Horsburgh & Scott focuses on addressing this need.
Building on its 140-year legacy, the company has transformed from a traditional gearbox manufacturer into a full lifecycle solutions provider, combining engineering, manufacturing, repair and field service under a single operational framework. Under the stewardship of GenNx360 Capital Partners, it has doubled its workforce and quadrupled business growth through product diversification and market expansion.
Beyond traditional coarse-pitch gearing, Horsburgh & Scott manufactures gear sizes ranging from half-inch to 40-feet diameters. Its vertically integrated operations across design, heat treatment, manufacturing and service enable faster response times while supporting installation, maintenance and long-term performance.
“In critical operations, response time directly impacts production losses,” says Randy Burdick, CEO. “Our speed kills the competition and delivers the difference to our customers.”
Tailored Engineering for Complex Applications
Horsburgh & Scott operates as a custom engineering solutions provider rather than a standard catalog-based product supplier.
It evaluates application-specific parameters like horsepower, speed, ratios and environmental conditions during design. Using field insights, it develops tailored gear systems validated through FEA modeling for long-term reliability.
To further enhance performance and reliability, it developed proprietary gear rating practices beyond standard American Gear Manufacturers Association classifications. Through advanced tooth modifications, the company enhances load distribution while reducing sensitivity to misalignment, vibration and lubrication challenges. These tailored solutions help minimize downtime, changeover costs and structural changes.
Advanced Field Service for Critical Operations
Horsburgh & Scott addresses the unpredictable equipment failures with a globally deployed field service team. It offers 24/7 service, operating around the customer’s schedule.
In many cases, where complex gear trains are integrated into large facilities, equipment cannot be removed from sites. In these situations, Horsburgh & Scott deploys field service teams equipped with portable coordinate measuring machines, laser alignment systems, borescopes and vibration analysis equipment to identify issues. The team delivers immediate fixes to restore operations, followed by long-term engineered solutions to ensure reliability.
In critical operations, response time directly impacts production losses. Our speed kills the competition and delivers the difference to our customers.
Collaborating closely with engineering teams and leveraging advanced modeling capabilities, it refurbishes and redesigns gear systems using updated metallurgy and manufacturing practices to improve long-term reliability beyond original OEM performance levels. It also supports aging and obsolete equipment through reverse engineering capabilities. Using portable metrology and performance data, it recreates legacy components while maintaining compatibility with existing operations.
In one instance, a customer experienced a catastrophic gear drive failure caused by poor maintenance. Horsburgh & Scott’s team quickly assessed the situation and developed an immediate solution. Through-hardened gears were produced in three days and installed, helping restore operations in less than a week.
It also engineered a long-term solution, delivering case-carburized and ground gears within six weeks, ensuring 15 to 20 years of reliable performance. The team’s rapid response minimized downtime and production losses, earning customer recognition.
Scaling through Capability and Expansion
Horsburgh & Scott is ISO 9001 certified and is working toward strengthening compliance with American Bureau of Shipping standards, supporting expansion into the commercial and defense maritime sectors.
Over the past five years, Horsburgh & Scott has invested in building capabilities that enabled it to manufacture gear sets for both the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels. It is also exploring new capabilities, including bevel gear manufacturing.
Through a quarterly gear school program, providing hands-on training for rebuild expertise, it aims to address the industry’s technical skills gap. Its goal is to become the largest custom-engineered service provider across North and South America.
By integrating remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and investment in engineering talent, Horsburgh & Scott is expanding into a comprehensive reliability partner across the Americas.
