A gearmotor is a homogeneous and compact unit consisting of a gear unit and a motor. In electrical drive technology as produced by SEW‑EURODRIVE, it is also always an electric motor. The idea of a "motor-gear unit aggregate" can be traced back to a patent from the Bruchsal-based design engineer and entrepreneur Albert Obermoser in 1928: He invented the "Vorlegemotor" (geared motor) Since then, the gearmotor has been developed further and further and new types of gear unit have been invented. In terms of motors, direct current technology has become less important, therefore gear units are nowadays most often combined with AC motors or servomotors.