SUSTAINABILITY IN MANUFACTURING
SUPPLEMENT
NSK examines how bearings have a
vital role to play in building a more
eco-friendly future
BEARINGS FOR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES
T
he inventor of the bearing is generally said to be Philip Vaughan, an ironmaster from Carmarthen who in 1794 patented a design
for reducing friction by using balls running in grooves between an axle and a wheel hub. This was just one of a host of inventions around this time which made the Industrial Revolution possible and laid the foundations for mass production, manufacturing and industrialisation as we know them today. Fast forward two hundred or so years and bearings are integral to just about every industry, machine and application imaginable. Indeed, they’re so widespread that at NSK we like to say that our products can be found ‘wherever something moves’. Of course, Vaughan and all the other engineers, inventors and industrialists of his era didn’t know that, alongside many undoubted benefits, the Industrial Revolution would also have such a detrimental impact on our environment. Now that societies are prioritising sustainability and green initiatives, bearings and other motion and control products have a vital role to play in building a more eco-friendly future. There are a number of different ways of
looking at this. There are the components themselves and how they are produced and maintained. There are the applications they are used in. There are the manufacturers behind the components and the steps they are taking to ensure they operate in the most sustainable way possible.
BEARINGS: VITAL COMPONENTS Perhaps the most eye-catching contribution our parts can make is as vital components underpinning revolutionary green technologies. Bearings are found in modern solar panels, allowing them to pivot and face the sun. They are essential to hydroelectric turbines, allowing for the rotation of massive shafts. They are integral to modern recycling machinery including shredders, separators and conveyor systems which allow for the
recovery of reusable materials. Most famously, however, they are vital
to two of the most headline grabbing green technologies out there: wind turbines and electric vehicles. NSK manufactures high- quality products for both. In terms of the former, our lineup includes bearings for the main shaft, gearboxes and generators, all engineered specifically to withstand harsh environments, variable loads, and long maintenance intervals. Given that wind turbines are often isolated, and the difficulties involved in carrying out maintenance, these core components have to be reliable and last as long as the wind turbine itself, often 20-30 years. We ensure this by making them from the highest quality materials and employing precision engineering to guarantee optimal efficiency and dependability. When it comes to Electric Vehicles (EVs) we
offer a wide range of solutions including low friction hub units, ultra-high speed ball bearings for EV motors, e-axles and actuators. We also use our experience and expertise to solve problems in this sector. For example, we recently developed a cost-effective method of preventing electrical erosion in the drivetrains of electric vehicles. Based on a unique method of producing a patented plastic over-moulding for deep groove ball bearings, the method allows EV manufacturers to make significant savings.
ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY This isn’t the only way that bearings can contribute to sustainability. Proper selection and maintenance can enhance energy efficiency, extend equipment life and reduce waste. Bearings are often seen
(wrongly) as small and simple components, but choosing the right part for your application minimises friction and power loss, leading to lower energy consumption. Of course, even if you choose the perfect bearing, you still need to engage in regular maintenance. Following lubrication procedures and condition monitoring prevents premature failures, reducing downtime and the need for frequent replacements. This doesn’t just conserve resources, but also cuts emissions associated with manufacturing, transport, and repairs. All of this allows you to maximise performance whilst also minimising environmental impact, a win win.
SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING At NSK we don’t just expect our customers to operate as sustainably as possible. We’re also taking steps to make sure that we are operating in an environmentally-conscious way. For example, at our manufacturing facility in Newark, Nottinghamshire (the only place outside of Japan where NSK manufactures Super Precision Bearings), we have installed a Stormsaver rainwater harvesting system which is designed to collect rainwater from our roof space, reducing our reliance on mains water, conserving critical water resources and potentially even mitigating local flood risks. We’ve also implemented a series of initiatives at our European Distribution Centre in The Netherlands. These include dispensing dish- washable cups to all staff (to cut down on waste) and investing in a heavy duty shredder in order to use old and unwanted packaging to create protective pulp on site. By themselves these initiatives might not seem huge, but it is our hope that, taken together, they will contribute to making NSK and the wider industry a greener, more sustainable operation.
NSK
www.nsk.com/eu-en
Rainwater harvesting at NSK’s Newark manufacturing facility, which manufactures Super Precision Bearings
JULY/AUGUST 2025 DESIGN SOLUTIONS - SUPPLEMENT 35
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