A gear grinding machine finishes the tooth flanks of hardened gears, either with a grinding worm (generating grinding) or with a profiled wheel (profile grinding). If you want to sell a used gear grinding machine, we buy it. That applies to any machine that grinds tooth flanks, generating or profile grinding, from the small series grinder to the large-gear machine. Send us manufacturer, type, build year, maximum diameter, module, control and a few photos, and you get a first estimate. We organise dismantling and transport; on a direct purchase, payment is made by bank transfer before pickup. Flat, cylindrical and tool grinders are covered on a separate page, Sell grinding machines.
Why gears are ground
Gears are usually cut in the soft condition, for example by hobbing or shaping, and then hardened so that the flanks resist wear and carry higher loads. Hardening, however, distorts the part, and the flanks normally have to be reworked by grinding to bring the required gear quality back. Grinding restores profile, lead and pitch accuracy and gives the surface that load capacity and quiet running need. The typical process chain is:
- Soft cutting by hobbing, shaping or skiving
- Heat treatment (hardening)
- Hard finishing, usually grinding; in special cases honing or hard skiving
- Measuring the finished gear
Under the classic DIN 3961, as Wikipedia reproduces it, the achievable gear quality differs clearly by process (grade 1 is the finest, 12 the coarsest). DIN 3961 has been replaced by DIN ISO 1328-1, so read the table as an order of magnitude, not a promise for a particular machine.
| Process | Achievable gear quality |
|---|---|
| Honing | 1 to 6 |
| Grinding | 1 to 7 |
| Shaving, cold rolling | 5 to 7 |
| Hobbing, planing, shaping | 5 to 9 |
| Form milling, form shaping, broaching | 7 to 12 |
The finest grades 1 to 4 are therefore left to grinding and honing. A gear grinder is the machine for hard finishing of the teeth, which is why test reports and accuracy proof carry so much weight in a valuation. In some cases hard skiving of hardened external gears is an alternative; EMAG states ISO 1328 grades 6 to 7 for it.
Generating grinding or profile grinding
Two basic processes exist, and the choice decides which machine buyers look for.
| Feature | Generating grinding | Profile grinding |
|---|---|---|
| Tool | Grinding worm with an involute profile in the axial section | Wheel whose profile matches the tooth gap |
| Sequence | Worm and workpiece turn in sync; the involute is produced continuously | Gap by gap; the profile is formed by dressing |
| Strengths | High run-out and pitch accuracy, even involute form, short cycles, multi-start grinding | Cheaper wheels, quick profile corrections, flexible; also segments and profiles that cannot be generated |
| Limits | More expensive worms, longer procurement times; needs axial run-out | Longer machining times |
| Typical batches | Medium to large quantities | Larger modules and smaller batches |
Reishauer calls continuous generating grinding the most productive hard-finishing process for high-precision gears and dates the first continuous generating grinder, the type ZA, to 1945. Profile grinding is the usual route for very large gears and for gears next to interfering contours where a worm has no room to run out. Many machines handle both and can be converted: examples are the Liebherr LGG and LCS, the Klingelnberg Höfler VIPER 500 in the KW version, the KAPP NILES KNG 350 flex and KX 500 FLEX, the EMAG SU G 250 and G 400, and the Reishauer RZ 410 to RZ 1000. On such machines the conversion kit is part of the equipment we ask about.
Dressing and measuring on the machine
The dressing system shapes operation and value. Worms and profile wheels wear and have to be dressed; on generating grinders the diamond dressers sit in the machine, according to Reishauer. Liebherr introduced fast, continuous generating grinding with dressing-free CBN worms in 1988 with the LCS series; the third LCS generation (2005 to 2020) added dressing technology for corundum worms and measuring of the gear on the machine, and the LGG has been the compact successor since 2020. The large LCS 600 to LCS 1200 remains in the programme. KAPP NILES describes the KNG 350 flex as working both dressed and dressing-free. For Gleason machines the DSA dressing unit appears in the modernisation programme.
For measuring on the machine, Liebherr names optional probe systems for gear inspection on the LCS 600 to LCS 1200, and Gleason names integrated on-board inspection for its profile grinders. A buyer’s guide for used Kapp gear grinders lists as checkpoints the grinding method, the tool systems, test charts and geometry documentation, the condition of spindles and bearings, the dressing unit, the calibration of the probes, and control backups and service history. Those are exactly the points we ask about.
Control generation and the end of support
For gear grinders the control generation is a value factor in its own right. Reishauer introduced the first electronic synchronisation of grinding worm and workpiece with the RZ 300 E in 1977, and its current 4.0 generation runs on SINUMERIK ONE. KAPP NILES ended support for individual controls in stages, as stated in a 2025 letter:
| Control | Machines affected | No support, service or control and drive spare parts since |
|---|---|---|
| Siemens 840D Powerline | Not narrowed down by machine type | 1 January 2025 (no software updates since 1 January 2023, limited support since 1 January 2024) |
| D300 with DIAX04 drives | Machines built 2012 and earlier | 1 January 2025 (no software updates since 1 January 2021, limited support since 1 January 2022) |
| D107, D140, D145, D150(B), D200 | Machines built 2000 and earlier | 1 January 2021 (no software updates since 1 January 2018, limited support since 1 January 2019) |
The manufacturer stresses that the machines can still be used and offers KN Retrofit (with a mechanical overhaul) and KN Recontrol (control upgrade), with a further ten years of spare-parts availability among the key points. Control spare parts that are still available can be obtained through KAPP NILES. Gleason names for its Recontrol programme the replacement of cabinet, cables, encoders and motors, with support for Siemens, FANUC, Bosch and NUM. How far the control status moves the value of your machine depends on the retrofit status, which is why we ask for the control type and conversion documents.
Series on the market
The table shows current series with the values the manufacturers state on their own pages (checked 29 September 2026). Older machines, such as the Liebherr LCS 182, 282 and 700, the Kapp Niles types VAS and ZSTZ or the Reishauer RZ 301 S and RZ 362 A, are not tabulated because we cannot document manufacturer data for them; for those, the nameplate and test report count. The values are nominal for the series.
| Series | Maker | Process | Max. diameter (mm) | Max. module |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGG 180 / LGG 280 / LGG 400 M | Liebherr | Generating and profile grinding, internal grinding optional | 180 / 280 / 400 | Generating up to 6 |
| LGG 300 / 380 / 500 / 700 M | Liebherr | Generating and profile grinding, internal grinding | 300 / 380 / 500 / 700 (700 M: 500 in generating grinding) | Generating up to 14 (depending on grinding head), profile 14 |
| LCS 600 to LCS 1200 | Liebherr | Generating and profile grinding, large workpieces | 600 to 1,200 | Generating up to 14, profile up to 20 |
| 1200G / 1600G | Gleason | Profile grinding | 1,600 | Profile depth max. 80 mm |
| P 2000 G to P 6000 G | Gleason | Profile grinding, large gears | 6,000 | Profile depth max. 120 mm |
| Genesis 200GX / 260GX | Gleason | Generating grinding (threaded wheel grinding), twin spindle | 260 | 4 |
| VIPER 500 (K / W / KW) | Klingelnberg (Höfler) | Profile (K), generating (W), both (KW) | 500 | K and W 22, KW 13 |
| Speed Viper 300 | Klingelnberg (Höfler) | Generating grinding | 300 | 5 (0.5 optional as minimum) |
| RAPID 650 to RAPID 1250 | Klingelnberg (Höfler) | Profile grinding, large gears | 650 to 1,250 | 35 |
| RAPID 1600 / RAPID 2000 | Klingelnberg (Höfler) | Profile grinding, large gears | 1,600 / 2,000 | 45 |
| RAPID 3000 to RAPID 8000 | Klingelnberg (Höfler) | Profile grinding, large gears | 3,000 to 8,000 | 50 |
| KX DYNAMIC (KX 100 / KX 260) | KAPP NILES | Continuous generating grinding | 125 / 260 | 4.5 / 6 |
| KNG 350 flex | KAPP NILES | Generating and profile grinding | 350 (400) | Generating 8, profile 10 |
| KX 500 FLEX | KAPP NILES | Generating and profile grinding | 500 | Generating 8, profile 12 |
| KNG 5P expert | KAPP NILES | Profile grinding | 500 (600) | 25 |
| KNG master (8P / 10P / 12P) | KAPP NILES | Profile grinding, large gears | 800 / 1,000 / 1,250 | 35 |
| ZP 10-16 / ZP 20-24 / ZP 30-80 | KAPP NILES | Profile grinding, large gears | 1,000 to 8,000 | 40 / 40 / 50 |
| RZ 160 4.0 / RZ 260 4.0 | Reishauer | Generating grinding, twin spindle | 162 / 262 (data table) | 4 / 5 |
| RZ 410 4.0 | Reishauer | Generating and profile grinding | 410 | Generating 10, profile 14 |
| RZ 1000 4.0 | Reishauer | Generating and profile grinding | 1,000 | Generating 10, profile 14 |
| G 160 | EMAG SU | Generating grinding | 160 | 4 |
| G 250 / G 250 HS | EMAG SU | Generating and profile grinding | 250 | 7 (G 250 HS: generating 5, profile 7) |
| G 375 H | EMAG SU | Profile grinding | 375 | 15 |
| G 400 | EMAG SU | Generating and profile grinding | 400 | Generating 8, profile 12 |
| G 500 H | EMAG SU | Profile grinding (also worms, rotors) | 500 | 22 |
Machines of these makers have their own pages: Sell Liebherr gear machines, Sell Gleason-Pfauter gear machines, Sell Klingelnberg gear machines, Sell Kapp Niles gear grinders and Sell Reishauer gear grinders. EMAG SU is covered in the brand section of Sell gear cutting machines.
Names in listings and name changes
You do not have to choose a name when you contact us. For searching the market, these spellings help:
- Gear grinding machine, tooth flank grinding machine, gear grinder, generating grinder describe the same machine class in listings. Titles such as “CNC generating grinding machine” or “gear grinding machine, external gear” occur.
- Liebherr: LCS machines appear as “LCS 282” or “LCS700”; the compact successor series since 2020 is LGG.
- Gleason-Pfauter: “P 1200 G” and “P1200G” are the same spelling with and without a space. Do not confuse the Phoenix series: “Gleason Phoenix 275 G” is a bevel gear grinder, which a dealer has advertised as “Gleason Pfauter 275G”.
- Klingelnberg and Höfler: Höfler is the Klingelnberg brand for cylindrical gear grinding (RAPID, VIPER, Speed Viper, HELIX), not a separate company. Listings write “Hoefler” for “Höfler”. The types G 27, G 30, G 35, G 60 and G 80 are bevel gear grinders.
- KAPP NILES: KAPP and NILES have been one company since 2018; older machines carry “KAPP” (Coburg) or “NILES” (Berlin). Listings show VAS 433, VAS 482, VAS 531 CNC, “Niles ZSTZ 630” and “KX160Twin” without a space. Most “Niles” listings are lathes.
- Reishauer: listings write “RZ 362 A” and “RZ362A”, “RZ 301 S”, “RZ 150”. The current generation carries the suffix “4.0”; an “RZ 260” without a year can be the older or the 4.0 generation. Many listings under “Reishauer” are accessories, not machines.
- Samputensili: the machine business has belonged to EMAG SU since 2021. Listings show “S 375 G”, “S 400 GT” and “S 3000 GW”; whether the “S 375 G” is the same machine as the current G 375 H is not stated on the manufacturer page.
What decides the value of a gear grinder
| Factor | What we ask | Why it moves the value |
|---|---|---|
| Workpiece diameter and module | Nominal values from the nameplate or data sheet | They set which gears can be ground and so which buyers come into question. |
| Process | Generating, profile or both | Generating grinding suits series; profile grinding larger modules and smaller batches. Machines with both are more flexible. |
| Dressing and tool system | Dressable or dressing-free, dressing unit, worm or wheel system | It sets setup effort and running costs. The dressing unit is a checkpoint in buying. |
| Control and support status | Control type, manufacturer support, retrofit | KAPP NILES has ended support for several controls; Reishauer works with SINUMERIK ONE in the 4.0 generation. |
| Axes and spindles | Twin spindle, number of axes | Reishauer RZ 160 and RZ 260 4.0, Gleason Genesis GX and EMAG SU G 250 use two workpiece spindles to reduce idle times. |
| Operating hours, spindles, bearings, table | Hours, running behaviour, documented repairs | Spindle and bearing condition are standard checkpoints. |
| Measuring and accuracy proof | On-board probe, test report, geometry documentation | A calibrated probe and a report document quality. |
| Automation | Ring loader, robot, palletising cell | For the Liebherr LGG the manufacturer names ring loaders, robot or NC lifting stations, chain conveyors and palletising cells; the LGG 400 M and 700 M are loaded manually. |
| Accessories | Internal grinding arm, clamping fixtures, grinding worms | On the Liebherr LGG the internal grinding arm can be fitted in 30 minutes, according to the manufacturer; on the Höfler RAPID it is optional. Fixtures and worms belong to the machine if they fit it. |
| Coolant and filtration | Filter system, oil routing | Filter systems are part of the equipment in listings. |
| Retrofit history | Converted by whom, when, which components | A documented conversion shows what was renewed. |
| Weight, foundation, dismantling | Weight, installation, lifting equipment | Klingelnberg states about 19,300 kg for the VIPER 500 and 28,000 to 30,000 kg for the RAPID 1000; Reishauer states 9,600 kg for the RZ 160 and RZ 260 4.0 and 15,500 kg for the RZ 1000 4.0. Kapp Niles names an installation without anchoring in the hall floor for the KNG master. |
The full matrix is in What is my gear machine worth?.
What we need from you
- Nameplate photo: make, type, build year, serial number
- Maximum diameter and module, process (generating, profile or both)
- Dressing system, control and retrofit status, operating hours
- Test report and gear quality achieved; calibration of the probe if fitted
- List of accessories (fixtures, worms, internal grinding arm) and retrofit documents
- Photos of the whole machine, grinding head, table, control panel, electrical cabinet and installation site
Missing documents are not a reason to hold back. They only make the estimate less precise.
How a sale works
- Send the data and photos.
- First estimate after receiving the basic data. We place your machine by maker, process and control generation.
- The offer usually follows 24–48 hours on working days after we have all the details. We buy your machine. Sale through our buyer network: commission stated upfront; you are paid before pickup. An urgent on-site visit can take place, usually within 48 to 72 hours on working days.
- On a direct purchase, payment is made by bank transfer and confirmed before pickup.
- We organise dismantling and transport, including cranes and foundation work on heavy machines. Whether those costs are included is stated in the offer upfront.
For a single machine the whole process usually takes 7 to 15 working days on a direct purchase. See also How it works.
What we do not buy
- Finished gears and gearboxes
- Grinding worms, grinding wheels, clamping fixtures and dressing tools without a machine
- Gear pumps
- Woodworking and hobby machines
Other gear machines have their own pages: gear hobbing machines, gear shaping machines and broaching machines. Bevel gear grinders, such as the Klingelnberg G-series or the Gleason Phoenix, and gear measuring machines are covered in Sell gear cutting machines.