Zero-Max News

Zero-Max Introduces New IP68-Rated Right-Angle Crown Gear Drives

Oct 21, 2026

New IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives are Ideal for Applications that are exposed to Corrosive, Wet, Washdown, Outdoor, and Immersion Conditions

Zero-Max® has introduced a new line of IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives, featuring corrosion protection and food-grade lubrication while providing an enhanced level of protection against dust, dirt, debris and water infiltration. The new IP68-Rated design builds on the proven Crown Gear design's 60+year application history, while providing upgraded ingress protection. These design enhancements open the door to applications requiring greater environmental protection, including food processing, food packaging, washdown environments and outdoor installations.                 
 
The IP68 rating assures the Crown Gear Drives are dust-tight and protected against water intrusion. Crown Gear Drives with this rating provide an added level of protection for applications that experience water spray and periods of immersion.

"By upgrading the Crown Gear Drive from IP65 to IP68 protection, we've taken a proven, compact right-angle power transmission design and made it suitable for an even broader range of demanding applications," said Scott Boersma, Director of Sales & Marketing, Zero-Max. "The combination of ingress protection, corrosion-resistant construction, food-grade lubrication, maintenance-free operation, and compact design makes the new IP68-Rated Crown Gear an ideal solution for applications where environmental protection is critical."

Designed for Washdown and Harsh Environments

Ideal for food processing, food packaging and other applications requiring frequent washdowns, the IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives feature a nickel-plated aluminum housing, stainless-steel shafts and purpose-built NBR-covered shaft seals designed to provide additional protection against water, washdown chemicals, process chemicals and corrosive elements.
Most importantly, the IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives feature a bright, clean, water-shedding design that minimizes bacteria traps, making them suited for applications where cleanliness and hygienic equipment design are important considerations. The fully enclosed design helps prevent contamination from water, chemicals and debris while providing protection for installations exposed to harsh operating conditions, including frequent washdowns, immersion, humidity, condensation, rain, sunlight and temperature extremes.

Lubed-for-Life, Maintenance-Free Operation

IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives are pre-lubricated at the factory and Lubed-for-Life with H1 Food Grade Grease for the gears and bearings, eliminating the need for routine lubrication and simplifying maintenance requirements. The Crown Gear Drives incorporate heat-treated AGMA Class 10 spiral bevel gears, precision hardened and ground ball bearings, and a sealed design for dependable and quiet transmission of rotational speed and power.
Standard operating temperatures range from -4°F to +212°F (-20°C to +100°C), with wider temperature ranges available upon request. The Crown Gear Drives are capable of speeds up to 2,000 rpm.

Multiple Configurations for Application Flexibility

IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives are available in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios and in 2-way, 3-way and Counter-Rotating shaft configurations. Shaft diameters are available in 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 and 1 inch sizes. The low-backlash Crown Gear design provides an efficient and compact means of transferring rotational speed and power while maintaining quiet operation. The Crown Gear Drives are available in multiple sizes and models to accommodate a broad range of horsepower, torque and shaft-speed requirements.

Zero-Max Crown Gear Drives are used in applications ranging from agricultural equipment and food processing systems to specialized equipment such as a Vertical-Opening Glass Wall systems aboard Cruise Ships, where smooth, quiet and dependable operation is a must.
Customization is also available to meet the needs of specific applications. Different shaft lengths, drilled-and-tapped shaft-ends, external threads, keyless shafts, limited housing modifications, and changes in platings/coatings are some examples that can be easily accommodated. Please contact the Zero-Max Factory to discuss customization options if needed for your application.

Tested and Certified for Ingress Protection

The new IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives have been tested by an independent laboratory for ingress protection. The upgraded sealing system incorporates the field-proven features of the previous IP65-rated design while providing the added protection required for the higher IP68 rating. As a result, the new IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives are completely interchangeable for all applications previously using IP65-Rated Crown Gear Drives from Zero-Max. This provides customers with an upgraded level of environmental protection without any change in size, appearance, or price.
 

Proven Crown Gear Design—Now With Enhanced Protection

With a successful 60+ year application history, Zero-Max Crown Gear Drives have established a reputation for dependable power transmission in demanding applications. The new IP68-Rated models complement the still available standard Crown Gear series by extending that proven design with enhanced sealing, corrosion protection and maintenance-free operation. The IP68-Rated Crown Gear Drives are stocked in Minneapolis, Minnesota for fast shipment, with modified and special designs available by quotation.