Despite recent challenges, Australia’s sugar industry is poised for growth, particularly if investment into diversification of the sector goes ahead, facilitating the development of biofuels and bioenergy projects to create new revenue streams for sugar producers. Initiatives like Queensland's $180 million Sovereign Industry Development Fund (SIDF), are receiving support from local sugar industry bodies that have recognised the need to leverage “sugar’s potential to underpin a biofuels and bioenergy industry”.

“Following a difficult 2025 season, the local sugar industry will be eyeing new avenues for growth and will also be investing in solutions that will improve the productivity and energy efficiency of their processes,” says Eric Quevauvilliers, Bonfiglioli Sales Engineer- QLD. “Power transmission solutions will continue to play a key role in the renewal of production processes”.

Bonfiglioli’s range of solutions for sugar cane processing include high power, compact gearmotors, planetary and combined gearboxes, and multi-drive solutions complete with inverters for speed control and synchronisation. These are ideal for use across a range of applications, from cane carriers and clarifiers to crystallisers.

“With decades of experience in sugar processing, Bonfiglioli has engineered solutions that deliver the torque, long operating life, variable speed control and energy efficiency favoured by sugar producers,” says Eric. “Our product adaptability sets us apart, allowing us to seamlessly integrate different components to deliver solutions tailored to the customer’s specific speed and torque requirements”.

Heavy Duty Solutions

Standout solutions in the Bonfiglioli portfolio are the 300M Series, the 3/H Series and the HD Series.

• The 300M Series Planetary gearmotor offers
• The 3/H Series Helical Bevel gear unit handles very high torque, with a torque range up to and power transmission. It offers high shock-load resistance and reliability, with a long operating life. With a modular design, it allows for straightforward configuration changes or upgrades, and supports different cooling or coupling solutions as operational demands evolve.
• The HD Series Combined Planetary/Helical Bevel gear unit is a cost-efficient solution, with low maintenance costs and long service intervals. It offers a high torque rating, robust housing and a wide range of ratios as well as varied output shaft configurations and motor mounting options.

These solutions are built to last, with Eric sharing that a 15-year-old high ratio 300 series planetary gearbox is still in the field at a local sugar producer. “In industrial power-transmission terms, 15 years is not ‘normal operating life’ – it’s proven durability. This is a testament to the engineering quality of Bonfiglioli solutions, as well as the impact of proper selection and disciplined maintenance,” explains Eric.