Mandai, an 86-Year-Old Kobe-Shimane Manufacturing Trading Company, Enters the Humanoid Robot Development Field—Launches Bearing Selection and Procurement Consultation Service for Developers

Mandai Inc. (Headquarters: Nishi-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; President and CEO: Kazushi Mandai), a specialist industrial machinery parts trading company based in Kobe and Shimane, has released a 'Robot Joint Bearing Selection Consultation Guide' to support developers of humanoid robots and other robots in selecting and procuring bearings for joint components. The company accepts consultations from the concept and prototyping stages, supporting image submissions via LINE and online consultations via Zoom.

Humanoid Robot Market: Expected to grow approximately 5-fold (2025 → 2030 forecast)

Founded: 1939 (Showa 14) – 86 years of history

Supplied Manufacturers: Approximately 500 companies (cross-sourcing to select the best options)

Why Now? – The 'Year of Social Implementation' for Humanoids

2025 has been dubbed the 'Year of Social Implementation' for humanoid robots, marked by events such as Tesla (USA) beginning limited production of its 'Optimus' humanoid robot. Private research predicts the global humanoid robot market will grow approximately fivefold between 2025 and 2030. In Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has established the 'AI Robotics Discussion Group' and is advancing supply chain investigations for humanoid robots, accelerating nationwide initiatives.

Meanwhile, according to METI data, while startups in the U.S. and China have reached market capitalizations and funding amounts in the hundreds of billions to trillions of yen, Japanese startups' funding remains capped at several hundred billion yen. As more development teams operate with limited budgets and personnel, the ability to procure parts in small quantities, intelligently, and across multiple sources becomes a decisive factor in development speed.

◆ The Overlooked Bottleneck – Procurement of 'Bearings' that Support Joints

While AI and actuators often take center stage in robot development discussions, it is bearings that physically enable smooth movements in shoulders, elbows, hips, ankles, and fingertips. Bearings are so critical that market research firms have established a category called 'bearings for humanoid robots.' However, developers face three major challenges:

① Uncertainty in selection (too many options, difficulty choosing based on operating conditions)

② Difficulty obtaining small or prototype quantities (manufacturers often cannot supply small lots; some products have minimum order requirements)

③ High effort for cross-comparison (requires specialized knowledge to compare multiple types and manufacturers)

◆ Mandai's Solution – End-to-End Support from 'Selection' to 'Procurement Consultation'

Positioned as a specialist trading company bridging robot manufacturers and bearing manufacturers, Mandai supports procurement during development and prototyping in four steps:

① Needs Assessment (confirming application: location, load, rotation/oscillation, size constraints)

② Candidate Curation (cross-comparing bearing types, manufacturers, and alternatives)

③ Supply Feasibility Check (confirming availability for small quantities, lead times, and quantity requirements)

④ Quotation and Procurement Consultation (proposing practical procurement methods suitable for prototyping)

【Guidelines for Bearing Selection by Joint Location】

Location

Bearing Type

Hip/Knee (high moment, body weight support, continuous operation)

→ Cross-roller bearings, thin-section angular contact ball bearings

Ankle (impact absorption, multi-directional tilt, lightweight)

→ Spherical plain bearings, thrust ball bearings, rod ends

Shoulder/Elbow (high-speed response, arm weight, low inertia)

→ Thin-section angular contact ball bearings, thin-section deep groove ball bearings

Wrist/Fingertips (compact space, micro-movements)

→ Miniature ball bearings, resin bushings

Mandai handles major domestic and international bearing manufacturers (e.g., NSK, THK, IKO, MinebeaMitsumi, CCTY, HIWIN, Daido Metal, Oiles Industry, and others). The ability to cross-select the optimal manufacturer based on required characteristics is a key advantage over single-manufacturer solutions.

◆ Why Mandai? – An 86-Year-Old Manufacturing Trading Company Specializing in Solving 'Procurement Challenges'

86 years of expertise, selecting the best bearings across approximately 500 manufacturers – Mandai's discernment and procurement power

Founded in 1939 (Showa 14) and incorporated in 1963 (Showa 38), Mandai is a manufacturing specialist based in Kobe and Shimane. In an era where 'anyone can buy parts if they know the model number,' Mandai has built its business not just as a supplier, but as a solver of 'parts procurement challenges.' As a primary distributor for major manufacturers such as NSK and Daido Metal Industry, Mandai cross-sources products from approximately 500 domestic and international manufacturers, selecting the optimal bearings based on usage conditions.

Confirming availability for small and prototype quantities, advising on discontinued or alternative parts, and interpreting manufacturer-specific model codes not listed in catalogs – Mandai's core strength lies in its 'procurement problem-solving capability,' which is especially effective in development environments where prototyping and small lots are the norm. Its field expertise in 'translating' customer requirements into precise parts serves as a guidepost in the fragmented information landscape of robot development.

Furthermore, beyond parts procurement, Mandai operates a unique 'Furusato Processing Network' composed of machining partners across Japan—including Hyogo, Osaka, Shimane, Tottori, Hiroshima, Aichi, Kanagawa, and Ibaraki—enabling end-to-end support for cutting, pressing, laser processing, heat treatment, and welding.

◆ Supporting the 'Foundation' of the Humanoid Industry from Kobe and Shimane

Development races are often framed around massive capital and large corporations in the U.S. and China. Mandai, under the banner of 'From Kobe and Shimane,' aims to support the essential yet understated domain of 'parts procurement'—the foundation of development—using regional manufacturing networks and expertise, contributing to Japan's robot development ecosystem.

Mandai: A Specialist Industrial Machinery Parts Trading Company Supporting Japan's Robot Development from Kobe and Shimane

Company Overview

Company Name: Mandai Inc.

Headquarters: 1072-1 Uraragi, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo 651-2124, Japan

President and CEO: Kazushi Mandai

Founded: April 1939 (Showa 14)

Incorporated: February 1963 (Showa 38)

Business Activities: Specialist trading of industrial machinery parts (bearings, transmission, linear motion components, etc.), procurement of custom-machined parts (via Furusato Processing Network), parts procurement consulting

Sales Offices: Kobe Headquarters / Shimane Sales Office

Official Website: https://www.mandai-inc.co.jp

Inquiries

Mandai Inc.

TEL: 078-978-6166 (Kobe HQ) / 0852-52-5395 (Shimane Office)

Inquiry Form: https://www.mandai-inc.co.jp/estimate/