What should I check when selecting a gearbox for a meat grinder?

When specifying a meat grinder gearbox, match rated torque to the real peak load from frozen or sinewy meat rather than sizing from motor kW alone, then set the ratio so auger speed suits your grind. Lubrication method, oil-seal design and heat dissipation govern gear and bearing life under continuous duty; an unusually hot housing usually means the unit is undersized. Run production meat through the machine and log current draw, noise and temperature rise, confirm the oil grade and change interval, and verify how the box is serviced plus spare-part lead times before committing.