Railways
NSK supplies railway vehicles with a wide variety of bearings for wheel axles, drive units, and traction motors. NSK bearings offer high performance, high reliability, and long periods of maintenance-free service to support rail companies in providing quick, safe, and dependable transport.
Our bearings have a long history in Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains, from the first 0 series right up to the latest sets. We supply Shinkansen trains with bearings that use oil-bath lubrication and sealed bearings with grease. Since axle bearings are instrumental to train safety, we developed and equipped bearings with condition-monitoring sensors for practical use.
In addition, our proprietary high-reliability tapered roller bearings have a long track record. Because drive units face harsh vibrations, these bearings undergo a soft nitriding treatment to increase cage strength. They also feature specifications that improve seizure resistance on the rib face.
NSK is also highly sensitive to changing industry needs. Trains are getting faster and faster—To maintain reliability at high speeds, we developed cylindrical roller bearings with ribs specially designed for drive units that use double helical gears.
For longer periods without maintenance, we developed specialized cages with excellent grease replenishing capabilities. Damage caused by electric erosion is another big maintenance issue, yet here too we deliver solutions in the form of ceramic and resin insulated bearings.
As proof of our commitment to quality in all our products, we continue to be certified by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and in 2018 obtained ISO/TS22163 (prev. IRIS) certification for business management system requirements for rail organizations.