NSK vs Tuopu Group: Actuation compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

NSK ranks 14 on the Humanoids 100 with a score of 83; Tuopu Group ranks 27 with 74. NSK is ahead on deployment, progress and technology. Level on production, commercials, positioning, firepower and leverage. NSK is based in Tokyo, Japan, Tuopu Group in Ningbo, China. NSK: Established. Tuopu Group: public. NSK is named in 17 signals and Tuopu Group in 1.

NSK →

Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan · Humanoids · Components / Actuation · Established · nsk.com

NSK is contributing its precision-parts technology to the joint development and testing of humanoid robot components with Atom, including components relevant to robotic motion and actuation.

Humanoids 100 · rank 14 · score 83Robotics · watchlist · score 42

Scores, Humanoids (of 10)

Deployment6
Production8
Commercials10
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower10
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

NSK is a Japanese bearing and actuation maker (TSE:6471) that established a Robotics Business Division in March 2026 and announced miniaturized rotary and linear actuators for humanoids, plus a February 2026 design win supplying a third-generation smart joint bearing module (with integrated torque and temperature sensing) to a leading North American humanoid robot company. Its agreed merger with NTN will create the world's largest bearing maker (~$11.1B combined revenue, closing 2027), with both companies naming physical-AI robots as the priority battleground, and it signed a Delta Electronics MOU (May 2026) for joint actuator modules. With more than 70 bearings per humanoid, this is a components-scale play against JTEKT, SKF, and IKO.

Latest signals

  • NSK and Atom signed a strategic partnership agreement for domestic humanoid AI robot development and deployment.Automation News Japan
  • NSK and Atom will collect physical AI data using Atom robots in NSK manufacturing facilities.Automation News Japan
  • Atom and NSK will collect physical AI data from humanoid robots operating at NSK manufacturing sites.The AI Insider

17 signals name NSK.

Facts, with sources

  • [object Object]Automation News Japan
  • NSK and Atom signed a strategic partnership agreement for domestic humanoid AI robot development and deployment.Automation News Japan
  • NSK and Atom signed a basic agreement for strategic partnership on development and implementation of domestic humanoid AI robots, combining NSK precision parts technology with Atom's physical AI technology to establish integrated development and robot industry baseAutomation News Japan

14 facts on file.

Tuopu Group →

Ningbo, Zhejiang, China · Humanoids · Components / Actuation · public · tuopu.com

Tuopu sells robot actuators to humanoid robot manufacturers, with dedicated production capacity for robot-equivalent units.

Humanoids 100 · rank 27 · score 74Robotics · prospect · score 34

Scores, Humanoids (of 10)

Deployment4
Production8
Commercials10
Progress8
Technology6
Positioning8
Firepower10
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Tuopu Group is a Chinese top-3 global auto lightweight-chassis maker (SSE:601689) whose robotic-actuator unit (spun off with independent management in 2023) makes integrated rotary and linear actuators, described by supply-chain trackers as the exclusive Optimus rotary-actuator supplier (company confirmation absent, scored with the same skepticism as Sanhua). It is a Daiwa top-3 humanoid supply-chain pick (June 2026, with Minth and Sanhua) and part of the pattern of Chinese auto tier-1s systematically repositioning into robotics via subsidiaries. Revenue is >500m.

Latest signals

  • Goldman Sachs found nine Chinese humanoid-robot supply-chain companies planning 100,000 to 1 million annual robot-equivalent units.Humanoids Daily

1 signals name Tuopu Group.

Facts, with sources

  • 26123money.finance.sina.com.cn
  • Robot actuator revenuestatic.cninfo.com.cn
  • CNY 29581458675.27static.cninfo.com.cn

17 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

NSK or Tuopu Group: which is ahead in humanoids?

NSK ranks 14 on the Humanoids 100 with a score of 83; Tuopu Group ranks 27 with 74. NSK is ahead on deployment, progress and technology. Level on production, commercials, positioning, firepower and leverage. NSK is based in Tokyo, Japan, Tuopu Group in Ningbo, China. NSK: Established. Tuopu Group: public. NSK is named in 17 signals and Tuopu Group in 1.

How do NSK and Tuopu Group compare?

NSK ranks 14 on the Humanoids 100 with a score of 83; Tuopu Group ranks 27 with 74. NSK is ahead on deployment, progress and technology. Level on production, commercials, positioning, firepower and leverage. NSK is based in Tokyo, Japan, Tuopu Group in Ningbo, China. NSK: Established. Tuopu Group: public. NSK is named in 17 signals and Tuopu Group in 1. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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