The History of Ondrives US

The history and current state of the standardized precision mechanical components industry are linked to one man and his family. Mr. Winfred M. Berg is regarded as the Father of Precision Mechanical Components.

Before World War II, there was little standardization among small, high-precision, instrumentation quality components. Frustrated engineers had to design, make mechanical drawings, specify materials and quality standards, and locate capable machine shops before they could begin manufacturing. “Win” Berg changed that.

Mr. Berg developed a selection of high-precision gears, categorized by pitch and configurable by bore, face thickness, and quantity of teeth. He created the standards for high-precision gears. The American Gear Manufacturers Association copied these standards as their AGMA 10, AGMA 12, and AGMA 14. This allowed engineers to select a gear to fit their requirements. Berg further expanded, revolutionizing the concept by adding many mechanical components, all designed to function together.

In 1954, PIC Design Corp was founded on this principle by Berg, establishing the Standardized Mechanical Components industry. Pocket-sized catalogs were mailed to engineers nationwide; they offered thousands of miniature mechanical components available and shipped from stock.

In 1965, Win Berg decided to pursue a political career and sold PIC Design Corp. His foray into local politics was successful, but Berg realized his true calling was engineering. Win Berg and his son, Dennis, founded Winfred M. Berg Inc., recreating the business model of PIC Design but adding many new items.

Patented products, specifically designed and invented by Win or Dennis, offered unique solutions for precision mechanical and motion control applications.

Among these patented technologies is the critical, lightweight, plastic and wire rope drive chain used in MacCready Gossamer Condor’s first man-powered flight in 1977. Two years later, the human-powered Gossamer Albatross crossed the English Channel also using the Berg patented chain.

W. M. Berg Inc. was sold when Win Berg retired in 1980. Dennis remained President and Chief Engineer for the next ten years. As customer service became less of a priority with the new owners at W. M. Berg Inc., Dennis resigned and founded Rino Mechanical Components to provide the top quality service that had been a hallmark in the early days of W. M. Berg Inc. and PIC Design Corp.

In 2011, Rino Mechanical Components cemented an international presence and decades-long family friendships with long-time supplier Ondrives, Ltd. of Chesterfield, England, synergistically becoming Ondrives.US Corp. and bringing over 60 years of knowledge and technical experience to the business. Dennis remains involved with the industry as CEO of Ondrives.US Corp.

Ondrives US in the Industry Today

A driving force and integral part of the Standardized Mechanical Components industry, the Berg family continues to contribute to the ongoing success of Ondrives. The future of Ondrives.US Corp is assured, as Lee Berg assumed the role of President. Having worked at both W.M Berg Inc. and Rino Mechanical Components, Lee grew up in the industry, working first with his grandfather, Win Berg, and then with Dennis.

Our company expanded its capabilities over the years to include an even broader offering of products that deliver long-lasting quality and precision for your most challenging applications. We also offer modified and custom-built precision mechanical components, along with prototypes, for any application.

• Gearboxes
• Air Motors
• Shaft Couplings
• Precision Gears
• Precision Ground Shafts & Dowels
• Friction Clutches
• Precision Fasteners
• Other Mechanical Components

Engineering & Design Information

Ondrives.US works with the latest manufacturing equipment from a world-class Freeport, NY facility. Our equipment list includes gear hobbers and shapers, CNC vertical mills, bar-fed CNC lathes, laser engraving, CMM inspection, and secondary machines.

Our experienced engineering team provides additional assistance for custom components manufacturing. Application engineers can help select the best components for a project, while design engineers create a solution that meets the customer’s exact specifications. Prior to production, two-dimensional drawings of 3D CAD models are supplied for approval. We can fabricate complex gearboxes, simple components, and more to satisfy requirements.

Quality Control & Assurance Practices

Ondrives, Ltd. operates international premium manufacturing facilities for high-quality precision machined products. Approved by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance to Aerospace standards AS9100 Rev D and BS EN ISO 9001:2015, Ondrives uses state-of-the-art manufacturing and inspection equipment. Our strong commitment to the quality of precision-machined products allows for constant innovation and exceptional service experiences.

Our Mission

To offer cost-effective solutions, expert service, and timely delivery for all our customers’ mechanical component needs.

As a leading manufacturer and distributor of precision mechanical components and assemblies, with extensive knowledge and experience in the design and application of mechanical components, we can assure our customers the very best selection of products and services at competitive prices.