Four high-performance drive shafts of size 49000 are leaving our factory – developed and manufactured for replacement use in two HPGR (High Pressure Grinding Rolls) systems.

These systems are used in cement, ore, and mineral processing, where rock or ore is crushed by high pressure between two counter-rotating rollers. The process is considered particularly energy-efficient and low-wear, but places extreme demands on the drive technology: high torques, strong axial forces, and continuous loading in 24/7 operation.

To maximize the performance and service life of the drive shafts under these conditions, the shafts were coated with TempCoat. This special coating reduces the coefficient of friction in length compensation, enables smooth movement and minimizes axial forces – a decisive advantage in high-pressure and continuous operation.
Technical data at a glance

Rotation diameter: 490 mm
Flange diameter (both sides): 480 mm
Max. bearing torque: 700 kNm
Max. continuous alternating torque: 345 kNm
Weight per drive shaft: approx. 1.5 t

Our drive shafts are used worldwide in HPGR plants, rolling mills, conveyor systems, and heavy machinery – wherever reliability, precision, and durability are crucial.

WiCHMANN GmbH – Power for heavy industry.

We recently delivered two of our powerful WiCHMANN 35000 series drive shafts for a demanding project in the field of wind turbine test benches – this time to Asia, where they will be used in state-of-the-art test facilities.

Project details at a glance

• Area of application: Test bench for testing wind power gearboxes
• Rotational diameter: 350 mm
• Operating speed: Exceptionally high 2,200 rpm – a real challenge for this size, which we successfully mastered thanks to precise fine balancing according to G6.3.
• Weight per drive shaft: 480 kg

The drive shafts will play a central role in the testing process for wind turbine gearboxes. They enable gearboxes to be tested under realistic conditions and thus make a decisive contribution to the efficiency, reliability, and longevity of modern wind turbines.

Our customers in Asia benefit from our high-precision drive technology and our many years of expertise in the manufacture of high-performance WiCHMANN drive shafts. We also reliably implement demanding projects with special requirements in terms of speed, weight, and precision – worldwide.

In July 2025, we celebrated a special moment: the delivery of the 2000th frame shaft to our long-standing partner Primetals Technologies, a technological pioneer and a global leader in engineering, plant construction, and lifecycle services for the metal industry.

For 18 years now, we have been supplying frame drive shafts developed in collaboration with Primetals – a project that has not only matured technically over time, but has also grown on a human level. Today, these drive shafts are used in continuous casting plants around the world.

For us, the 2000th frame drive shaft is not just a number – it represents many years of trust, cooperation, and joint development. Back then, the 1000th drive shaft was handed over by Horst Wichmann in Austria. Now Kristina Wichmann-Raschdorf has presented the 2000th drive shaft at our new location in Lotte – a moment that also has special significance in the context of generational change.

In addition to our colleagues, our long-standing sales partner Indukont Antriebstechnik GmbH, who has been with us since the beginning of our relationship, also celebrated with us.

Special thanks go to Dietmar Pacher, Managing Director of INDUKONT ANTRIEBSTECHNIK GES.M.B.H., who has been with us since shaft number 1, plays a central role in many other projects, and has contributed significantly to the successful and trusting cooperation with Primetals Technologies.

The handover ceremony was more than just a pleasant occasion—it was an expression of a growing collaboration characterized by equality, trust, and genuine team spirit.

Many thanks to everyone who made this possible—and we look forward to everything that is yet to come!

This milestone underscores our consistent development in the field of drive shafts and drive technology. By investing in modern manufacturing technologies and providing continuous training for our employees, we ensure that our products meet the highest quality standards.

We set standards in the field of repair and maintenance of drive shafts, from commercial vehicles to construction machinery and rail vehicles. This progress not only strengthens our market position, but also creates the basis for future innovations and long-term customer partnerships.