Business dealsManufacturers see need for industry realignment amid mounting costs, competitionNSK President Akitoshi Ichii, left, shakes hands with NTN President Eiichi Ukai at a news conference May 12. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)GEN NAKAMURA, MIKI HIASA and EISAKU NITTATOKYO -- Japan's NSK and NTN will merge their operations in a move that would create the world's top bearing manufacturer, the companies said Tuesday, seeking economies of scale to control rising costs.