|

Nidec-Shimpo’s FLEXWAVE Precision Reducers are Essential for Use in Communications Satellites’ Antennas

Two FLEXWAVE reducers are used in each of the satellite’s round antennas

February 9, 2023

FLEXWAVE
Two FLEXWAVE reducers are used in each of the satellite’s round antennas (i.e., four reduces are used per satellite), which always face the Earth when the satellite is in operation

Nidec-Shimpo Corporation announced that precision control reducers of its FLEXWAVE series have been adopted to control the antennas of communications satellites produced by Canadian artificial satellite manufacturer MDA Ltd. (“MDA”). MDA, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, manufactures and sells artificial satellites, satellite systems, and robots for space use, among other products, and the Company’s FLEXWAVE reducers are used to control the antennas of MDA-produced satellites.

Since their launch in June 2015, the FLEXWAVE series reducers have been adopted for use in, for example, the joints of small industrial robots and the drives of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and a total of more than one million units have been shipped as of the end of October 2022.

MDA’s satellites, which are used by OneWeb LLC, an Airbus-sponsored company, and have been decided lately to be adopted by another company (name undisclosed) as well. Among the approximately 3,000 FLEXWAVE reducers that have been shipped for controlling satellite antennas as of October 2022, none of them have been found defective so far, proving that the Company’s FLEXWAVE reducers meet the quality required for the space industry.

In recent years, the aerospace industry is booming overseas and elsewhere, partially thanks to the entry of private companies. Those reducers to be used for space satellites are required to be produced with advanced technology and are of high-quality, as they are exposed to a vacuum environment where lubricating their components is extremely difficult, with the temperature changing widely, and so instantly, within the range of approximately -120ºC to +130ºC.

We will stay committed to providing various fields with high-efficiency industrial machines that utilize our reducer-and continuously variable transmission-based know how and contributing to a variety of markets.

More Information

For more details on the above product, please contact Nidec-Shimpo Corporation’s Administrative Support Group (Tel.: +81-75-958-3670).

Nidec-Shimpo Corporation

On April 1, 2023, Nidec-Shimpo Corporation will be renamed Nidec Drive Technology Corporation.

Related Story

MDA Selected By Lockheed Martin for Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer Constellation

MDA Ltd., a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, recently announced it has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin as part of the Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) program. 

MDA will design and build antennas and antenna control electronics for the 42 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to be produced by Lockheed Martin as part of SDA’s T1TL constellation. This includes steerable Ka-Band and Link-16 antennas, as well as the satellites’ GPS antennas.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Festo Didactic Showcases Technical Education and Training at Hannover Messe 2025

    Festo Didactic Showcases Technical Education and Training at Hannover Messe 2025

    May 20, 2025 By Krystie Johnston Hannover Messe 2025 was an extra special event for Festo. The Festo Group celebrated their 100th anniversary, Festo Canada celebrated their 50th anniversary, and Festo Didactic celebrated their 60th anniversary. Festo Didactic, the education arm of the company, understands how important education is for empowering individuals, driving economic growth,… Read More…

  • EtherCAT in Boost Mode

    May 14, 2025 EtherCAT and PC-based control in test bench technology EtherCAT is by far the fastest Industrial Ethernet technology. Nevertheless, the data acquisition process at Kraus & Naimer’s cam controller test benches called for an even shorter bus cycle. To achieve the required performance, Beckhoff specialists reduced the previous cycle time from 100 µs… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • Electromate to Offer UR7e, UR12e & UR15 Collaborative Robots from Universal Robots

    May 20, 2025 Electromate is expanding its lineup of collaborative automation solutions with the addition of three advanced models from Universal Robots: the UR7e, UR12e, and UR15. These robots provide enhanced options for payload, reach, and precision in demanding collaborative applications. The UR7e delivers a 7 kg payload, 1300 mm reach, and ±0.03 mm repeatability. Positioned between the UR5e and… Read More…

  • Redefining Non-Invasive Temperature Measurement

    May 14, 2025 iTHERM SurfaceLine TM611 provides accuracy and response time comparable to invasive temperature measurement. The non-invasive thermometer iTHERM SurfaceLine TM611 by Endress+Hauser can be used across all industries for a wide range of demanding industrial applications. The surface-mounted thermometer measures process temperature without the risk of leakage and flow disruption. A specially designed… Read More…