Khgears International said it would intensify a robotics push in 2026 by expanding from industrial robot gears into humanoid robot components and by seeking a strategic alliance with a Tier 1 supplier tied to one of Japan's four major robot families, executives said after a shareholders' meeting on May 21. The precision gearmaker reported that smart transmission products accounted for a record 12% of revenue in the first quarter of 2026 and expects smart transmissions to represent more than 10% of full-year revenue in 2026, up from about 7% in 2025.
Management said automation demand remained strong and that robotics would be the company's key operating focus for 2026, while maintaining its core businesses in electric and garden tools. The firm intends to preserve operations in Japan, China, and the US as it broadens its market footprint and pursues local partnerships in Japan to access wider applications beyond robotics, a spokesperson announced.
Khgears identified industrial robot gears as its main growth driver. They said it already participates in the supply chain for Japan's four major robot families and for industrial robots in China. The company also described advancing reducer applications, including harmonic reducers for industrial robots and mid-drive motors for E-bikes, as a priority. The HX200 mid-drive motor, developed in mid-2025, has attracted domestic and overseas makers and is being adopted in new E-bike development, the firm disclosed.
On humanoid robotics, Khgears said it was developing micro gears for dexterous hands and planned initial sample shipments to a US humanoid robot customer in the second half of 2026. The company also planned to send samples to a China customer in the third quarter of 2026 for a new involute, low-tooth-count differential reducer. Executives cautioned that meaningful revenue contribution from humanoid robot components is likely to become clearer only in 2027.
Financially, Khgears reported record 2025 results with revenue of NT$3.065 billion (US$97.08 million), net profit of NT$498 million, and earnings per share of NT$9.61, despite the impact of US reciprocal tariffs. Leadership said 2026 efforts would balance strengthened orders from existing customers and new-customer development with stepped-up technology work on higher-end gear designs for robotics and mobility applications.
Article edited by Jingyue Hsiao
