NIPPON THOMPSON EUROPE B.V. (IKO)

The company was founded in 1950 and has built up numerous proprietary technologies and a wealth of experience, which it uses to develop innovative products. Nippon Thompson has become an established leader in three motion specializations: needle bearings, linear motion products, and mechatronic products. These products, marketed under the brand name IKO, have gained a reputation worldwide for high quality and innovative features. Since Nippon Thompson became the first Japanese manufacturer of needle bearings in 1959, it has built a world-class reputation as an innovative producer of high-quality precision bearing products. Utilizing their expertise and technology from years of experience in manufacturing needle bearings, they have developed linear guide units that combine carriages and guide rails. Since the introduction of their first linear roller guide unit, or Linear Way, in 1978, these products have become essential components of industrial robots, numerically controlled machine tools, and other advanced equipment used in the semiconductor industry. Specifically for these demanding applications, Nippon Thompson has developed a wide range of products made from stainless steel and equipped with special lubrication, suitable for clean room environments.