NTN bearings: the core driving force of precision machinery
In the microscopic world of mechanical operation, bearings are like the silent heart that operates silently. Although small, they bear the responsibility of supporting and transmitting, and are the key to ensuring the efficient and stable operation of equipment. NTN bearings, as an outstanding brand in the industry, occupy a pivotal position in the global mechanical manufacturing field with its profound historical background, leading technological strength, and rich and diverse product series.
Centennial Inheritance: Brand Traceability and Development History
In 1918, NTN was born in Japan, a land full of innovative vitality. At that time, investor Noboru Niwa, his sales company Tomoe Trading Co., and engineer Jiro Nishizono worked together to design and manufacture the first batch of NTN ball bearings. In the early stages of entrepreneurship, NTN focused on the research and production of high-quality bearings, committed to meeting the growing demand for precision mechanical components in Japan's rapid industrialization process. With its persistent pursuit of product quality and keen insight into market trends, NTN quickly emerged in the bearing market in just a few years after its establishment, winning the trust and recognition of customers.
In 1939, NTN reached an important milestone in its development process - the construction of the Sangmei factory located in Sangmei cho, Sangmei gun, Mie Prefecture, which later became NTN's global manufacturing center. The commissioning of the Sangming factory not only significantly enhances NTN's production capacity, but also provides a solid hardware foundation for the company's subsequent technological research and product innovation. In 1954, NTN was awarded the prestigious Deming Award in the Japanese machinery industry for its outstanding performance in statistical quality control, becoming the first Japanese industrial manufacturer to receive this honor. The receipt of this award is not only a high recognition of NTN's past efforts and achievements, but also inspires the company to continuously move forward on the path of pursuing excellent quality.
In the 1950s and 1960s, NTN entered a phase of rapid expansion. With the continuous growth of market demand, the company actively expands its presence in Japan and overseas, establishing multiple factories and sales outlets. In China, Iwata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Okayama Manufacturing Co., Ltd. have successively been established; Overseas, branches such as NTN Bearing (Europe) Company and NTN Bearing Company in the United States have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. This series of measures has enabled NTN's products and services to cover more regions around the world, and the brand influence has also rapidly increased.
In the following decades, NTN continued to expand its business areas and enrich its product range through technological cooperation, acquisitions, and innovation. In 1961, NTN obtained needle roller bearing technology from the German company INA, which greatly promoted NTN's development in the field of needle roller bearings. In 1985, NTN formed a joint venture with Federal Mogul to establish NTN Bower, further expanding its market share in tapered roller bearings and cylindrical roller bearings. In 1996, NTN acquired the ball bearing division of Federer Mogul Corporation in the United States and established NTN-BCA, which improved its layout in product lines such as automotive clutch release bearings and special agricultural bearing components. In 2008, NTN made a two-year phased investment in French bearing manufacturer SNR and acquired a controlling stake in the company. As the fifth largest bearing manufacturer in Europe, SNR's profound accumulation in the aerospace industry and its outstanding spherical roller bearing products have injected strong impetus into NTN's continuous development.
After a century of development, NTN now operates over fifty factories worldwide, becoming the world's third-largest bearing manufacturer. From initially focusing on the research and production of ball bearings, to now covering a rich and diverse product line of various rolling bearings, sliding bearings, linear products, automotive components, etc., NTN has always adhered to the persistent pursuit of quality, driven by innovation, constantly adapting to market changes, and meeting the increasingly diverse needs of customers.