SANTAN SANTIVIMOLNAT

NSK yesterday inaugurated its expanded automotive bearings plant in Thailand, costing 506 million baht, in response to its policy to turn the Thai unit the largest production hub for export in Asean and Oceania. The Japanese company set up NSK Asia Pacific Technology Centre in late 2005, responsible for research and testing NSK products in Thailand and to accelerate plans to raise its output in Thailand by investing 506 million baht to install state-of-the-art machinery at its plant in Chon Buri.

Phornthep Phornprapha, the chairman of NSK Bearings Manufacturing (Thailand) Co, said the expansion that started last year was planned to increase production lines to 30, raising output of bearings to 18 million pieces per year from the existing 10 million. The output includes bearings for wheels and water pumps to meet the orders of the parent company in Japan.

Previously, bearings for wheels were produced in Japan but part of NSK's plant has now ben relocated into Thailand.

Mr Phornthep said the company projected total revenue of 3.1 billion baht this year, of which 82% would be acquired from local sales and the remaining 18% from exports.

Local major customers include Toyota, Isuzu, Honda, AutoAlliance (Ford and Mazda), Mitsubishi and machinery-making industries. Nissan earlier ordered bearings from Japan and will shift its purchases to locally produced NSK bearings.

The company currently ships bearings to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia,, Africa, the United States and Japan. Plans are also under way to export NSK bearings to South America, India and Brazil.