NGK Insulators Stock

NGK Insulators, Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of power products, ceramic products, and electronic products primarily in Japan, North America, and Europe.

Segments

The company operates in three segments: Power, Ceramics, and Electronics.

Power

The Power Business Segment engages in the production and sale of insulators and devices for power companies and manufacturers of heavy electrical equipment in Japan and overseas. The business also produces NAS (sodium sulfur) batteries that are used for large-scale power storage.

Insulator Business: The company manufactures various electrical insulators for megacapacity power transmission, which have to withstand harsh operating conditions, such as heavy contamination and earthquakes. Its porcelain bushing for 1,000-kV ultra-high voltage (UHV) substation equipment is a porcelain product, with a height of 11.5 meters and a diameter of 1.6 meters.

NAS Battery Business: Using ceramics, the company has developed an NAS (sodium sulfur) battery system that is capable of large-scale electric power storage. These systems have been installed at power companies, sewage treatment plants, factories, commercial centers, and other locations. NAS battery systems are also uses in the field of power generation utilizing renewable energy sources.

Electrical Equipment Business: The company supplies electrical equipment, such as line arresters, current limiting arcing horns (CLAH), and switching devices for power distribution.

Ceramics

The Ceramics Products Business Segment encompasses three operations: automotive ceramics, where it s involved in the production of components essential to automotive exhaust gas purification; industrial process apparatus, in which it manufactures products which are resistant to heat and chemical corrosion; and industrial heating systems and refractories, built on its firing technologies.

Automotive & Industrial Ceramics Business: The company's line of honeycomb ceramics, HONEYCERAM, is an indispensable part of the automobile catalytic converter. It has been adopted by automakers throughout the world and is manufactured at production sites in Japan, Europe, the United States, Indonesia, South Africa, and China. It also supplies various other products that contribute to energy saving and environmental conservation. These include diesel particulate filters (DPFs) that remove particulate matter in exhaust gas from diesel engines and exhaust gas sensors which utilize ceramics technology.

Industrial Process Business: The company is developing value-added heating systems and refractories for manufacturing energy and electronics materials. In addition, it provides corrosion-resistant pumps and valves, glass-lined apparatus, and high-temperature dust collectors and equipment for combustible low-level radioactive waste treatment.

Electronics

The Electronics Business Segment encompasses three operations: specialty metals, which deals in beryllium copper; high-performance ceramics for providing ceramic products for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; and electronic components, a business engaged in developing components by applying functional ceramics technology.

Electronic Components Business: The company develops ceramic micro-actuators for printer heads. HICERAM, translucent alumina ceramics, are used for the arc tubes of highvoltage sodium lamps and ceramic metal halide lamps.

High-performance Ceramics Business: The company has developed various applications for industry. The electrostatic chuck and heater show stable performance under high temperatures and corrosive conditions.

Specialty Metals Business: The company has used its original precision casting mold technology using beryllium-copper alloys in developing molds composed of iron and aluminum. These are used in various fields, including metal molds for forming plastic automobile interiors and tires. Beryllium copper is used as a conductive spring material in components, such as micromotors, relays and connectors, and IC sockets for mobile phones and personal computers.