Bearings are used in products ranging from home appliances and office equipment to rail cars, aircraft and satellites. They work behind-the-scenes to support our livelihoods. Wind turbines are being used increasingly throughout the world as part of efforts to combat global warming. NSK bearings are used in the generator units that form the heart of these systems. A wind turbine may remain in use for 20 years or more, and throughout that time the continuing rotation of NSK bearings will help to minimize energy loss.
New Plant to Produce Bearings for Growth Markets,
Including Wind Turbines and Construction Machinery
As strong demand for products used in steelmaking equipment and construction machinery continued, the demand for products used in wind turbines surged due to growing public awareness of environmental issues. NSK decided to build a new plant to manufacture roller bearings used in these industrial sectors. The new plant is under construction in the north part of Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and is scheduled to start operation from January 2008. Roller bearings, which use rollers as rolling elements, consolidate a number of NSK technologies. NSK capitalizes on its strong product development capability, applied technological capability and material technology for these products. Total sales of roller bearings, including those of the existing Fujisawa Plant, will increase to ¥80.0 billion in the year ended March 31, 2009 from ¥60.0 billion in the year ended March 31, 2006 and thereby increase NSK’s global market share. NSK will improve manufacturing capabilities for roller bearings, for which demand has remained high, as a core manufacturing priority for achieving the targets of the mid-term plan’s growth strategies.