Wind Turbines

Large wind turbines are enormous machines. Many 2 megawatt class turbines are now being built with blades of around 40 meters in length, and a rotor hub height of 60 to 100 meters. The total weight is over 200 tons. Therefore, the bearings used in wind turbines are very large, with bore diameters of between 100 mm and 700 mm, and even as much as 2 meters in some instances.

Very few manufacturers worldwide, including NSK, can offer the market a stable supply of such large bearings. Suppliers must have both production capability and the ability to provide sales and technical service in key locations around the world; because the wind-turbine industry is now developing on a global scale.

NSK entered the market in the second half of 1990's, supplying the European wind turbine industry. At that time, European companies had a monopoly in the market. NSK currently also supplies bearings to the United States, China, India and elsewhere.

NSK is well known as one of the best bearing suppliers, and currently with NSK bearings used by nine of the world's top ten wind turbine manufacturers, the company is making a substantial contribution to environmental protection.

As wind turbines cannot be serviced easily, bearings involved in wind power generation require exceptionally high reliability.

Standing dozens or even 100+ meters tall and designed with 20 year lifespans, wind turbines must be built to last, and that includes their bearings. NSK designs wind turbine bearings using advanced computer simulation technologies and our deep knowledge of materials and heat treatments. We also thoroughly test and evaluate actual bearings in real-world conditions.

NSK has top-class capabilities among the world's bearing manufacturers in all of these technologies. We will continue to respond to the needs and expectations of the wind power industry by ensuring the constant evolution of our products and abilities.