Gasgoo Munich-On Oct. 16, NSK announced the development of a new electro-hydraulic booster. The device uses a ball-screw drive to generate hydraulic pressure, resolving the traditional challenge of balancing energy efficiency with high-speed operation in conventional hydraulic generators. A market launch is slated for fiscal 2027.
Image source: NSK
On the technical front, the booster converts a motor’s rotary motion into linear motion via a ball screw, pressurizing the fluid to generate hydraulic force. Unlike conventional pumps that run continuously, the unit produces pressure only on demand. In a machine-tool spindle tool-release mechanism, for instance, power consumption drops by roughly 89% — saving an estimated 815 kg of CO₂ emissions per machine annually.
When it comes to operating efficiency, the ball-screw drive’s rapid response enables quick hydraulic supply. Applied to that same machine-tool tool-release mechanism, hydraulic generation time shrinks from roughly 1 second with conventional pneumatic-hydraulic units to about 0.2 seconds — effectively cutting tool-change times. Moreover, the design is more compact than standard hydraulic pumps, saving equipment space and fitting installations where room is tight or piping is difficult to route.
NSK plans to showcase the product at the 33rd Japan International Machine Tool Fair, held at the Tokyo Big Sight from Oct. 26 to 31, 2026. According to the company’s research, using a ball screw to generate hydraulic pressure is a global first among major hydraulic-equipment manufacturers as of August 2026. Going forward, the booster will target machine tools, hydraulic presses, and industrial robots — helping manufacturing equipment cut energy use and increase productivity.
