NSK will use the forthcoming InnoTrans 2024 international trade fair for transport
technology (Berlin, 24-27 September) to showcase how its innovation in bearings
can help the European rail industry keep pace with growing consumer demands.
Among the technologies on display at Booth 270 in Hall 20 will be the company’s
latest bearing solutions for high-speed passenger trains.
Only the highest quality engineered bearings are suitable for the axle-box assembly found
on trains that travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h. NSK can already claim success in several
notable European high-speed rail projects with the company’s RCT sealed-clean rotating-
end-cap tapered roller bearings. RCT (Railway Cartridge Tapered) bearing units
demonstrate key attributes that include reliability, long service life and safety. With
innovative sealing solutions to ensure durability and optimal performance, these advanced
bearing units accommodate high shock loads, axial loads, and static and dynamic radial
loads.
Also on the booth of NSK Europe at InnoTrans 2024 will be solutions for freight and subway
train axles, including spherical roller bearings and cylindrical roller bearings. Freight trains
move somewhat slower, typically around 100 km/h, and have to endure much higher loads.
The bearing technology is completely different to axle-box solutions for high-speed
passenger trains, so design engineers in this segment benefit greatly from NSK’s expert
technical support.
Another NSK bearing technology in the spotlight at InnoTrans 2024 will be the company’s
solutions for traction motors, where requirements include power, sustainability and cost
effectiveness. Traction motors in rail transport are subject to high radial and axial loads, and
often have to endure strong electrical current and high speeds. To meet these
requirements, NSK offers bearings with insulated coatings and high-strength cages.
Both NSK cylindrical roller and deep groove ball bearings find use in traction motors for rail
vehicles since they are not only ideal for high speeds and loads, but also facilitate easy
installation and disassembly. These bearing types offer two insulation choices on the outer
ring: ceramic coating or PPS, a polyphenylene sulphide resin coating reinforced with glass
fibre. Both coatings provide a high insulating resistance.
Also on show for traction motors will be bearings that uses ceramic for the rolling elements
inside steel rings. These so-called hybrid bearings are popular where high-grade electrical
isolation and/or ultra-high speeds are necessary.
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For visitors seeking transmission bearings, NSK will highlight a number of innovative
solutions at its booth. Gearbox bearings are subject to intense shocks and vibration arising
from wheels clattering along the tracks. These severe operating conditions demand regular
bearing maintenance, spurring demand for solutions that contribute to extended
maintenance intervals and lower costs.
In light of such requirements, NSK will show a series of tapered roller bearings with a
specially strengthened cage (wider section) for robust performance and longer service life
in gearboxes. This solution is witnessing great success in Japan and is now available to
manufacturers in Europe. Of particular note, NSK will display a transparent model of a
transmission featuring both cylindrical and tapered roller bearings.
“Rail operators want low total cost of ownership [TCO] by asking bearing providers to
extend the interval for routine maintenance and grease replenishment,” explains Olivier
Billiard, Sector Manager Railways at NSK Europe. “Meeting this objective requires astute
engineering design, the latest advanced materials and robust sealing technologies to
ensure grease remains in optimal condition for longer. InnoTrans visitors should call by the
NSK booth to discover more about our latest bearing technologies that support longer
maintenance intervals.”
Complementing NSK’s product innovations, the company’s InnoTrans booth will also shine
the spotlight on maintenance services. NSK is currently exploring options to support train
operators via plans for a bearing overhaul and reconditioning. This business model is
already operational in Asia.
NSK’s eye-catching 40 m2 booth offers a great opportunity for train builders and operators,
gearbox manufacturers, and wheelset manufacturers to engage with NSK experts and get
familiar with the innovation and quality of the company’s state-of-the-art bearing solutions.
A highly qualified, international team of NSK engineering experts will be available
throughout the exhibition to discuss new projects and existing challenges.
Press picture
1) An NSK tapered roller bearing unit for railway applications featuring a pressed steel cage
About NSK Europe:
NSK Europe Ltd. is the European organisation of the Tokyo-based bearing manufacturer NSK, which was
founded in Japan in 1916 and today employs nearly 25,600 people in its worldwide operations. The products
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and solutions provided by the industrial and automotive supplier can be found wherever things move. In addition
to nearly all types of rolling bearings, the company’s portfolio includes housed bearings, linear technology,
wheel bearing units, transmission and engine bearings. The company is oriented to perfection in all of its
business activities. Its aim is quality leadership in its industry, which it strives for through a continuous process
of improvement, excellent product development, optimised production processes and customer-oriented service
processes. In fiscal year 2023, the more than 3,200 employees of NSK Europe Ltd. generated sales of over €
662 million.
