NOK Opens Technology Center in Wuxi to Strengthen EV Development

Opening Coincides with 30 Years of Local Production

NOK Corporation (Headquarters: Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Group Chief Executive Officer: Masao Tsuru; hereinafter referred to as "NOK") established the NFC Technology Center in Wuxi, China, in March 2025 to enhance its locally driven development framework and accelerate efforts in future growth areas such as the electric vehicle (EV) market.
The NFC Technology Center is operated by NOK-Freudenberg China (hereinafter "NFC"), which oversees NOK Group's seal business in China. The center has been installed in a newly constructed Building C within the No. 1 Plant of Wuxi NOK-Freudenberg Oilseal Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "WNF"), the largest manufacturing site under NFC, located in Wuxi, China. Completed in March of the same year, the new building consolidates design, testing, and sales functions to enhance development capabilities and strengthen cross-functional collaboration. WNF is also celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025 and held a commemorative ceremony on May 29, coinciding with the opening ceremony of the new technology center.

Establishing the NFC Technology Center is part of NOK's efforts to achieve one of the key initiatives outlined in the FY2023-FY2025 Medium-Term Management Plan: “Create new growth drivers.” As a member of the NOK Group, which upholds the principle of Essential Core Manufacturing — The manufacture of pivotal products that shape society, NFC will continue to provide optimal solutions to customers by combining locally rooted development with global technological collaboration.

■ Overview of the NFC Technology Center
・Background and Purpose
To meet the growing demand for EV-related products and support future business expansion, NFC constructed a new building within the No. 1 Plant of WNF and established the NFC Technology Center inside it. The center aims to strengthen development capabilities for local customers and enhance cost competitiveness and development speed through process improvements.

・Overview and Functions
The new building is a four-story facility with a total floor area of 24,630 square meters. It houses both production space and the NFC Technology Center. The production space includes capacity for a potential 20% increase in output in the future. The Technology Center consolidates the design department, production engineering, and testing facilities — previously scattered across WNF’s factory buildings — and brings the sales department into the same location. This integration is designed to strengthen cross-functional collaboration. Currently, approximately 200 employees are working at the center.

・Role and Future Outlook
The NFC Technology Center is also a key hub in China for technical collaboration between NOK and Freudenberg. NFC will use the center to drive the development of new products and technologies, contributing to the creation of new growth drivers. In addition to high-performance seal products for electric vehicles — particularly for mobility chassis and battery applications — the center will focus on developing products for general industrial equipment, including new energy and robotics fields.

■ 30 Years of WNF
WNF was established in 1995 as a joint venture between NOK and Freudenberg (Germany). Since then, leveraging the networks of both groups, the company has continued to provide oil seals, O-rings, and other sealing products to Japanese, European, and American automobile manufacturers operating in China. In addition, WNF has actively expanded sales to local Chinese manufacturers.
In recent years, the company has focused on product development tailored to the expanding EV market in China, leveraging NOK Group's expertise in interface control technology. Alongside technological collaboration between NOK and Freudenberg, WNF has also worked to strengthen its capacity for independent innovation by utilizing NFC's technical assets. As part of these efforts, WNF has actively conducted marketing initiatives to study component applications across various vehicle models and explore opportunities to introduce its products.
Rather than simply responding to customer needs, WNF has driven forward with product development that helps shape the market. Today, products designed and developed in China are becoming the company's mainstay, with EV-related offerings, such as battery and thermal management seals, experiencing notable growth.

■ Opening Ceremony for the NFC Technology Center and 30th Anniversary Ceremony for WNF
On Thursday, May 29, the opening ceremony for the NFC Technology Center and the 30th-anniversary ceremony for WNF were held, with guests including Chinese government officials and business partners. Junichi Orita, CEO of NOK Sealing Solutions, was in attendance representing the NOK Group and delivered a short speech, followed by a greeting from Huang Mingxi, the President of NFC.

■Greetings

Junichi Orita, CEO, Sealing Solutions, NOK Corporation

This year, WNF celebrates its 30th anniversary—a milestone made possible by the steadfast support of our stakeholders. Last year, we were honored to be recognized as a high-tech enterprise, and we remain committed to driving further growth and making meaningful contributions to the Chinese market. The newly opened building will not only serve as a production facility targeting new markets but also play a central role in R&D as a technology center in China. Looking ahead, we will continue to provide high-value-added solutions that address the evolving needs of key sectors such as electric vehicles and general industry.

Huang Mingxi, President, NOK-Freudenberg China

Thanks to the deepening of China’s openness to the outside world and the ongoing improvement of the investment environment for foreign enterprises, our company has achieved rapid growth. The opening of this new technology center and production facility marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. By leveraging the combined strengths of the NOK and Freudenberg groups, this site will not only meet the needs of our local customers but also work alongside partners to drive regional industrial development in key areas such as electric vehicles, green energy, and smart manufacturing.

■ Company Overview: Wuxi NOK-Freudenberg Oilseal Co., Ltd.
・Company name: Wuxi NOK-Freudenberg Oilseal Co., Ltd.
・Established: June 28, 1995
・Main products: Oil seals, O-rings, dust covers, and others
・Number of employees: 2,318 (as of the end of March 2025)
・Capital: USD 45,000,000
・Location: No. 280 Fengwei Road, Xishan Economic Development Zone, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
・Facility area:
 　① No. 1 Plant: Building A: 28,194 m² / Building B: 21,610 m² / Building C (new): 24,630 m²
 　② No. 2 Plant: 8,551 m²
 　③ No. 3 Plant: 11,936 m²