NSK has inaugurated the newly built Chonan plant (Chonan City, Korea). It says the added capacity for bearings is needed to serve the Chinese automotive market and the growing take-up of automatic transmissions.
NSK also recently broke ground for a new plant in Japan as part of its push for more global bearings capacity for the automotive industry.
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NSK says 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 Chonan plant expands manufacturing capacity through automated manufacturing facilities capable of meeting increasing demand in the market.
Mr. Uchiyama said “The Chonan 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.”
Chonan 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 realised quiet machine operation
Facilities use natural light extensively, creating a pleasant indoor atmosphere
NSK Korea Chonan Plant
Location – Chonan City, South Chungcheong Province, Korea
Products – Automotive bearings
Area – Grounds 90,000 sq m, buildings 20,000 sq m
Employees – 200
Opening – Operations start October 2017
Investment – JPY5bn
