September 29, 2026 Research & Development | Case Study

With timing belt drives, it’s often the small details that make all the difference. The geometry of the tooth gap influences, among other things, the clearance between the timing belt and the pulley, noise levels, break-in behavior, and positioning accuracy. With the right design, a drive can be optimally adapted to the specific application. Is your application characterized by frequent direction changes and high dynamics, and/or does it require particularly high positioning accuracy? Opt for a narrow tooth gap. It reduces reverse play and is therefore ideal for positioning tasks, e.g., in packaging machines, linear axes, or machine tools. Do you want to significantly reduce noise levels, but your application is primarily characterized by high belt speeds (>20 m/s)? No problem—use a deep pitch. It reduces noise at high belt speeds and has proven effective, for example, in driving textile machines, compressors, and winding machines. Do you need an optimal drive for hoist drives? Then we recommend the Walther Flender special tooth profile, which facilitates the engagement of the tooth with the pulley, especially under load. The special tooth profile for hoist drives is suitable, for example, for elevators, storage and retrieval machines, or heavy-duty hoists. Are you already using polyurethane timing belts with a T or AT profile and want to improve the positioning accuracy of your drive? Opt for the so-called “zero-gap” design, which ensures low-backlash power transmission and maximum positioning accuracy. This makes this timing belt particularly suitable for use in linear units and packaging machines.