What Tsubaki Nakashima does

Tsubaki Nakashima is a specialty industrial manufacturer of precision ceramic balls, with its core product being HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls used in high-precision bearing applications. The company serves three primary end-use segments: electric vehicle drivetrains (where it addresses NVH and 800V architecture requirements), machine tool bearings, and wind power generation equipment. It is listed among key global manufacturers in the HIP Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball market alongside Toshiba Materials, CoorsTek, Ortech Ceramics, Sinoma Advanced Nitride Ceramics, and Shanghai Fanlian Technology, competing in a market valued at USD 113 million in 2025.

The company appears to operate as part of the broader Tsubaki Group (TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.), a publicly traded Japanese industrial conglomerate headquartered in Katsuragi, Japan, founded in 1939. Through the Tsubaki Group platform, the company benefits from a global distribution and manufacturing footprint spanning 24+ countries across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa, with the broader group offering complementary product lines including industrial chain and sprockets, cable carriers, motion control systems, and mobility drivetrain components. Revenue is generated through B2B sales of precision engineered components to industrial OEMs, though pricing, contract terms, and revenue splits are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Tsubaki Nakashima

Legal name

TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.

Website

https://tsubaki.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Tsubaki Nakashima manufactures HIP Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls for precision bearings in electric vehicle drivetrains, machine tools, and wind power applications, operating as part of the global Tsubaki Group (TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Power Transmission Components

NAICS

Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562)

akta.pro primary industry

Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gearmotors, Gearboxes & Speed Reducers (IMAGACAF), Material Handling & Industrial Lift Vehicle Manufacturing (Forklifts/Telehandlers/Reach Stackers) (IMACAFAD)

Keywords

• Industrial chains and sprockets
• Ceramic ball bearings
• Motion control systems
• Cable carriers
• Materials handling equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Katsuragi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Tsubaki Nakashima manufactures and supplies mechanical power transmission and motion-control components, including industrial chains and sprockets, cable carriers, motion control systems, materials handling systems, chip/coolant/scrap conveyors, and drivetrain components for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles. It also manufactures HIP Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls for precision bearing applications in electric vehicles, machine tools, and wind power generation.

Product overview

Tsubaki Nakashima operates as a diversified industrial machinery manufacturer offering a portfolio of mechanical power transmission and motion control products. The core product lineup includes Industrial Chain & Sprockets, Cable Carriers, Motion Control systems, and specialized conveyors for chip/coolant/scrap removal. The company also serves the mobility sector with drivetrain components for both four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles. Additionally, the company manufactures HIP Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls for precision bearing applications in new energy vehicles, machine tools, and wind power systems. The product architecture follows a platform-plus-module approach, with each product category serving distinct industrial applications while sharing common engineering capabilities in precision manufacturing and materials science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Chain & Sprockets Mechanical power transmission components including chains and sprockets for industrial applications.
• Cable Carriers Energy chain systems that protect and guide cables and hoses in motion applications.
• Motion Control Precision motion control systems and components for automated applications.
• Mobility (four-wheel vehicle) Automotive drivetrain components and systems for four-wheel vehicles.
• Mobility (two-wheel vehicle) Drivetrain components and systems for motorcycles and two-wheel vehicles.
• Materials Handling Systems Systems for handling and transporting materials in industrial environments.
• Chip, Coolant and Scrap Conveyors Conveyor systems designed to remove chips, coolant, and scrap from machine tools.
• HIP Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls High-performance ceramic balls for bearings used in automotive, machine tool, and wind power applications, manufactured using Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) technology.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• NSK: Major Japanese bearing manufacturer with global reach and ceramic hybrid bearing offerings. Comparable geographic base and end-market exposure to Tsubaki Nakashima's automotive and industrial segments.
• Timken: US-based engineered bearings and power transmission manufacturer. Comparable product categories in mechanical power transmission and industrial bearings serving similar end markets globally.
• NTN Corporation: Japanese bearing and drivetrain manufacturer with ceramic bearing products. Competes with Tsubaki Nakashima's motion control and mobility drivetrain components across industrial and automotive end markets.
• SKF: Global bearing and rotational equipment incumbent that offers ceramic hybrid bearings as part of a broad portfolio. Indirect competitor that could expand its specialty ceramic ball content.
• Schaeffler: German automotive and industrial supplier with significant bearing and motion control product lines, including ceramic bearing solutions for EV drivetrains. Broad incumbent serving the same end markets.

Emerging players

• Shanghai Fanlian Technology: Emerging Chinese ceramic ball producer targeting similar EV, machine tool, and wind power bearing applications, competing on price with Tsubaki Nakashima's established positions.

Direct peers

• Sinoma Advanced Nitride Ceramics: Chinese manufacturer of advanced nitride ceramic products including silicon nitride balls for bearings. Co-listed peer competing on cost and scale in industrial bearing markets.
• Ortech Ceramics: Advanced ceramics manufacturer producing silicon nitride components including ceramic balls for bearing applications. Co-listed in the same HIP ceramic ball competitive set.
• Toshiba Materials: Direct peer in HIP silicon nitride ceramic ball manufacturing, serving the same automotive, machine tool, and wind power bearing applications. Co-listed with Tsubaki Nakashima in the HIP Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball market report.
• CoorsTek: Global technical ceramics manufacturer with overlapping silicon nitride ceramic ball production. Competes directly in precision bearing applications for industrial and automotive end markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tsubaki Nakashima