This Koyo thrust needle roller and cage assembly has a steel cage and is suitable for applications with high dynamic axial loads. It has a smaller cross-section than a standard thrust bearing for use in restricted spaces. The cage provides guidance and even spacing of the rollers for reduced friction, vibration, and noise when operated at high speeds, and it is made of hardened steel for greater strength, rigidity, and heat resistance than nylon cages. The needle rollers are made of through-hardened, high-carbon chromium steel for durability and heat tolerance under heavy loads, and have contoured ends to optimize the distribution of contact stress. This thrust needle roller and cage assembly meets American National Standards Institute/American Bearing Manufacturers Association standard ANSI/ABMA 21.2 for quality assurance, and is used in various applications, such as automotive and truck transmissions, agricultural and construction equipment, pumps and compressors, and two-cycle engines, among others.

Roller bearings use rolling elements to maintain a separation between moving parts to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. These elements can be one of the following types: ball, cylindrical, spherical, barrel, needle, spindle, or tapered. Roller bearings can be open on both ends (a shaft can pass through) or open on one end and closed on the other. An open end can be sealed or shielded to protect the bearing from solid contaminants and moisture that could reduce its lifespan. If an end is sealed, the sealing component is an elastomer lip that contacts the shaft. If it is shielded, the shielding is a non-contact lip, usually made of metal. Rolling bearings are used in a range of applications from agricultural machinery to conveying equipment, robotics, dental equipment, elevators, rolling mills, ship rudder shafts, and aggregate crushers, among others.

Koyo Bearings USA manufactures needle roller bearings, bearing assemblies, and needle rollers for automotive and industrial applications. The company, founded in 2009, is headquartered in Canton, OH, and meets International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards 14001 and TS 16949 for quality assurance.