Zero-Max News

Zero-Max Overhung Load Adaptors (OHLA®) Now Offer a New Gas Nitriding Option for Enhanced Shaft Protection in the Harshest Operating Environments

Sep 23, 2025

Optional process for OHLA shafts increases the shaft surface hardness, provides enhanced corrosion protection, and adds lubricity for shaft seals - delivering elevated system performance.

It’s another first for Zero-Max—a unique Gas Nitriding option to protect Overhung Load Adaptor (OHLA®) shafts while enhancing overall system performance.

Because OHLAs are most often used in harsh outdoor environments including exposure to heat, rain, humidity, salt water, dirt and debris, protecting the OHLA shaft can be an important consideration.  The new Gas Nitriding (Gaseous Nitrocarburizing) option for OHLA shafts provides superior corrosion resistance, surface hardness to boost strength and durability, and adds lubricity to the shaft, which benefits shaft seal life by reducing friction and wear.

Based on many decades of experience, OHLA applications that will benefit from Gas Nitriding protection to overcome challenging operating conditions include:
            • Oil exploration fracking systems
            • Marine deck winches, capstans and bow thrusters
            • Forestry equipment including mulchers, chippers and log loaders
            • Agricultural tractors, planting, harvesting and manure injection equipment
            • Electrification for outdoor mobile equipment including E-PTO applications…and MORE
           
All OHLA models feature robust ductile cast iron precision machined housings, high quality deep groove ball, taper, or spherical bearings, enhanced sealing technology, strong shafts delivering long operating life, a permanent precision machined face- or foot-mounting surface, heavy load capacities, and high-speed ratings. All models also feature precision gaskets or O-rings for sealing the mounting surface between a hydraulic motor or pump and the OHLA housing.

OHLAs are available in SAE A through SAE F mount, Non-SAE mounts, double male shaft units, through-bore units, and are customizable for unique application requirements, with over 75 percent of OHLAs sold as special/custom designs to address specific application requirements. 

Zero-Max provides free application reviews for any OHLA application.  We can evaluate an application for L10 bearing lifetime, confirm the strength of the input shaft connection, and make lubrication recommendations. Please feel free to reach out to Zero-Max to discuss applications for sizing/selection, discuss special designs, or to review your application details.

Zero-Max is a leading provider of motion control and power transmission solutions and is one of the industry’s most trusted coupling manufacturers. The company provides shaft couplings, right angle gear drives, in addition to overhung load adaptors and other precision motion control components. Zero-Max products are known throughout the world for their innovative designs, high quality, high performance and durability.