KOYO Bearing Corporation, also known as Koyo Seiko or Koyo Precision, ranks third among Japanese bearing companies and is among the top eight globally. Its founder's name is Yoshichiro Ikeda. He was born in 1896 in Shodoshima City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. From a young age, Yoshichiro had a deep passion for machinery. At the age of 17, he traveled alone to Osaka, where he worked and attended night school. Later, he worked in agricultural machinery sales in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. It was during this time that Yoshichiro developed a strong interest in bearings.
At the age of 23, Yoshichiro returned to Osaka and opened a store called "Koyo Shokai," where he started importing and selling bearings. In 1921, driven by a strong belief in manufacturing domestically-produced bearings that could rival imported ones, Yoshichiro established a factory in Osaka and changed the company name to "Koyo Seiko." It was then that Yoshichiro officially began production operations under the brand name IKF, which stood for Ikeda, Koyo, and Factory. However, it was not until 1961 that the KOYO brand replaced the original IKF brand and gained global recognition.
In 1935, the company was reorganized as "Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd." Founder Yoshichiro devoted significant efforts to the localization of bearing manufacturing and established mechanical design capabilities. The company focused on developing automotive repair tapered roller bearings for use in American Ford vehicles. By successfully overcoming production challenges using centerless grinders, Koyo became the first to mass-produce tapered roller bearings. From then on, KOYO possessed the necessary manufacturing and design capabilities and developed products according to market demand. In the 1930s and 1940s, they developed self-aligning double-row ball bearings and four-row tapered roller bearings. In the 1950s and 1960s, they successfully developed water pump bearings, multi-row cylindrical roller bearings, and bearings for the Shinkansen high-speed railway. In 1962, they established the Bearing Research and Development Center.
Despite starting 20-30 years behind European and American bearings, Japanese bearings focused on local manufacturing processes, showcasing the Japanese craftsmanship spirit and rapid learning ability. They gradually created high-cost performance and high-quality bearing products for the market. From its inception, KOYO focused on manufacturing tapered roller bearings. Unlike NSK and NTN, which were established around the same time, Koyo Seiko started as a personal shop and did not have any government military-related orders. Instead, it embodied the spirit of "people-oriented, exploring civilian needs," which became the cornerstone of its corporate culture.
Once KOYO possessed the capabilities of local manufacturing, engineering design, and bearing research and development, expanding globally became an inevitable outcome. The first step was entering regions that were leading in the bearing industry. In 1958, KOYO established its North American sales company in the United States, followed by the establishment of KOYO companies in Germany, Australia, Canada, Thailand, Mexico, and other countries during the 1960s.
Feature & Application
KOYO bearings are used in a wide range of applications across various industries.
- Automotive: KOYO bearings are widely used in automotive applications, including engines, transmissions, wheel hubs, steering systems, suspension systems, and electrical components.
- Industrial Machinery: KOYO bearings are utilized in various types of industrial machinery, such as pumps, compressors, fans, conveyors, gearboxes, motors, machine tools, and printing equipment.
- Aerospace: KOYO bearings are employed in aerospace applications, including aircraft engines, landing gear systems, control systems, and auxiliary equipment.
- Railways: KOYO bearings are used in the railway industry for applications such as traction motors, wheelsets, bogies, and couplings.
- Construction Equipment: KOYO bearings find applications in construction machinery, including excavators, loaders, cranes, bulldozers, and concrete mixers.
- Agriculture: KOYO bearings are utilized in agricultural equipment like tractors, harvesters, sprayers, and irrigation systems.
- Power Generation: KOYO bearings are used in power generation equipment such as turbines, generators, and wind turbines.
- Mining and Quarrying: KOYO bearings are employed in mining and quarrying equipment, including crushers, screens, conveyors, and excavators.
- Steel Industry: KOYO bearings find applications in steel mills for rolling mills, continuous casting machines, and steel processing equipment.
- Marine: KOYO bearings are used in marine applications, including propulsion systems, winches, steering systems, and deck machinery.
Product Portfolio
KOYO offers a comprehensive bearing portfolio that includes a wide range of bearing types, sizes, and configurations to cater to diverse industry requirements.
- Ball Bearings: KOYO manufactures various types of ball bearings, including deep groove ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, self-aligning ball bearings, and thrust ball bearings.
- Roller Bearings: KOYO produces different types of roller bearings, such as cylindrical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, spherical roller bearings, and needle roller bearings.
- Bearing Units: KOYO provides bearing units, which are ready-to-mount bearing assemblies comprising a bearing and housing. These units are designed for specific applications and can simplify installation and maintenance processes.
- Automotive Bearings: KOYO specializes in automotive bearings, including wheel hub units, clutch release bearings, tensioner and idler bearings, and air conditioning compressor bearings.
- Precision Bearings: KOYO offers precision bearings that are designed for high-performance applications requiring tight tolerances, low noise, and smooth operation. These include precision ball bearings and precision roller bearings.
- Spherical Plain Bearings: KOYO manufactures spherical plain bearings, also known as radial spherical plain bearings or maintenance-free spherical plain bearings. These bearings are used in applications requiring rotational movement and oscillating motion.
- Thrust Bearings: KOYO produces thrust bearings that can accommodate axial loads and provide high axial rigidity. These include thrust ball bearings and thrust roller bearings.
- Electric Motor Bearings: KOYO offers specialized bearings for electric motors, including high-speed bearings, insulated bearings, and bearings with optimized designs for motor applications.
- Agricultural Bearings: KOYO manufactures bearings specifically designed for agricultural equipment, such as disc harrows, planters, tillers, and balers.
- Other Specialized Bearings: KOYO also produces specialized bearings for specific applications, including water pump bearings, conveyor bearings, gearbox bearings, and more.
