Tosoh Posts First Half Results, Expects CR Demand to Recover After New Year Nov. 13, 2025. - Tosoh announced its financial results for the first half (April–September) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, posting net sales of 499.1 billion yen ($3.22 billion), down 5.4% year-on-year, operating income of 44.7 billion yen (down 5.6%), ordinary income of 45.7 billion yen (up 1.4%), and net income of 7.4 billion yen, a 70.4% decrease from the same period […]
ENEOS Materials to Increase SSBR Production Capacity by 10,000 Tons at Yokkaichi Plant Nov. 12, 2025. - Eneos Materials has announced plans to expand production capacity for its core product, solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR)—a high-performance tire material—by 10,000 tons at its Yokkaichi Plant in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. The expansion is scheduled for completion in December 2027. As the automotive industry continues to advance in electrification and performance, global demand is growing for high-performance tire materials that […]
Zeon Invests in Taiwanese Startup Developing SWCNT Conductive Paste for Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Batteries Nov. 7, 2025. - Zeon has announced an investment in Sino Applied Technology (SiAT), a Taiwan-based startup developing conductive paste using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. The investment follows a basic agreement signed in May between the two companies. Under the partnership, Zeon will support SiAT’s plan to expand production capacity for its SWCNT-based conductive paste and will collaborate on joint […]
Sumitomo Electric to Make Sumitomo Riko Wholly Owned Subsidiary Nov. 5, 2025. - Sumitomo Electric Industries announced that its Board of Directors, at a meeting held on October 30, resolved to make its consolidated subsidiary Sumitomo Riko Company Limited a wholly owned subsidiary through a tender offer. The tender offer price has been set at 2,600 yen ($16.89) per share, with a total acquisition value of approximately 133.3 billion yen. The offer period […]
Toyo Tires Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Appreciation Reception Nov. 10, 2025. - Toyo Tires on November 4 held an 80th Anniversary Appreciation Reception to celebrate 80 years of history and mark its new beginning. At the reception, which was attended by around 700 guests from various industries, business partners, and related organizations, Toyo Tires President and CEO Takashi Shimizu reflected on the company’s long journey from its founding to the present, and […]
Bridgestone Breaks Ground on Precision Pyrolysis Pilot Plant for End-of-Life Tires at Seki Plant Oct. 29, 2025. - Bridgestone held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 21 at its Seki Plant in Gifu Prefecture for the construction of a Precision Pyrolysis Pilot Demonstration Plant for End-of-Life Tires. The initiative marks the transition from research to the demonstration phase of a project aimed at realizing circular tire recycling—returning used tires to raw materials that can once again be used to […]
Nitta Obtains Aerospace Quality Management Certification for CFRP Products Nov. 7, 2025. - Nitta has obtained AS9100 aerospace quality management certification for its CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) products developed using its proprietary “Namd” CNT (carbon nanotube) composite technology. The AS9100 standard is an international quality management system specifically designed for the aerospace industry, incorporating ISO 9001 requirements along with additional criteria that address industry-specific needs such as functionality, performance, and safety assurance. […]
Yokohama Rubber Expands Production Capacity at Mexican Automotive Hose Assembly Plant Nov. 5, 2025. - Yokohama Rubber has announced plans to expand production capacity at Yokohama Industries Americas de Mexico (YIA Mexico), its automotive hose assembly manufacturing and sales subsidiary in Mexico. The company has acquired approximately 32,000 square meters of land adjacent to the existing plant and will construct a new building, effectively doubling the total site area. Construction is scheduled to begin in […]
Tosoh Posts First Half Results, Expects CR Demand to Recover After New Year Nov. 13, 2025. - Tosoh announced its financial results for the first half (April–September) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, posting net sales of 499.1 billion yen ($3.22 billion), down 5.4% year-on-year, operating income of 44.7 billion yen (down 5.6%), ordinary income of 45.7 billion yen (up 1.4%), and net income of 7.4 billion yen, a 70.4% decrease from the same period […]
ENEOS Materials to Increase SSBR Production Capacity by 10,000 Tons at Yokkaichi Plant Nov. 12, 2025. - Eneos Materials has announced plans to expand production capacity for its core product, solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR)—a high-performance tire material—by 10,000 tons at its Yokkaichi Plant in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. The expansion is scheduled for completion in December 2027. As the automotive industry continues to advance in electrification and performance, global demand is growing for high-performance tire materials that […]
Top Interview: President Tomio Ueno of Bando Chemical Sep. 2, 2025. - In an interview with Tomio Ueno, President of Bando Chemical, we discussed the company’s current business performance, the progress of its medium- to long-term management plan Creating New Value for the Future 1st Stage (CV-1), and the status of its overseas production bases. Regarding the situation overseas, Ueno explained that market conditions in Asia vary by country and timing. India, […]
Interview: Hideki Ogawa, President of Nishikawa Rubber Jan. 27, 2025. - Japan Rubber Weekly recently sat down for an interview with Hideki Ogawa, president of Nishikawa Rubber, to discuss the year ahead. “In 2025, we will continue to take on any challenge with elastic ideas,” Ogawa said. Also actively promoting the use of AI and automation, the company is on track to develop new products and technologies that are expected to […]
Toyoda Gosei Invests in Startup Aiming for Practical Nuclear Fusion Power Generation Jul. 30, 2025. - Toyoda Gosei has invested in Helical Fusion, a startup focused on commercializing nuclear fusion power generation, seen as a promising future energy source. Nuclear fusion power generates high-output energy from CO2-free nuclear reactions, using abundant fuel sources like deuterium found in seawater. Considered easier to control than nuclear fission used in traditional nuclear power, it is driving a global race […]
Sumitomo Rubber Develops Rubber Material Compatible with 3D Printing Jul. 17, 2025. - Sumitomo Rubber has developed a rubber material that can be processed using 3D printers. The company aims to commercialize the material for 3D printing applications by 2026 and will continue to advance its development. Traditionally, producing rubber products using 3D printers has been considered difficult. However, Sumitomo Rubber has succeeded in developing a proprietary material with excellent resilience and high […]
Japan Glove Manufacturers Association Publishes 2024 Glove Sales Volumes Apr. 18, 2025. - According to the 2024 Japanese domestic glove sales volume statistics compiled by the Japan Glove Manufacturers Association, household glove sales reached 73.253 million pairs, down 1% year-on-year, nearly flat. Nitrile gloves alone grew by 14%, but cautious buying due to a sluggish market continued to suppress demand post-COVID. Ultra-thin gloves (excluding medical use) totaled 5.405 billion pieces, up 6% and […]
CEMA Publishes Construction Machinery Demand Forecasts for Fiscal 2024 and 2025 Mar. 7, 2025. - The Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) recently released its construction machinery demand forecasts for fiscal 2024 (April 2024-March 2025) and fiscal 2025 (April 2025-March 2026). The forecasts were compiled based on a questionnaire survey conducted in January among 61 construction equipment manufacturers that are regular members of the association. According to the survey, in fiscal 2024, Japanese domestic shipments […]
