Effective 1 March 2021, Brüel & Kjær Vibro (B&K Vibro) became a company of NSK Ltd. On that day, the Darmstadt, Germany, headquarters of B&K Vibro staged an online welcome event to explain the purpose of the acquisition, especially to employees.

High-precision linear guides are an important product group for NSK's Linear Motion Technology (Seiki) management unit. As a specialist in this field, the company meets the requirements of many demanding market sectors, including the machine tool industry. Many of the linear guides supplied to European customers operating in high-precision, high-quality sectors are application-specific or adaptations of standard units.

The new Tschudin Cube 350 centreless grinding machine is using NSK’s RA series of low-friction, high-rigidity roller guides, where they are helping to generate excellent levels of surface finish on machined workpieces.

NSK has developed a series of deep groove ball bearings featuring an optimised ceramic coating that benefits users of variable speed drives (VSDs) and electric motors. The insulating effect of the coating prevents current transfer, which not only extends bearing service life but avoids damage to adjacent drive components.

To meet challenges such as those presented by medical imaging systems, including MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), CT (computed tomography) and PET (positron emission tomography) equipment, the healthcare industry relies on its supply chain to help produce innovative, reliable, maintenance-free machines. Among the trusted manufacturers utilised for medical imaging equipment is NSK, which provides complete assemblies that include linear guides, ball screws and other solutions.

As a respected and coveted manufacturer of premium bearings, NSK has long been the victim of unscrupulous counterfeiters. Looking to cheat both the OEM and the user, those producing fake bearings will stop at little to deceive purchasers and boost the profitability of their illegal operations. However, NSK is fighting back with a range of measures that aims to nullify this corrupt practice.

The number of machine builders and end users benefiting from the NH/NS series of linear guides from NSK is continuously expanding in new fields and applications, thanks largely to a long service life which is double that of conventional products. This longevity is a primary advantage in an industrial landscape where minimising TCO (total cost of ownership) is vital. Maintenance requirements are reduced considerably when using NH/NS linear guides, as is the risk of expensive machine downtime due to premature failures.

NSK has introduced a cash-flow support programme based on a flexible stocking initiative for frequent-demand linear-motion products. Customers taking advantage of the scheme, which includes NSK’s extensive range of high-quality linear guides and ball screws, will be able to reduce their own stock and boost vital cash flow.

When a company’s reputation is at stake, no purchasing or engineering teams want to fall into the trap of purchasing fake bearings. Every year, NSK invests heavily in identifying and prosecuting counterfeiters, but knows that the best way to stop these bogus operations is to halt demand. With this thought in mind, informing customers of ways to identify and avoid buying replica bearings is hugely beneficial for all stakeholders.

NSK customers around the world, including those in Europe, are set to benefit from the construction of a new heat treatment facility in Japan. The move comes as part of a continuous effort to strengthen the structural resilience of the NSK Group, while simultaneously providing a productivity and efficiency boost.