NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has announced plans to expand the production capacity of aerospace bearings at its Argonay Plant in France, operated by its consolidated subsidiary NTN Europe S.A. (Headquarters: Annecy, France, hereafter, NTN Europe) This decision reflects the strong recovery of the aviation market and expectations for sustained future growth.

The European aviation market continues to show steady recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, ongoing model upgrades of older aircraft to meet carbon neutrality goals and rising demand from emerging regions such as Africa are expected to drive continued growth.

The Argonay Plant, owned by NTN Europe, serves as a core hub for NTN Group's aerospace business in Europe. It manufactures and supplies bearings for jet engines and helicopters, as well as for space applications such as the civilian rocket “Ariane 6.”

Through this investment, NTN will introduce new equipment covering processes from turning to final assembly, expand and renovate existing facilities, and implement digitalization and robotics. These upgrades will be carried out in phases through fiscal year 2030 to meet growing demand.

NTN Group has long provided high-quality, high-precision products for the aerospace sector—including jet engines, helicopters, rockets, and satellites—in both Japan and Europe. These efforts have earned strong market recognition and contributed to the advancement of the industry.

Looking ahead, NTN will continue to support the development of a sustainable aerospace industry by offering solutions that meet emerging needs, including next-generation engines, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), and eVTOLs (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft), commonly known as “Flying Cars.”