35 Gear Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for gears as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 35 gear manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked gear companies as of April, 2024: 1.Arrow Gear Co., 2.ondrives us, 3.Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument - SDP/SI.
Table of Contents
What Is a Gear?
Gears are mechanical components that transmit power through toothed profiles. They enable power transmission horizontally or vertically, depending on the tooth configuration. Unlike V-belts, gears prevent slippage, making them crucial for applications where precise timing is essential. By varying gear sizes and tooth counts, it's possible to adjust rotational speeds, enabling a small motor to drive a large machine efficiently.
Applications of Gears
Gears are ubiquitous in daily life, particularly in power-driven equipment. Common examples include vehicles like cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, as well as household appliances such as clocks, fans, and vacuum cleaners. They are also integral to industrial machinery, including turbines in power plants, blowers, and wind generators. In bicycles, for instance, the gear system, known as a sprocket, allows for speed adjustment by changing gears, directly influencing pedal rotation and movement.
Characteristics of Gears
Gears ensure reliable power transmission without slippage, allowing for precise timing adjustments. However, gear teeth can wear out over time, increasing the gap known as backlash. This can lead to noise or malfunction, especially under fluctuating loads or frequent starts and stops, necessitating regular maintenance. Gears enable acceleration and deceleration adjustments through tooth number and size variations, commonly seen in reduction gears. This ability allows a small motor to operate large machinery, reducing costs related to the motor, energy consumption, maintenance, and equipment size. Proper lubrication with oil or grease is required to minimize wear and extend gear life, with the lubrication method chosen based on equipment specifications and installation location.
Types of Gears
Gears come in various shapes, allowing for parallel, intersecting, or staggered shaft arrangements when paired.
1. Spur Gear
Featuring teeth parallel to the rotation axis, spur gears are widely used for their manufacturing simplicity and effectiveness in power transmission.
2. Internal Gear
A spur gear variant with internal teeth, designed to mesh with smaller diameter gears.
3. Helical Gear
Created by angling the teeth of a spur gear into a helical formation, providing smoother operation.
4. Screw Gear
Paired with a helical gear, it transmits power between two non-parallel axes.
5. Yamaba Gear
Consists of two helical gears with opposite helix angles, counteracting axial thrust.
6. Bevel Gear
Conically shaped with teeth on the conical surface, used for transmitting power between intersecting axes.
7. Crown Gear
A bevel gear variant with teeth perpendicular to the rotation axis, resembling a crown.
8. Worm Gear
Combines a worm and worm wheel at right angles for compact, high-ratio gear reduction.
9. Spherical Gear
Features teeth on a spherical surface, allowing for perpendicular axis operation.
10. Sprocket
Engages with a roller chain to transmit rotation, differing from typical gear mechanisms as it does not involve meshing gears.
Gear Structure
Gear teeth are defined by mathematically calculated curves known as tooth profile curves, categorized into involute, cycloid, and trochoid profiles.
1. Involute Tooth Profile
Defined by an involute curve, this profile ensures consistent meshing even with slight center distance variations, favored for its manufacturability and efficiency.
2. Cycloid Tooth Profile
Characterized by minimal tooth interference and uniform sliding, cycloid profiles are challenging to manufacture but are utilized in precision mechanisms like clocks.
3. Trochoid Tooth Profile
Based on a trochoidal curve, this profile is applied in internal gear pumps for its efficiency and reliability.
List of 35 Gear Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
- India
- Japan
- United Kingdom
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Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument - SDP/SI
Precision and Commercial Gears
Manufacturer Overview
SDP/SI was founded in 1950 and is situated in New Hyde Park, New York. SDPP/SI is a manufacturer of precision gears and high-quality mechanical components used in the aerospace, industrial manufacturing, medical technology, and robotics fields. The company manufactures parts in a variety of materials including alloy steel, stainless steel, bronze, brass, nylon, and titanium. The company also provides coating services such as heat treating, zinc plating, and painting. Additional custom options are available including manufacturing to customer drawings and specifications.
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Rexnord
Sun Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Rexnord, is a Regal Rexnord Brand, founded in 1948, and is a manufacturer of industrial lead products for the toughest applications. The products include bearings, conveying solutions, couplings, gears, industrial chains, and PT drive components. Smart solutions include smart condition monitoring systems, smart tags, and digital productivity platforms for use in aerospace, mining, beverage & food, energy, and marine markets. The Milwauke, Wi company offers services such as coupling re-certification, gap walk, gearbox repair & upgrade, custom gears & drives, and installation & rebuild services.
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Red Lion
Motors & Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Red Lion was founded in 1972 and headquartered in York, Pennsylvania as part of Spectris, PLC, headquartered in Egham, England. The company serves manufacturing, oil & gas, alternative energy, transportation, and water industries with products for their industrial automation and industrial networking needs. The company’s industrial automation division creates controllers, secure remote access platforms, panel meters, and process control devices. The industrial networking division offers ethernet devices, IIoT gateways and routers, and communication converters.
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ondrives us
Precision Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Ondrives US, founded in Freeport, NY, in 2011 is a manufacturer of standard, modified, and custom precision gears, gearboxes, pulleys and mechanical components. The company's product portfolio includes gear hobblers, gear shapers, CNC vertical mills, bar fed CNC lathes and laser engraving. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company also provides services including two dimensional drawings of 3D CAD models, product selection, national distribution and customer support.
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Linn Gear Co
Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Linn Gear, established in 1954 and based in Oregon, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier of stock and custom mechanical power transmission components for industrial applications. The company’s product range includes a variety of gears, such as spur gears and change gears, along with components like change gear bushings and miter gears. Additionally, they produce sprockets and related products, serving the industrial machinery sector. The company stocks finished goods available for immediate shipment as well as semi-finished goods that can be customized to meet customer specifications and requirements.
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Cone Drive
Cone Drive Harmonic Solutions
Manufacturer Overview
Cone Drive was founded in 1925 and is a manufacturer of gearboxes and motion control technology located in Traverse City, Michigan. The company’s product line includes worm gears, worm gearboxes, slew bearings, slew drives and harmonic gearing. Its products are applicable for solar energy, aerospace, metals, mining, and various other industries. Its sales representatives are available in America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Its quality management system is certified with ISO 9001.
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QTC METRIC GEARS
Gears, Differentials, Pinions, & Racks
Manufacturer Overview
QTC METRIC GEARS is a reputable manufacturer and supplier of quality metric gears, located in the United States since 1964. QTC METRIC GEARS has a rich history of providing a wide range of precision gears that cater to various industries, including automotive, aerospace, robotics, and manufacturing. Their devotion to quality and precision ensures that their gears meet rigorous standards and offer dependable performance. With a aim to deliver products and exceed customer expectations, QTC METRIC GEARS prioritizes customization, timely delivery, and excellent customer service.
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Martin Sprocket & Gear, Inc.
Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Martin Sprocket & Gear, Inc. (MSG) is an Arlington, Texas-based manufacturer and supplier of power transmission products, material handlers, and industrial hand tools. Founded in 1951, the company primarily serves clients in the pulp and paper, petrochemical, automotive, and agriculture industries. The company produces various products including conveyors, sprockets, sheaves, bushings, and custom products for client companies like John Deere and General Electric. MSG has over thirty operating plants across the United States, with retail locations and storage facilities on three continents.
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Gear Motions, Inc.
Worm Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Gear Motions is a custom gear manufacturer for global OEMs. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Syracuse, New York, with additional locations in Buffalo and Oliver Springs, Gear Motions has grown significantly since its founding. Initially a ten-man company serving primarily in the New England Area, they have since expanded through acquisitions of companies such as Nixon Gear, Gear Supply and Broaching, and Pro-Gear Co Inc. The company provides custom gear solutions for various custom and precision applications, offering products such as ground helical gears, spur gears, pump gears, timing pulleys, shafts and splines.
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Circle Gear & Machine Co., Inc.
Custom Spur Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Circle Gear & Machine Co., Inc., established in 1951 and based in Illinois, USA, is a manufacturer of gears and gearboxes. The company manufactures a range of gears including bevel, helical and worm gear for automotive, construction, chemical and other industries. It provides reverse engineering for gear and gear boxes, from worn samples, prints or sketches, along with rebuild, repair and emergency services. The company has a quality management system in compliance with ISO 9001:2015, and has a complete inspection lab with CMM(Coordinate Measuring Machine).
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Grob, Inc.
Spur Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Grob, Inc., established in 1929, and headquartered in Grafton, Wisconsin, is a manufacturer of custom metalworking equipment and components. Their custom products, includes band saws, cold rolled steel products, blade welders, heat exchangers, and custom machine tools, that cater to industries like industrial manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and manufacturing. Grob, Inc. is known for their quality machines that enhance productivity and accuracy in cutting and machining processes. They are ISO 9001:2015 certified, ensuring to provide stringent quality standards and excellent industrial solutions.
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PAWLUS GEAR CO, INC.
Gear
Manufacturer Overview
Pawlus Gear Company, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in custom gears, machined parts, and assemblies. The company’s product portfolio includes spur gears (internal & external), bevel gears, helical gears, splines and sprockets. These products are available in various sizes to meet unique client applications and requirements. The company also offers custom gear manufacturing services for industrial, aerospace, transportation and military applications. With various in-house capabilities, the company offers pre and post-sales support including technical guidance, to help customers achieve their desired gear specifications.
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Arrow Gear Co.
Bevel Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Arrow Gear Co., founded in 1947 and headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, is a manufacturer of high-precision gears catering to aerospace and commercial industries. Its specialization lies in spiral bevel gears, and it also offers a comprehensive range of gearing solutions, including bevel gears, spur gears, helical gears, curvic couplings, and complete gearboxes. These products find applications across various machinery and equipment, facilitating power and motion transfer. The company holds several certifications in quality standards such as ISO 9001:2015, AS9100 REV D, and Nadcap for Heat Treating and Non-Destructive Testing.
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Gear Company Of America
GEARS
Manufacturer Overview
Gear Co. of America Inc., established in 1992, is a manufacturer engaged in the engineering, design and manufacture of assemblies, gears and motion control solutions. The company is based in Cleveland, United States and with a strong emphasis on precision engineering and advanced manufacturing techniques, they offer a diverse range of gear products, including spur gears, helical gears, bevel gears, and more. Their selection of products find applications in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, and power transmission.
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Amarillo Gear Company
OPEN GEARING
Manufacturer Overview
Amarillo Gear Co. LLC., established in 1917, is a renowned manufacturer specializing in precision-engineered gearboxes and drive systems. They are part of The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) since 1950 and is part of Mormon Holdings Inc. The company aims on delivering products for various industrial applications, including power generation, oil and gas, mining, and more. Their selection of products are known for their performance, durable construction, and power transmission capabilities.
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Cleveland Gear Company
Modular Gear
Manufacturer Overview
Cleveland Gear Company, Inc. was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The company is a manufacturer of gears, speed reducers, and other parts for industries such as manufacturing, mining, and packaging. The company has four product and service categories: Enclosed Drives, Open Gearing, Custom Drives, and Field Service & Rebuilds. Enclosed Drives include modular gear products, larger enclosed drive products, and helical enclosed drive products. Open Gearing includes Master Worm Systems and services such as case hardening. Custom drives are produced according to industry need such as rubber production and mineral processing.
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Ka-Wood Gear & Machine Co.
Unique Gears
Manufacturer Overview
KA-Wood Gear & Machine Co., established in 1920 and headquartered in Madison Heights, Michigan, is a manufacturer of gear blanks, including CNC turning, milling, and grinding. The company specializes in producing quality gear blanks with expertise in spur, helical, worm gears, spline shafts, and sprockets and can reverse engineer gear samples. Its gears serve diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, wind energy, packaging, and mining. The company is capable of milling, shaping, hobbing, and grinding its electrodes for faster setup and shorter times.
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Avon Gear & Engineering
Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Avon Gear & Engineering, founded in La Grange, Illinois, in 1974 is a manufacturer of Custom Gears in different materials and sizes. The company's product portfolio includes spur gears, helical gears, bevel gears, worm gears, and surface coatings to enhance wear resistance and reduce friction. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, New Product Design and Development and Custom Manufacturing.
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Atlanta Drive Systems
Standard Driving Elements
Company Overview
Atlanta Drive Systems, founded in 1943 and located in Farmingdale, New Jersey, is a supplier of drive systems. The company’s broad range of products includes gear racks, pinion ears, servo reducers, linear actuators, and washdown gearboxes. These products play a fundamental role in automation and robotics for precise and controlled movement, industrial machinery for applications like material handling and manufacturing, motion control for regulating speed and torque, linear motion systems for accurate positioning, and the food and beverage industry. The company’s products are used to enable precise movement, control, and efficiency in mechanical and automated systems across diverse sectors.
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Renold
Gears & Gearboxes
Manufacturer Overview
Renold, established in 1947, and based in Manchester, UK, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial chains, gearboxes, and couplings. Their product portfolio includes tooth chains, transmission drive chains, gear and gearboxes, couplings, conveyor chains, leaf chains, sprockets, and accessories. The company offers the latest innovation with high precision-engineered power transmission products. The products are used in various industries which include agriculture, construction, energy, environment, food and drink, transportation, and machinery.
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HANGZHOU CHINABASE MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Gear Rack
Manufacturer Overview
Hangzhou Chinabase Machinery Co., Ltd., founded in 1992 and based in Hangzhou, China, is a manufacturer specializing in an array of products, including power transmission components. Its key products encompass chains and sprockets for industrial power transmission, gearboxes to enhance torque and reduce speed, couplings for shaft connections, and gears used across industrial applications. Its products find applications in automation, conveyor technology, packaging, food, pharmaceuticals, and more. The company maintains quality and sustainability, holding certifications like ISO 9002, ISO 9001, API, ISO/TS 16949:2002, and ISO 10012 measurement management system.
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Shenzhen Power Motor Industrial Co., Ltd.
Custom Gearbox Motor Engineering
Manufacturer Overview
Shenzhen Power Motor Industrial Co. Ltd, established in 2001, and based in Shenzhen, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of electric power motors. The product portfolio includes a diverse range of brushed and brushless DC motors, universal AC motors, gear motors, brushless blowers, and motor controllers. The products are used in various industries such as smart home improvements, appliances, medical, agriculture, industrial automation, and power tools. All the company products are ISO-certified with quality system certificates.
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KHK
GEAR
Manufacturer Overview
Kohara Gear Industry Co., Ltd. (KHK), established in 1935, is a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Kawaguchi, Saitama, specializing in the production of stock gears. The company’s product portfolio includes bevel, helical, internal, miter, and plastic gears. Additionally, it offers other types of stock gears such as screw, spur, and worm gears. The company also provides standard and circular pitch (CP) gear racks, gear couplings, as well as pre-lubricated bevel gear boxes designed to be freely mountable in any direction. Furthermore, the company offers customization options, allowing customers to choose specific gear tooth pitches, sizes, grades, and materials, such as metal and plastic.
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Weichai Holding Group Co.,Ltd.
Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Weichai Holding Group Co. Ltd., established in 1946 and headquartered in China, is a manufacturer of industrial equipment and powertrain systems. The company encompasses famous brands such as Weichai Power, Shacman, and Fast Transmission. Its main business spans six key segments: powertrain systems, commercial vehicles, agricultural equipment, and more. Its products serve diverse markets, including construction machinery, marines, and gen-sets. The company has won numerous national science and technology awards and prestigious accolades, such as the National Civilized Organization and the China Quality Award.
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Renold Canada
Gears
Manufacturer Overview
Renold Canada Ltd. is based in LaSalle, Quebec, Canada, and is a manufacturer of power transmission products established in 1920 as a subsidiary of Britain's Renold Plc. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing a wide range of parts used for power transmissions. These include engineering chains, helical gears, and couplings used for vibration damping. The company also offers equipment for material handling or material separation, and customization options for skids and modules. It serves clients in the oil and gas, mining, and renewable energy sectors.
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W.M. Berg
WORM GEARS
Manufacturer Overview
W M Berg, founded in 1967 and based in Cudahy, Wisconsin, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision industrial parts. The company delivers ISO 9001:2015 certified products and services, including assemblies, bearings, belts & chains, couplings & shafts, gears, fasteners & hardware, pulleys & sprockets and more. W M Berg provides designing, developing, manufacturing and testing facilities to its clients in the aerospace, medical and motion control industries. Its distributors include Applied Industrial Technology and Motion Industries.
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igus GmbH
iglidur gears
Manufacturer Overview
igus GmbH, established in 1964 and based in Cologne, Germany, is a manufacturer and distributor of technical products made using polymers for movement. Its products include injection molding frames, motor control systems, and plain bearings, and it has over 240,000 products in over 1,000,000 variations. It serves 188,000 companies from over 80 countries worldwide in 50 different industries, including packaging, automotive, and renewable energy. The company is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001 certified, and in 2023, it recorded €1.115 billion in sales. Since 2021, the company has purchased 380 new injection-molding machines and has replaced 275 old ones.
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Shenzhen Besta Precision Machinery Co.,Ltd.
Spur gear
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Overton Chicago Gear Corp.
Open Gearing
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Hymark LTD
BevelGear
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HORSBURGH & SCOTT
GEARS
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Davall Gears
GEARS
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Gear Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of April 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrow Gear Co. |
14.3%
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| 2 | ondrives us |
9.5%
|
| 3 | Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument - SDP/SI |
9.5%
|
| 4 | Rexnord |
4.8%
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| 5 | Gear Company Of America |
4.8%
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| 6 | Bharat Gears Ltd. |
4.8%
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| 7 | PAWLUS GEAR CO, INC. |
4.8%
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| 8 | Kinematics Manufacturing, Inc. |
4.8%
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| 9 | Ka-Wood Gear & Machine Co. |
4.8%
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| 10 | Cone Drive |
4.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the gear page as of April 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
- Shenzhen Power Motor Industrial Co., Ltd.: 2001 (23 years ago)
- HANGZHOU CHINABASE MACHINERY CO., LTD.: 1992 (32 years ago)
- PAWLUS GEAR CO, INC.: 1985 (39 years ago)
Company with a History
- Overton Chicago Gear Corp.: 1888 (136 years ago)
- Cone Drive: 1925 (99 years ago)
- Arrow Gear Co.: 1947 (77 years ago)
Gear Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
- Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument - SDP/SI
- Rexnord
- Red Lion
- ondrives us
- Linn Gear Co
- Cone Drive
- QTC METRIC GEARS
- Martin Sprocket & Gear, Inc.
- Gear Motions, Inc.
- Circle Gear & Machine Co., Inc.
- Grob, Inc.
- PAWLUS GEAR CO, INC.
- Arrow Gear Co.
- Gear Company Of America
- Amarillo Gear Company
- Cleveland Gear Company
- Ka-Wood Gear & Machine Co.
- Avon Gear & Engineering
- Atlanta Drive Systems
- Kinematics Manufacturing, Inc.
- Reid Supply
Global Distribution of Gear Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
21 | 80.8% |
China
|
2 | 7.7% |
United Kingdom
|
1 | 3.8% |
Japan
|
1 | 3.8% |
India
|
1 | 3.8% |
