NSK technology achieves extended maintenance intervals reducing total life cycle costs
Building on a long history of success in the railway industry, NSK Ltd. (NSK; Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President & CEO: Toshihiro Uchiyama) has developed new high reliability gearbox bearings integrating advanced technologies that further increase reliability over previous models.
This includes new bearings for large and small gears (pinion shafts, etc.) in rolling stock gearboxes. The bearings for small gear shafts deliver a completely new level in value through even higher reliability and reductions in specialized maintenance requirements. The bearings for large gear shafts offer even higher reliability and the standard lineup has been expanded to offer a greater range of sizes to meet diverse customer needs.
High reliability is indispensable for gearbox bearings, which are subjected to severe conditions with frequent shocks and vibrations. The new bearings feature a suite of NSK technologies that significantly enhance the ease of handling (small gear bearings only), extend maintenance intervals, and contribute to a reduction in total life cycle costs.
Major rail operators in over 20 countries worldwide trust NSK railway bearings with a proven record of quality and reliability built on over 100 years of expertise in bearings, materials, and tribology. NSK has been generating significant momentum in the railway industry, and is moving to double sales by fiscal 2026 (compared to fiscal 2018).
Development is driven by NSK Vision 2026: “We’re Setting the Future in Motion,” which represents the company’s determination to create new value in mobility contributing to the development of a more prosperous society and enhancing value for all stakeholders, from employees and their families to the end user.
Development Background
Trends in the railway industry emphasize strict management and reductions in total life cycle costs. Gearboxes bearings are subjected to some of the most severe operating conditions amongst railway components, resulting in significant demand for even higher reliability products.
The gearbox transmits force generated by the traction motor to the wheelset (wheel-axle assembly), and is directly connected to the axle shaft. The structure results in gearbox bearings being subjected to intense shocks and vibrations arising from the wheels clattering along the tracks. The severe operating conditions demand regular bearing maintenance, which has spurred demand for solutions that contribute to extending maintenance intervals and reducing the overall burden of maintenance work.
Mounting and maintaining tapered roller bearings, which have often been used to support pinion shafts, requires labor-intensive end play clearance adjustment by expert maintenance engineers. This results in significant time and labor costs that increase total lifecycle cost for railway operators.
In light of these needs, NSK has developed new bearings integrating advanced technologies. Products features are detailed below.
1. Features of Bearings for Small Gears (Pinion Shafts, etc.)
i. Low-maintenance design (time and labor savings)
Using a combination of the new cylindrical roller bearings and four-point-contact ball bearings eliminates the need for end play clearance adjustment, simplifying mounting and maintenance. NSK ships these bearings with preset clearance, making it easy to achieve highly optimized results just by mounting.
NSK solution achieves significant reduction in maintenance burden
ii. Significantly Increased Cage Strength
Gearbox bearings are subjected to intense shocks and vibrations from the tracks, so cage strength is vital to ensuring high reliability operation. Drawing on vast experience designing bearings for railway applications, NSK has developed a special ring-guided cage with optimized pockets employing “R-shaped corners.” The novel design reduces stress in the cage structure by 75%.
iii. Enhanced Suppression of Bearing Creep
The inner ring is specially heat treated to ensure dimensional stability even under conditions of extended use at high temperatures. Extremely high dimensional stability delivers excellent anti-creep performance, preventing the bearing from shifting along the shaft.
2. Expanded Lineup of Bearings for Large Gears (Shafts)
Due to increasing demand, NSK is expanding number of sizes offered in the standard lineup of high reliability tapered roller bearings for large gears. Makers of rolling stock can quickly and easily integrate these widely tested standard models into new designs. All models feature high reliability design.
3. Overview of Standard Lineup of Bearings For Small/Large Gears in Rolling Stock
NSK supplies products for both high speed and low speed rolling stock applications. All rail products feature NSK’s high reliability technologies and design. Please contact us for availability in other sizes and specifications.
4. Customer Benefits of New Bearings
A suite of NSK technologies significantly enhance the ease of handling, extend maintenance intervals (reduce maintenance burden), and contribute to a reduction in total life cycle costs.
About NSK
NSK began its journey manufacturing the first bearings in Japan in 1916, and has since developed into a global organization researching, designing, and manufacturing Motion & Control™ solutions essential for mobility and industrial applications. NSK is the top supplier of bearings in Japan and is the third largest supplier in the world by market share.
Our responsive products and technologies enhance automotive performance and industrial productivity while reducing energy consumption to unprecedented low levels. In the early 1960s, we set our sights outside Japan and have established over 200 business locations in 30 countries alongside a vast network of joint ventures and partnerships in all corners of the world.
NSK Corporate Philosophy
NSK contributes to a safer, smoother society and helps protect the global environment through its innovative technology integrating Motion & Control. As a truly international enterprise, we are working across national boundaries to improve relationships between people throughout the world.
