EZO Bearings

EZO Bearings, under Sapporo Precision Bearings Inc., specializes in ultra-precise miniature and medium-sized bearings.

EZO Bearings

EZO Bearings is the international brand of Sapporo Precision Inc., the sales management division of the Kitanihon Seiki Group, a specialist in high-precision ball bearings based in Hokkaido, Japan. From its base in Sapporo, the group supplies extra-miniature, miniature, and small bearings, as well as flanged bearings, extra-thin-section bearings, and large stainless-steel bearings to customers in more than 30 countries. With approximately 1,300 standard models and around 57,000 individual specifications, the EZO brand offers one of the broadest portfolios of miniature bearings on the market, delivering reliable performance in space-constrained and demanding applications.

EZO Bearings Catalog

About EZO Bearings

The roots of EZO go back to August 1960, when Johoku Bearing Kogyo Co., Ltd. was founded in Sapporo by Eiichi Kobayashi as a trading company specializing in bearings. In 1974, the company’s capital was increased to 22.65 million yen, and in 1984, the trade name was changed to Sapporo Precision Inc.

SPPC

To support growing global demand for miniature ball bearings, Kitanihon Seiki Co., Ltd. was established in Hokkaido as the manufacturing arm of the group, focusing on ultra-precise miniature and small bearings. Over time, the EZO brand was created to represent this product family worldwide. Today, Sapporo Precision manages global sales and logistics while Kitanihon Seiki oversees design, manufacturing, and quality assurance of EZO Bearings

EZO Bearing Products

EZO Bearings are the result of decades of investment in high-precision processing technologies. The group combines advanced machine tools with in-house know-how to machine bearing raceways and rolling elements to extremely fine tolerances. Super-finishing processes enable surface roughness on the raceway down to approximately 10 nm (0.01 μm), which contributes to low noise, low friction, and long service life.

SPB manufactures a wide range of temperature bearings that use dimensional stabilization and special grease. Also available are hybrid bearings that use ceramic balls to achieve high speed and have electrical insulation properties. SPB also manufactures food machinery bearings made of stainless steel with food-grade grease and special contact seals.

Building on the product families already highlighted in the original article — miniature and extra-miniature ball bearings, thrust bearings, precision angular contact bearings, flanged bearings, and extra-thin type bearings EZO’s range includes additional specialized designs tailored to specific operating conditions:

SPB Low-noise bearings with optimized raceway geometry and surface finish for quiet running.

Low-dust bearings employing fluorine-based greases and fluoro-rubber seals for clean environments.

Wide-temperature bearings using dimensional stabilization treatments and special greases for high- and low-temperature operation.

Hybrid bearings combining ceramic balls with steel rings for high-speed capability and electrical insulation.

Food-contact stainless-steel bearings filled with food-grade grease and, where required, fitted with FKM seals for excellent resistance to heat, oils, and chemicals.

Using high-grade bearing steel and corrosion-resistant stainless steel, EZO can supply open, shielded, or sealed configurations with various internal clearances to match the customer’s application and operating environment.

Quality and reliability

Sapporo Precision operates a quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2015, and the Kitanihon Seiki Group holds additional certifications, including IATF 16949 for automotive-related quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management.

Manufacturing and quality control departments work together to inspect each product characteristic, dimensions, precision, noise level, friction properties, material texture, mechanical properties, and fatigue life using roundness testers, roughness and shape measuring devices, noise testers, electron microscopes, tensile and compression testers, and bearing life test rigs. Visual inspection by experienced technicians complements automated measurement to catch minute defects such as fine scratches or distortion that are difficult to recognize by image processing alone.

Applications and growth fields

EZO Bearings operate as “behind-the-scenes” components in many types of equipment where precision, compact size, and reliability are essential. Key growth fields include:

• Medical and nursing care – surgical assistance robots, in-vitro fertilization devices, peristaltic pumps, lifting beds, and wearable robot suits.
• Food and beverage processing – mixers, blenders, mills, and filling machines that demand corrosion-resistant, food-grade bearings.
• Industrial robots and factory automation – robot arms and grippers that require precise, repeatable movement and compact bearing solutions.
• Next-generation technologies – ICT, AI, IoT, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, where high-precision miniature and extra-thin-section bearings support energy-efficient, space-saving designs.

Because overseas markets account for the majority of sales, EZO has developed a global logistics network and demand-forecast system that keeps lead times short by producing semi-finished products in advance and completing assembly to customer-specific lubricants and seals when orders are received.

To protect users from counterfeit products, the company encourages purchasing through recognized sales channels and official sales agents.

This rigorous quality assurance system underpins EZO’s reputation for stable supply and consistent performance in critical applications.

Buy miniature SPB EZO bearings from Pacific International Bearing Sales Inc.
For more information contact us at [email protected].