low friction technology

Advancing Low-Friction Sealing with Polymer Brushes

Pursuing higher performance with advanced surface treatment technology. The company’s core sealing products, including oil seals and O-rings, are expected to deliver both airtight performance that prevents leaks and low friction that improves energy efficiency in machinery. These two qualities are often in tension, but NOK continues to refine both through ongoing R&D focused on surface functionality, materials, and component design, centered at its Shonan R&D Center in Fujisawa, Kanagawa. In recent years, this work has expanded to include polymer brushes, a surface treatment technology gaining attention worldwide. Rather than focus solely on short-term gains, NOK is pursuing mid to long-term research to improve the performance of its sealing products.

Using Trial and Error to Find the Perfect Blend: Oil Seals and Material Design Technology

Oil seals are one of NOK's core products. Of NOK's consolidated sales of 682.5 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2022, the sealing business — including oil seals — accounted for approximately 336.2 billion yen, or nearly 50%. NOK produces 60,000 types of oil seals globally, manufacturing 1.83 billion units annually. Despite their seemingly simple ring-like design, oil seals combine rubber material, metal rings, and springs to prevent oil and water leakage, achieve low friction, and ensure durability. They are essential mechanical products for all types of machinery, and one of the supporting technologies is material design.