Preface
Special Issue“Strengthening the Services and Solutions Business andResponding to the Shift to EVs and Automotive Electrification.”

Executive Officer, CTO (Chief Technical Officer)

Masaki EGAMI

Against the backdrop of global warming and climate change issues, global efforts to achieve net-zerogreenhouse gas emissions, or carbon neutrality, are gaining pace. NTN is committed to contributing tothe realization of a carbon-neutral society. We are promoting research and development with a focus
on our material issues of realizing a sustainable society powered by natural energy and of reducing
energy loss. We also have advanced CAE technology, which aids us as we design our products andstudy technologies. CAE enhances the reliability of our products and our ability to make proposals
to our customers. In this issue, we feature our efforts in the areas of (1) Service and Solution Related
Technologies, (2) EV and Electrification-Ready Technologies, and (3) Evaluation and Analysis Techniques.
We also introduce three of our new products and six products and technologies that have received
external awards.
In Special Feature 1, we introduce technologies and products that contribute to the spread of wind
power generation and help improve the productivity of operating equipment. The use of wind power
generation systems is expanding globally. Key tasks are to ensure their stable operation and to curb
power generation costs. NTN has contributed to the stable operation of wind power generationequipment and reduction of operating costs by providing Wind DoctorTM. This monitoring service
remotely collects and monitors vibration and other data from wind power generation equipment andnotifies customers of anomalies and changes, thereby reducing the need for operation management andmaintenance. We have also developed technologies and products that contribute to the stable operationof equipment and improved productivity, such as rolling bearings with built-in sensors, including Talking
BearingsTM, portable vibroscopes, and bearing diagnostics applications compatible with the EdgecrossTM
IoT platform. We will introduce these technologies and products here.
In Special Feature 2, we introduce our technologies and products for bearings, hub bearings, andconstant velocity joints for automotive electrification. The pursuit of carbon neutrality is driving a rapid
shift toward automotive electrification. A key task in this is to stretch the cruising range of EVs. This inturn calls for smaller and more efficient onboard components, including key components such as thoseused in e-Axles. NTN has been contributing to the reduction of energy loss in vehicles by bringing new
products to the market that deliver smaller sizes and greater efficiency in bearings, hub bearings, andconstant velocity joints. We have also been developing highly functional and efficient modular productsthat take advantage of our core technologies in tribology, mechanical design, and mechatronics,
such as electric ball screw units, electric oil pumps, and the Ra-sHUBTM, a hub bearing with a steering
mechanism. We will introduce these technologies and products here.
Special Feature 3 introduces Evaluation and Analysis Techniques that use CAE for rolling bearing
design and bearing operating life estimation. Proposing, in a timely manner, competitive products aligned
to market trends and customer needs calls for greater sophistication and higher efficiency in productdesign work and product performance evaluation. This paper introduces a newly developed integrated
technical calculation system for rolling bearings and a CAE calculation system that semi-automates
the design process of hub bearings. In addition, we introduce analysis technology that enables reliablebearing design under conditions where oil film formation is insufficient. This technology addresses theshift toward lower viscosity lubricants which stems from the demand for more efficient machines.
We hope that our technologies and products introduced in this issue will help bring about a carbonneutral society. Guided by our corporate philosophy “For New Technology Network: Connecting theworld through new technologies”, we shall contribute to international society through creating newtechnologies and developing new products. We will work toward the further development of industry,
while coexisting with nature, through research and development activities centered on carbon neutrality.

NTN TECHNICAL REVIEW No.89

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