IKO
IKO is a trademark of NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD., a leading Japanese manufacturer and supplier of needle bearings and roller guides for linear motion systems.
NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD. was founded on February 10, 1950. Currently, the company has a staff of 739 people. The main field of activity of the company is the development and manufacture of machine components, bearings and bearing units. All production is certified according to ISO 9001 & 14001. The company’s product line includes both miniature cam followers and linear motion systems weighing up to 98 tons. The company sees its mission in the development of high-quality, high-value products that best meet the needs of customers. NIPPON THOMPSON CO. has a wide network of trading partners all over the world: in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
The IKO brand combines three product series:
1. Needle roller bearings
IKO was the first company in Japan to initiate the development of needle roller bearings. The needle bearings launched by the company have competed with the previously dominant ball bearings, surpassing them in economy, reliability, performance and compactness. Currently, the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of a large, annually replenished range of high-quality needle bearings. The main consumers of the company’s products are automotive and machine-building plants, manufacturers of tools, electrical and office equipment.
All products of a wide range are manufactured in small batches and supplied to customers through an extensive sales network.
2. Roller guides for linear motion systems.
The company’s developments in the field of bearings have found application in the design of linear motion systems, which have expanded the use of bearings from the region of rotation to the region of sliding. IKO’s reputation as a reliable designer of linear motion guides has enabled the company to successfully promote its products in high-precision applications such as semiconductor manufacturing. IKO-branded products of the Long-term Maintenance Free series reduce the hours of work needed to control lubrication levels and ensure trouble-free operation of mechanisms in the absence of additional lubrication for 5 years.
3. Mechatronics.
The products included in the Mechatronics series are the result of the integration of solutions in the field of precision and electronic development. Complex devices combine the IKO Linear Motion Series with electronics.
The competitive advantages of the IKO trademark include the possibility of combining various products of the company with the possibility of subsequent replacement and addition, short delivery times, a high level of accuracy, and versatility in types, sizes and materials.