Continued advances in automobile electrification require solutions that go beyond higher voltage batteries and shorter charging times. One measure to reduce costs and improve performance is the integration of motors and inverters. Although this increases risk of electrolytic corrosion in motor bearings, the problem can be overcome with hybrid bearings, which replace standard steel balls with ceramic balls with steel inner and outer races. Yokohama Japan headquartered Toshiba Materials has announced a major investment in a new manufacturing facility for silicon nitride balls on the same site as its headquarters in Yokohama in Japan. The project has a budget of over JPY 5 billion (USD 38 million) and is expected to see production start in November 2023. 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 already considering further expansions to meet future demand growth.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, spun off from Toshiba in October 2003, continues to advance R&D and manufacturing of silicon nitride balls, recognized for their reliability and for delivering the highest mechanical performance of any silicon balls. Its experience and record of success in bearing 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. With significant increases in demand for bearings for electric vehicles on the horizon, Toshiba Materials has now decided to make this significant investment in increasing capacity.Features of Silicon Nitride BallsLow density: less than half the weight of a steel ball of the same sizeHigh heat resistanceResistant to electrolytic corrosion, as it is an insulatorResistant to corrosion and rust caused by acids and alkalisA non-magnetic material, not easily affected by a strong magnetic field
Continued advances in automobile electrification require solutions that go beyond higher voltage batteries and shorter charging times. One measure to reduce costs and improve performance is the integration of motors and inverters. Although this increases risk of electrolytic corrosion in motor bearings, the problem can be overcome with hybrid bearings, which replace standard steel balls with ceramic balls with steel inner and outer races. Yokohama Japan headquartered Toshiba Materials has announced a major investment in a new manufacturing facility for silicon nitride balls on the same site as its headquarters in Yokohama in Japan. The project has a budget of over JPY 5 billion (USD 38 million) and is expected to see production start in November 2023. 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 already considering further expansions to meet future demand growth.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, spun off from Toshiba in October 2003, continues to advance R&D and manufacturing of silicon nitride balls, recognized for their reliability and for delivering the highest mechanical performance of any silicon balls. Its experience and record of success in bearing 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. With significant increases in demand for bearings for electric vehicles on the horizon, Toshiba Materials has now decided to make this significant investment in increasing capacity.Features of Silicon Nitride BallsLow density: less than half the weight of a steel ball of the same sizeHigh heat resistanceResistant to electrolytic corrosion, as it is an insulatorResistant to corrosion and rust caused by acids and alkalisA non-magnetic material, not easily affected by a strong magnetic field
