Thanks to the adoption of NSK's linear guides with K1 lubrication units, a timber manufacturer managed to reduce conveyor downtime by a factor of more than 12, prompting annual cost savings of more than €77,000.

An Italy-based specialist serving the optical industry is benefitting from the precision and high-quality motion of NSK ball screws in its innovative lens cutting machines. The machines produced by MEI System have revolutionised optical manufacturing processes with the most advanced milling technologies, guaranteeing extremely high quality and maximum productivity.

NSK Ltd and thyssenkrupp AG have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore a potential joint venture between NSK Steering and thyssenkrupp Automotive. Both companies will now enter an assessment phase before taking a decision on any future collaboration before the end of 2022.

A manufacturer of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles frequently had to replace the linear guides on its blow moulding machines. However, after switching to NSK’s RA series roller guides, there have been no failures for over a year, producing annual cost savings in maintenance, spare parts and downtime of €60,000.

The Newark, UK manufacturing facility of bearing and linear motion specialist NSK has implemented a rainwater harvesting system that will reduce mains water consumption by almost 200,000 litres a year. The installation will also contribute to the reduction of local rainwater run-off, helping to avoid potential flooding in the region.

A new training module for pulp and paper applications is now available at the increasingly popular NSK academy online platform. Focussing on the dryer section of papermaking machinery, this informative and engaging course will benefit all those who specify or work with bearings for this demanding application. Participants achieving an 80% pass mark will receive a certificate.

NSK linear guides and rolling bearings find use in many advanced automation systems for plastic injection moulding processes, including the industrial robots manufactured by Campetella Robotic Center.

Cylindrical roller bearings mounted to a continuous casting machine were only lasting 1-2 months prior to failure at a major steelmaking plant in Europe. To remedy the situation, the facility invited NSK’s team of experts to review the application and operating conditions, a process that ultimately led to the adoption of NSK’s sealed spherical roller bearings. The result: annual savings of €14,850 in downtime and maintenance costs.

The food industry demands many prerequisites of its bearings, not least long service life, high-speed capability, hygienic operation and robust sealing technology. Without these attributes, food plants will incur higher maintenance costs and unscheduled production downtime, both of which impact upon bottom-line profitability. To overcome these issues, increasing numbers of vegetable processing facilities are identifying NSK’s Life-Lube^® series as the optimum bearing choice for demanding applications such as washing systems.

For use in submersible pumps that handle cryogenic gases such as hydrogen and LNG, NSK has developed rolling bearings that do not require external lubrication. These stainless-steel bearings with a cage made of self-lubricating fluoroplastic are seeing increasing adoption in submersible pumps from leading manufacturers.