XJuly 19, 2022
Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.
Toshiba Materials in Major Investment toIncrease Silicon Nitride Ball Production Capacity

Yokohama--Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd. (President: Katsuaki Aoki) today announced amajor investment in a new manufacturing facility for silicon nitride balls on the samesite as its headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. The project has a budget of over 5-billion
yen (approx. US$38 million) and is expected to see production start in November 2023.
It will increase capacity by 50% against fiscal year 2021.
Continued advances in automobile electrification requires solutions that go beyond
higher voltage batteries and shorter charging times. One measure to reduce costs andimprove performance is the integration of motors and inverters. Although this increases
risk of electrolytic corrosion[1] in motor bearings[2], the problem can be overcome withhybrid bearings, which replace standard steel balls with ceramic balls with steel innerand outer races. Advantages of high reliability, excellent strength and superior wear
resistance are increasingly positioning ceramic balls as the solution of choice.
Toshiba Group has long recognized the potential of fine ceramic products, and won basic
patents for silicon nitride compounds as early as 1974. Today, Toshiba Materials, spunoff from Toshiba in October 2003, continues to advance R&D and manufacturing ofsilicon nitride balls, recognized for their reliability and for delivering the highest
mechanical performance of any silicon balls. Its experience and record of success inbearing balls that meet demands for high speed rotation and anti-electrolytic corrosion,
including machine tools, wind power generators and rolling stock, have won the company
about 50% of the world market[3]. With significant increases in demand for bearings forelectric vehicles on the horizon, Toshiba Materials has now decided to make thissignificant investment in increasing capacity.
The new production facility will be built on the company’s headquarters site, where an
old building, no longer in use, will be demolished to make way for it. The new facility
should be seen as the first phase of expansion, and Toshiba Materials is already1

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considering further expansions to meet future demand growth.
Toshiba Materials will continue stable supply of high quality products, and willcontribute to increased use of environmentally friendly electric vehicles.

Images of silicon nitride balls and bearings
Features of silicon nitride balls

Low density: less than half the weight of a steel ball of the same sizeHigh heat resistanceResistant to electrolytic corrosion, as it is an insulator

Resistant to corrosion and rust caused by acids and alkalis

A non-magnetic material, not easily affected by a strong magnetic field

1 Electrolytic corrosion: damage to a bearing caused by a current flowing through it.
2 Bearing: A part that allows a shaft to rotate smoothly in a machine. Formed with an inner race, balls, and outerrace.
3 Toshiba Materials’ investigation, July 2022

About Toshiba Materials
Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd. (https://www.toshiba-tmat.co.jp/en/) was spun off fromToshiba Corporation in 2003. With material designing technology as its corecapacity, Toshiba Materials supplies materials and components essential forsociety’s development. Main products include metallic materials, components, fineceramics parts and chemical materials. In the year ended March 31, 2021, net sales
totaled 24.3 billion yen (approx. USD 210 million).

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CONTACT: HR & Administration Group
Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Tel: +81-(0)3-3457-4874
Fax: +81-(0)3-5444-9235
Mail: TMAT-sales@ml.toshiba.co.jp

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