Tokyo, Japan, October 16, 2009 – NSK Ltd. (NSK; Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Norio Otsuka) today announced the upcoming release of the Toughcarrier™ single-axis actuator for ultra-high load applications. The new compact single-axis actuator is designed for general industrial machinery, including equipment used in automotive production.

Auto manufacturers have a growing need for ultra high-speed rotation technologies to secure output power while they continue scaling down the size and weight of drive motors and power generators in order to improve fuel economy in next-generation hybrid systems.
NSK's new ball bearings, which are for use in motors and power generators in next-generation hybrid vehicles, will deliver ultra high-speed rotation of at least 30,000 revolutions per minute, 50% faster than conventional bearings. The product facilitates miniaturization of next generation hybrid systems while enabling ultra high-speeds in drive motors and power generators.
NSK designed the new product to improve fuel economy in compact to full-size next-generation hybrid vehicles, and expects annual sales of 2 billion yen for this product by 2015.