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Actuator Gearbox Selection Guide: Eight Series, Three Steps and the Cost-Saving Pairing Strategy

source:original    date:2026-10-24

There is a savings opportunity many valve-automation buyers overlook: you don't have to buy a "large" actuator — add a gearbox and multiply a smaller one instead. The price of an imported high-torque integrated actuator typically covers a regular-torque actuator plus a quality gearbox — with money left over. Our eight gearbox series (GS/GF/IW/GK/BST/GZ/LE/QJ) are built for exactly that strategy: quarter-turn output from 250 to 500,000 N·m, multi-turn from 600 to 20,000 N·m, and linear thrust up to 217 kN; every interface uses standard ISO 5210 flanges (F07–F60) mating directly with electric and pneumatic actuators of all major brands; in stock, at roughly 1/2–1/3 the price of comparable imported products, with custom sizes on request. Full product documentation (selection tables + dimension drawings + flange standards) is downloadable in both Chinese and English. This page is the entry point to the line: meet the families first, then size in three steps.

1. Why "actuator + gearbox" is the smarter buy

Take a large butterfly valve (DN600+): direct drive usually demands a 50,000 N·m-class integrated actuator — at an imported price to match. The alternative: a regular 2,000 N·m electric actuator plus an IW-series quarter-turn gearbox (torque magnification 18–820×) delivers well beyond 50,000 N·m — and the two together cost about 1/2–1/3 of the imported integrated unit. The split architecture has operational upsides too:

  • Cheaper spares: actuator and gearbox are independent — a failure in one never scraps the whole machine;
  • Faster repairs: the gearbox is pure mechanics, serviceable on site with no electronics involved;
  • Flexible upgrades: the same gearbox accepts different actuator brands/torques — retrofit without starting over.

This is the route European and American engineering companies have taken for decades. The difference today: Chinese-made gearboxes deliver the same quality at 1/2–1/3 the price — ex stock.

2. The eight series at a glance

SeriesTypeOutputRatiosTypical useDetails
GSQuarter-turn worm gearbox (direct-mount)250–300,000 N·m51–2040Butterfly/ball/plug valves, dampersGS/GF
GFQuarter-turn worm gearbox (bracket-type)GF50.3–GF250.3—Base-and-crank installationsGS/GF
IWQuarter-turn worm gearbox (high torque)600–500,000 N·m60–2564Large heavy valves; torque multiplyingIW
GKMulti-turn bevel gearbox600–15,000 N·m3–36Gate/globe multi-turn valvesGK/BST/GZ
BSTMulti-turn spur gearbox1,500–20,000 N·m2–8Multi-turn valves, low-speed direct driveGK/BST/GZ
GZQuarter-turn gearbox (low ratios)300–15,000 N·m2–36Applications needing low ratiosGK/BST/GZ
LELinear-stroke thrust unitThrust 11.5–217 kNStroke 50–500mmGlobe/gate linear valvesLE
QJBall-hinge mechanism100–20,000 N·m—Linkage connectionsQJ

Buying tip: these gearboxes fit electric actuators of all major brands via standard ISO 5210 flanges (F07–F60). In stock for fast delivery, about 1/2–1/3 the price of comparable imported brands, and custom sizes are made to order — special flanges, special ratios and special mounting dimensions are all negotiable.

3. Sizing in three steps

Step 1 — output motion picks the family

  • 90° part-turn (butterfly, ball, plug valves, dampers) → quarter-turn GS/GF/IW/GZ;
  • Rising-stem multi-turn (gate, globe valves) → multi-turn GK/BST;
  • Straight push-pull (single/double-seat control valves) → LE linear unit.

Step 2 — torque/thrust picks the size

Required torque = valve break torque (usually the maximum) × safety factor 1.25–1.5. See Torque on Valves: Breaking, Operating and Seating Torque for how torque builds up — or simply send us the valve data (size, ΔP, medium) via the RFQ form and our engineers will do the math.

Step 3 — flanges confirm the interface

Input side matches the actuator's output flange (F07–F40); output side matches the valve flange (F10–F60). Every flange code's full dimensions (ød1/ød2/ød3/bolt holes) are in the ISO 5210 flange standard table — F03 through F60 in one view.

4. Three sentences for overseas buyers

  1. Universal: ISO 5210 interfaces fit Rotork, AUMA, Limitorque, Bernard and all major actuator brands — including the ones you already own;
  2. Economical: about 1/2–1/3 of European/American pricing at equal spec, and the "small actuator + high-ratio gearbox" strategy cuts total cost another notch;
  3. Available: ex stock plus custom manufacturing; documentation in English and Chinese, downloadable online — zero language friction.

Summary

  • One product line: eight series covering quarter-turn, multi-turn and linear outputs, 250–500,000 N·m;
  • One method: motion picks the family → torque × 1.25–1.5 picks the size → flanges confirm the interface;
  • One calculation: actuator + gearbox totals about 1/2–1/3 of an imported integrated unit — with better spares and retrofit flexibility.

Full documentation (Chinese/English PDFs with selection tables, dimension drawings and flange standards): Gearbox Product Data download. For sizing, quotations or customization — submit an RFQ; our engineers reply the same day.

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