FEATURE
Our Technologies
We use original technologies to solve
R&D Activities
The NTN Group creates new technologies in and
Space
around our core technological fields of Monozukuri
rockets,
Wind
and tribology. We promote development into
artificial
turbines
satellites
Creating the
cutting-edge technologies, products and production
Technologies of the Future
Rolling
Aircraft
stock
Preservation of the global environment,
engineering with the intention of leaving our competnew energy
itors behind. For the automotive, industrial machinery
Ultra-high speed &
Longer working life
Construction
Medical
and aftermarket applications, we are seeking to
special environments
(high reliability)
machinery
equipment
lower torque demand and enhance other performance of our bearings and driveshafts. And we also
More lightweight
Lower friction
Precision
& more compact
(lower torque)
Electric
combine products with their peripheral components
equipment
vehicles
Customer needs
into module and unit products on the other. These
approaches to development can provide products
Machine
Automobiles
tools
that capable of high precision, high quality products
“Elemental technologies,” “Design and development,”
on the market at optimum prices, and continually
“Production technologies,” “Assessment technologies,”
“Intellectual property”
contribute to the industrial world. Also, we are
currently promoting our 3-year Medium-term
Base technology
Management Plan “NTN 100” that will take us from
Tribology
Monozukuri
April 2015 to March 2018, just prior to our 100th
anniversary. Under this plan, we are promoting
Surface finish
Lubricant
Lathe turning
Forging
developing business in new areas as a major theme
Injection molding
Polishing
Joining
Seals
Analysis
Diagnosis
“Manage Growth.” For example, we developed
Evaluation
Materials
Powder
Surface
compression
improving
Compact Wind Turbines and Micro Hydro Turbines
molding
that are highly efficient, utilizing natural energy. And,
for EVs, we developed In-Wheel Motor Systems and
Electric Motors and Actuators, and we are preparing
for commercialization.
In the our core business of automotive business, tougher fuel economy regulations, we release products which
realize lighter, smaller and greater fuel-saving such as Lightweight Driveshaft for FR vehicles, Auto Tensioner with
the Variable Damper Mechanism for ISG-equipped Engine. By marketing new products like these around the world,
we are making a major contribution to fuel economy and riding comfort. In the industrial machinery business, we
have developed high durability rolling bearings with a Condition Monitoring System unit for use with large offshore
wind turbines. We also have developed new products like tapered roller bearings sensors attached for detecting
minute quantities of metallic dust for construction machinery, etc. In applications for rolling stock, aircraft, robots,
and other machines, we are working to reduce the torque demand, size, weight and environmental load of bearings.
In addition to rolling bearings, we develop, manufacture and sell sliding bearings made of sintered and resin,
magnetic products made of magnetic material. These strengths are applied to developing next generation products
such as, magnetic cores that support the high current and frequency of electric vehicle power units, and also we
use these strengths developing module products and system products, that differentiate us from competitors.
Message from the director of R&D
As major theme of our Medium-term Management Plan “NTN 100,”
we are developing business in new areas, energy business, EV business,
robots-related business, and service, solution business. Regarding the
energy and EV businesses, new divisions were created in April 2016. In the
robot-related and service, solution businesses, we are promoting product
development and have begun developing business.
Till now, most of our business has been B-to-B dealings centered on bearings
and driveshafts. However, going forward, we will be taking our core technologies
as a bearing manufacturer to new depths and levels of enhancement in order to
further improve the performance and quality of our core products, expand into
the B-to-C realm, and make feel safe and reassured.
Yoshinori Terasaka
Managing Director
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various demands of the global society
Global Four-region R&D system
Within our global R&D system, our
R&D bases in Japan conduct all
operations concerning advanced
technologies and guide activities for
the world’s markets. Our European
R&D bases handle research and
development for locally produced
products. Efforts are also underway
in each Japan, Americas, Europe and
Asia to expand sales and speed up
customer support via engineering
services, certification evaluations,
marketing studies and analyses.
Japan
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY R&D
CENTER
NTN R&D CENTER
INDUSTRIAL
TECHNICAL CENTER
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING
R&D CENTER
Design data/Testing data/
Experimental data/Production
technology data/Customer project
data etc.
Europe
Americas
Share database information
NTN Automotive Center
China
NTN-SNR R&D Center
NTN China Technical
Center
Product development and modularization
We develop “module products” by combining bearings,
CVJs and other standalone products with their
peripheral components, sensors, actuators or other
parts. We then integrate these modules with mechatronics and control technologies to create “system
products” out of them. Modularization and systemization not only reduces the number of parts, size and
Motorized linear modules
weight but also enhances the added-value of products
by reducing the customer’s assembly man-hours in
their manufacturing process. New typical products
are Electric Motors and Actuators for EVs and
Hybrid Street Lights that very efficiently generate
energy for industry machinery applications.
Tapered Roller Bearings with an
early failure detection function
Wind Doctor™
Hybrid street
light
Bearing unit
System
Bearing
Module
Unit
Standalone
product
*
Driveshaft
Hub bearing
*
Clutch for seat lifter
Two Motor On-board Drive
System
Electric Motor and
Actuator
New In-wheel Motor
System
* Photos are cross-sectional models of products.
“Green Power Park” – an energy circulation model of natural energy
FOCUS ON
We are promoting the natural energy business as major theme of our
Medium-term Management Plan “NTN 100.” As one part of that, the
company established a “Green Power Park” on the grounds of the
Advanced Technology R&D Center in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, as a
natural energy circulation model that uses wind, water and solar power to
generate electricity for EVs, vegetable farms and other loads. The amount
of power generated, stored and consumed by each unit is constantly
monitored and controlled in a control room as a low-carbon proposal for
society. The facility is used for our in-house testing and is open to
students from elementary to high school so that it can be useful for
conserving energy and teaching about the environment.
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