporation celebrates its 160th anniversary
This year marks an important milestone as Gleason Corporation celebrates its 160th anniversary. Founded in 1865 by William Gleason, the company has transformed from a small workshop to a global leader in gear technology, offering comprehensive solutions that encompass design software, manufacturing and metrology equipment, tooling, aftermarket services, and an extensive training program.
Gleason’s journey began with the invention of the first bevel gear planer in 1874, a pivotal development that significantly propelled the gear manufacturing industry forward. This innovation was the first of many that established Gleason as a pioneer in gear technology, contributing to many historical technology milestones, Gleason products helped shape the Panama Canal in 1903, invented the Spiral Bevel Gear in 1913, a few years later the hypoid gear, provided transmissions for the famed WWII Sherman tank, Curvic® Couplings and critical geared components for the Apollo space missions, and the highly successful breakthrough technologies like the Phoenix® and Genesis® Machine Series.
Over the years, in addition to organic growth, Gleason has expanded its reach and capabilities through the strategic acquisitions of Hurth Maschinen und Werkzeuge in Munich, the Hermann Pfauter Group in Ludwigsburg, Germany, and adding metrology systems, automation solutions and plastic gears to its product range.
These strategic additions have not only expanded its product offerings but also its geographical footprint, establishing manufacturing and service sites in major industrial hubs across the globe, including state-of-the-art factories built in Suzhou, China, and Bangalore, India. In 2017, Gleason acquired Swiss KISSsoft AG, integrating leading gear design and simulation software into its portfolio, becoming the first company in the industry to combine design, manufacturing and metrology elements across virtually all gear types into a Gear Technology Ecosystem.
“We are proud of our rich history and the groundbreaking innovations we have driven in the past 160 years,” says John J. Perrotti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gleason Corporation. “Celebrating 160 years is not just about looking back with pride, but also about looking forward to continuing our commitment to excellence, customer focus, and technological leadership.” Gleason continues to advance the industry with high-precision, innovative solutions that meet and exceed the challenging demands of its customers worldwide.
Join Gleason Corporation in celebrating this significant milestone and explore how they are gearing up for the future of gear technology.
About Gleason Corporation
Gleason is a global leader in gear technology. Gleason’s “Total Gear Solutions” range from gear and transmission design software to the development and production of gear manufacturing machines and related accessories, gear metrology equipment and automation systems. Gleason products are used by customers in the automotive, commercial vehicle, aerospace, agricultural, mining, energy, construction, power tool, marine and many other industrial equipment markets. Gleason has manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, India, China and Japan, and operates sales and service offices in North and South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information about Gleason Corporation, please visit www.gleason.com
Gleason, Curvic, Phoenix and Genesis are registered trademarks or trademarks of The Gleason Works in the United States and/or other countries. KISSsoft is registered trademark of KISSsoft AG, Bubikon, Switzerland. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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