History

1945

First in Japan Main shaft bearings for licensed production of aero jet-engines

1947-

Japan Bearing exports to Asian countries

1948

First in Japan Spindle inserts for spinning machines

1949

First in Japan Miniature ball bearings for use in cameras

1953

Japan Nishi Nippon Seiko (now Otsu Plant) established [low-variety, high-volume production plant focused on single-row deep-groove ball bearings]

Nishi Nippon Seiko

1958

US Long-term export, sales and technical cooperation agreement concluded with Hoover International Inc.

1958

First in Japan Mass production of ball screws and ball screw type manual steering systems (installed in the 1959 Isuzu ELF)

1959

First in Japan Nishi Nippon Seiko Ishibe Plant (now Ishibe Plant) established
[tapered roller bearings]

1959

Precision ball screws for machine tools

1960

Japan Kita Nippon Seiko (now Maebashi Plant) established
[steering systems, ball screws]

Germany Major export agreement for small size ball bearings established with Bosch, a major manufacturer of electric appliances

1961

Japan Technology Center established in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, as a global center for bearing R&D

1961

First in Japan Stainless steel miniature ball bearings for use in dental air turbine (300,000 min-1)

Tamagawa Plant automation (precision extra-small ball bearings)

1962

Japan Company Creed “NSK Spirit” and “4S Principle” guidelines for employees established

US JAMCO Corporation established (company name changed to NSK Corporation in 1967)

1963

Japan NSK Torrington Co., Ltd. (now Takasaki/Haruna plants) established in Gunma Prefecture
[needle roller bearings]

Germany Deutsche Nippon Seiko GmbH and sales office established in Dusseldorf

1964

Japan NSK-Warner K.K. established
[one-way clutches, fan clutches]

1964

First in the world Journal bearings for the world’s fastest train (Tokaido Shinkansen, 210 km/h)

Tokaido Shinkansen and Tokyo Monorail

Bearings for the world’s largest parabolic antenna at the Mt. Fuji weather station

1965

Fujisawa Plant automation (tapered roller bearings)

1966 - 1976

Contributed to industrialization by exporting technology and plants to developing countries

1966

Slewing bearings for turning satellite communication dishes

1968

Two-point seat belts for passenger cars (business transferred in 2003)

Bearings for high-speed elevators in skyscrapers (start of the skyscraper era in Japan)

1970

Poland Ball bearing plant exported to FLT Iskra S.A.

Australia NSK Manufacturing (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. and Geelong Plant, NSK’s first overseas plant, established (closed in 1977) [extra small ball bearings, small-size ball bearings]

Brazil NSK do Brazil Industria e Comercio de Rolamentos Ltda., (now NSK Brasil Ltda.) established (production starts at Suzano Plant in 1972 under Mother plant system) [extra small ball bearings]