Nippon Seiko Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as NSK) has newly developed a hydraulic power unit—the “Electric Hydraulic Power Unit”—that rapidly generates hydraulic pressure only when needed. By utilizing an industry-first method*1 that generates hydraulic pressure via a ball screw, this product achieves both energy efficiency and high-speed operation—a combination that has been difficult to balance in conventional hydraulic power units. This will contribute to energy savings and improved production efficiency in equipment such as machine tools, hydraulic presses, and industrial robots.

Industry First
▲This Product: Electric Hydraulic Booster

Exhibition Information EXHIBITION

NSK will showcase this product at “JIMTOF 2026 (The 33rd Japan International Machine Tool Fair),” to be held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center from October 26 to October 31, 2026, and plans to launch it on the market in fiscal year 2027.

1
BACKGROUND
Development Background
Generally speaking, hydraulic systems consist of two main components: a hydraulic power unit that generates hydraulic pressure, and devices such as hydraulic cylinders that convert that pressure into mechanical force. These systems are widely used in fields requiring high thrust, such as machine tools, hydraulic presses, and industrial robots.

To achieve carbon neutrality goals, the manufacturing industry is facing the need to make equipment more energy-efficient. Traditional hydraulic power units use hydraulic pumps, which pressurize fluid by rotating gears and other components, as well as pneumatic hydraulic power units, which use compressed air to drive a piston and pressurize the fluid.

However, these units have long faced the challenge of balancing energy efficiency with high-speed operation. For example, hydraulic pumps often require continuous operation and consume electricity even when in standby mode. On the other hand, since pneumatic hydraulic power units rely on air pressure to generate hydraulic pressure, they require a certain amount of time from startup to generating hydraulic pressure. Given this situation, the market urgently needs a hydraulic power unit capable of achieving both energy efficiency and high-speed operation.

By utilizing a ball screw—a mechanical component that converts the rotational motion of a motor into linear motion—this newly developed product has successfully achieved the dual goals of energy efficiency and high-speed operation.

▲ Comparison of Three Types of Hydraulic Power Units

2
FEATURES
Product Features
This newly developed product is the industry’s first hydraulic power unit to generate hydraulic pressure using a ball screw drive. Its operating principle involves converting the rotational motion of an electric motor into linear motion via a ball screw, and using that force to pressurize hydraulic fluid. This hydraulic pressure is then delivered through piping to a hydraulic cylinder, enabling the cylinder to generate thrust.

1  Significantly Reduced Power Consumption
By generating hydraulic pressure only when needed, this system significantly reduces power consumption compared to traditional hydraulic pumps, thereby contributing to overall energy efficiency of the equipment and reducing CO₂ emissions.

Take the “tool release mechanism” on a machine tool spindle as an example: when a hydraulic pump is used, the pump continues to run even when the tool release mechanism is at a standstill. However, with the newly developed product, operation occurs only when hydraulic pressure is required, resulting in a reduction of approximately 89% in power consumption*2. (This translates to an annual reduction of approximately 815 kg of CO2 emissions per machine tool*3.)

▲ Operating Principle of the Tool Release Mechanism

2  Improving Production Efficiency Through High-Speed Operation
The use of a ball screw drive with excellent response speed enables rapid hydraulic supply, thereby improving the equipment’s production efficiency. Conventional pneumatic-hydraulic systems require time to convert air pressure into hydraulic pressure; in contrast, this product uses a motor and ball screw to generate hydraulic pressure directly, allowing for faster delivery of hydraulic pressure.

Taking the machine tool cutting tool release mechanism as an example: when using this product, the hydraulic generation time—which takes approximately 1 second with a pneumatic-hydraulic unit—can be reduced to about 0.2 seconds*4, thereby shortening tool changeover time.

3  Compact Design
This newly developed product is more compact than conventional hydraulic pumps, helping to save equipment space. It can be installed in equipment where hydraulic systems were previously difficult to implement—such as in applications with limited installation space or where hydraulic/pneumatic piping is difficult to route—thereby expanding the scope of hydraulic technology applications.

3
TECHNOLOGIES
Product Technology
This product utilizes a ball screw developed by NSK based on its many years of accumulated ball screw technology, which combines high-speed performance with a long service life, thereby enabling a high-speed electric hydraulic power unit.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)