NSK Exhibits at 42nd Tokyo Motor Show - Creating a Road to The Future Through Innovation. Now And Always. -

Tokyo, Japan, November 24, 2011 – NSK Ltd. (NSK; Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Norio Otsuka) will exhibit at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show to be held from Wednesday, November 30 to Sunday, December 11 2011.

In recent years, environmental awareness has increased in both developed and emerging economies. Population increases and motorization have led to the need for higher fuel economy and lower CO₂ emissions for automobiles. This has resulted in a variety of technical challenges. In response to the need for improved fuel economy, the focus has been on electrification, as represented by the advent of hybrid cars. As such, the prospect for the early realization of a futuristic world of electric vehicles does not seem so far away. For the time being, however, internal combustion engines are still in the majority. This being the case, the need for improved efficiency is driving the development for ecotechnologies for internal combustion engine applications.

As the largest bearing manufacturer in Japan and the third largest in the world, NSK has gained expertise in four core technologies “Tribology”, “Material Engineering”, “Analysis Technology” and “Mechatronics” over the many years that it has developed and manufactured environmentally friendly bearing products. Using this expertise, NSK has contributed to environmental conservation, as well as reliability, safety and comfort for the future of automobiles through low torque, compact/lightweight and low friction automotive product technologies. NSK continues to leverage these four core technologies to provide a wide range of automobile ecotechnologies in order to contribute to achieving a world of zero-emissions in the future.

Exhibit concept

At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, NSK will showcase its contribution and approach to the environment based on the theme - Creating A Road To The Future Through Innovation. Now And Always. - NSK will show how it has applied its four automotive technological advantages of compact/lightweight, low friction loss, ultra high speed rotation and development of mechatronic products to the future of automobility. NSK is contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions and the improvement of fuel economy for current and near future automobile applications. Also, for the automotive world of the future, NSK will help to realize a world of electric mobility by providing solutions for all challenges, from the generation of electricity to running on electricity.

NSK is a system integrator capable of component and full system design of critical automotive elements such as powertrain and steering, and will continue to cover a wide range of technologies going forward. At this year's booth, NSK will exhibit a wide range of ecotechnologies that are possible due to NSK's deep understanding of all varieties of automobile structures. For Near Future Technologies, NSK will exhibit powertrain products designed to increase the fuel economy of engine related parts, products that achieve high efficiency in drivetrain applications, and chassis products designed to increase fuel economy, such as steering and hub unit bearings. For Future Technologies, NSK will introduce innovative technologies that will contribute to the realization of a world of electric mobility.

Principal exhibits

Near Future Zone: Fuel Economy Improvement

Powertrain products

NSK products are used in a wide variety of engine and accessory applications. Through the use of low friction and compact/lightweight technology, NSK products contribute to improved fuel economy. This year's exhibit will include an acrylic virtual engine showing NSK bearings and other components used in the engine area to improve efficiency.

Main product exhibits

• High seal performance ball bearing for automotive electric motors
• Silent Needle Roller Bearing for Automotive Electrical Components

Drivetrain products

NSK products contribute to increased efficiency in all forms of transmissions, including automatic transmissions (AT), hybrid transmissions, continuously variable transmissions (CVT) and double clutch transmissions (DCT). Products for each will be on display.

This year's display will include a cut model showing the use of NSK products in a wide variety of high performance transmissions such as HEV, CVT and DCT. In addition, NSK will have a virtual transmission (IVT) on display to exhibit the ultimate in high efficiency through the application of high performance NSK bearings.

Main product exhibits

• High Reliability, Low Torque Ball Bearing for CVT
• Next Generation Tapered Roller Bearing with Plastic Cage
• W-shaped Multi-Segment Friction Plate
• Thurst needle Roller Bearing with raceway washers for oil flow control
• Ultra High-Speed Large-Diameter Ball Bearing

Chassis products

Electric power steering (EPS) is gaining broader application worldwide in the effort to improve automobile fuel economy. In this year's display, NSK will introduce an electric power steering system with advanced efficiency realized by mechatronics.

In addition, NSK will display a hub unit bearing that integrates tire wheel mounting components with frame mounting components. The hub unit bearing supports the vehicle for a safe and comfortable ride. NSK will display products that are not only.

Main product exhibits

• Cold Formed Hub Unit Bearing
• Low Friction Hub Unit Bearing
• Column Type EPS with Steering Angle Sensor
• Ball Screw for Regenerative Braking System Applications

Future Technology Zone: Electrification

NSK will exhibit technologies related to the theme of realizing and supporting a world of electric mobility. NSK will introduce technologies for wind power generators and fuel cells, as well as products that are necessary for achieving electric vehicle applications for “going, turning and stopping”. One of the greatest challenges for electric vehicles is that of distance capacity. Weight reduction is an effective means of extending driving distance, and so is improving the efficiency of power transfer from the battery to the wheels. Increasing the speed of the electric motor and making it lighter and more compact are also effective in increasing overall efficiency. NSK has developed technology such as ultra high speed bearings for motors and traction drive reduction gears to improve efficiency in this area. In addition, NSK has developed an ultra light rack & pinion to reduce the weight of the vehicle body. At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, NSK will display an electric vehicle front module to exhibit how NSK products will support the future of electric mobility.

Display of NSK products used in electric vehicle front modules

• Ultra High Speed Large Diameter Ball Bearings for Motors
• Traction Drive Reduction Gear
• Electric Shift Actuator
• Low Torque Plastic Cage Tapered Bearing
• Ultra Light-Weight Rack and Pinion

Additionally, there are many system concepts that push the electric vehicle innovation envelope even further by incorporating a drive motor in the wheel hub unit as the ultimate power generation application. To achieve such concepts, wheel hub motors are becoming lighter and more compact. It is also critical that launch torque and high speed performance are maintained. NSK has products for this area, such as a planetary gear embedded hub unit, a miniature cage and roller bearing for the planetary gear, and an anti-corrosion insulated bearing for use in areas near the electric motor. At the Tokyo Motor Show, NSK will utilize prototypes and unit configurations to display the following NSK products, which support the wheel hub motor concept.

Display of NSK products used in wheel hub motors

• Hub Bearing Unit with Built-in Reduction Gear
• Miniature Cage and Roller Bearing
• Anti-corrosion Insulated Bearing

Outline of the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show

NSK booth