Millions of people around the world turned their attention to a glowing sphere high above Times Square as 2025 came to an end. The New York City New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is a global celebration, but behind the spectacle is a precisely engineered system that must work flawlessly—without a second chance.
The Ball Drop has evolved dramatically since its debut in 1907. For its first 87 years, the Ball was raised and lowered manually using ropes and a stopwatch. That approach was adequate for a much smaller structure. Today’s Ball weighs nearly six tons and relies on advanced motion-control technology to ensure a smooth, reliable descent.
SEW-Eurodrive, a global industrial automation company with a significant U.S. presence in Lyman, plays a key behind-the-scenes role in supporting the engineering that makes the event possible. While viewers see a brilliant light display and countdown to midnight, engineers see the precision mechanics that keep the Ball moving safely and on time.
The 2026 Ball introduced new challenges. A refreshed exterior and next-generation LED technology allow for richer colors, smoother animations and more complex visual patterns. Those enhancements increase both the weight of the Ball and the demands placed on the lifting system responsible for raising it into position and lowering it during the final 60 seconds of the year.
That motion is controlled by a powerful winch system located beneath the mast platform. The system uses a compact, two-line configuration with opposing wire ropes to maintain balance and smooth operation. At its core is a heavy-duty SEW-Eurodrive gearmotor designed to support the full load while delivering steady, predictable movement throughout the ascent and descent. The gearmotor combines planetary and helical-bevel gearing with an AC motor, encoder, brake and regenerative variable frequency drive. Together, these components provide precise speed control and allow energy generated during the Ball’s descent to be returned to the electrical grid.
The drive system also includes a low-speed shaft that allows for a second brake to be mounted opposite the gearbox, to meet increasing safety and performance requirements, The added braking capability increases redundancy—an essential feature for a live event watched by millions and timed to the second.
Much of the engineering expertise behind systems like this is supported by SEW-Eurodrive’s operations in Lyman, where manufacturing, assembly and technical services contribute to complex motion control applications used across industries. The same principles applied in large-scale industrial settings help ensure reliability for one of the world’s most visible public events.
Although the Ball operates only a few times each year, routine maintenance is critical. SEW-Eurodrive service technicians perform regular inspections, conduct test cycles, change and analyze oil, and verify the condition of internal components. Thanks to the system’s low duty cycle and robust design, wear is minimal, but proactive servicing helps ensure long-term reliability.
The New Year’s Eve Ball is more than a once-a-year celebration, it’s a year-round landmark seen by millions of visitors to Times Square. When midnight arrives and the Ball completes its descent, the moment reflects not only a shared global tradition, but also the quiet work of engineers and technicians — including some in Spartanburg County — who make sure everything runs exactly as planned.
