NSK Ltd.
CSR Division Headquarters
Public Relations Department
NSK Korea inaugurates Cheonan plant
NSK Ltd. (NSK; Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Toshihiro Uchiyama) inaugurated the newly built Cheonan plant (Cheonan City, Korea) on October 20, 2017.
The average car has anywhere from 20 to 140 needle bearings. Due to this relatively high number of bearings per vehicle, the growing Chinese auto market, and automatic transmissions with more gear stages than conventional units, global demand for high-precision needle bearings is expected to continue to see strong growth. The newly built Cheonan plant expands manufacturing capacity through state-of-the-art automated manufacturing facilities capable of meeting increasing demand in the market.
Cheonan plant exterior
Mr. Uchiyama speaking at the ceremony
Excerpt of Mr. Uchiyama's speech at the inauguration ceremony
“The Cheonan plant was built with the goal of creating an environmentally friendly and clean plant. The employees each independently contributed to the project to create highly reliable manufacturing facilities that meet the needs of our customers, and that can serve as a model for NSK operations worldwide.”
Cheonan plant features
A) High Productivity
Command room to monitor and computer control all manufacturing equipment
State-of-the-art automated facilities and equipment
B) High security
Entrances feature fingerprint controlled locks
C) Environmentally friendly
Solar power and wind power used to power facilities
High productivity reduces overall impact on environment
D) Welcoming and safe environment for employees
Eliminated grinding oil splatter, and realized quiet machine operation
Facilities use natural light extensively, creating a pleasant indoor atmosphere
Clean, automated plant
Monitors in the command room lets employees easily verify the status of each machine
NSK Korea Cheonan Plant
Location
Cheonan City, South Chungcheong Province, Korea
Products
Automotive bearings
Area
Grounds 90,000㎡, buildings 20,000㎡
Employees
200
Opening
Operations start October 2017
Investment
5 billion Yen
NSK Korea Co., Ltd.
NSK has been expanding globally since the 1960s, and currently operates 64 plants, with 70% of those being outside Japan. After entering Korea through a joint venture in 1987 (now NSK Korea Co., Ltd.), NSK established Korea Precision Co. Ltd. in Changwon City, ultimately making the company a wholly owned subsidiary in 2003. September 2017 marked its 30th anniversary. NSK contributed to the development of Korean industry through locally produced high precision bearings for electronics, and currently operates two plants, two sales branches, and a technology center in the country. NSK will continue to provide high quality products to customers in Korea and around the world.
Cheonan plant exterior
Mr. Uchiyama speaking at the ceremony
Clean, automated plant
Monitors in the command room lets employees easily verify the status of each machine