Okamoto Builds New Plant to Produce Automotive Interior Materials in Wuhan, China Jan. 18, 2022. - Yoshiyuki Okamoto, chairman and president of Okamoto Industries Inc. (TYO:5122), recently said that the company is planning to add 10 billion yen ($87.25 million) in investments over the coming three years. On top of setting up a new logistics base in Okayama to bolster its foundations in western Japan, the company is making efforts overseas as well, with plans to […]Sumitomo Rubber Plans Global Launch of New Flagship Tire for Premium Vehicles Jan. 17, 2022. - Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO: 5110) is targeting a March 1 launch for the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 060+, a new flagship tire designed to bring out the full potential of premium vehicles. This tire will be released with open pricing in a wide lineup of 58 sizes. Sales will begin in Japan, followed by the Middle East, Central and […]
JRMA President Discusses Recent Activities; Plans to Standardize High-Pressure Hoses for Hydrogen Stations Jan. 7, 2022. - Ikuji Ikeda, president of the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA) and chairman of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110), spoke recently about just what the JRMA has been up to of late. For one, he noted how a centerpiece of the association’s activities last year was getting the manufacture of rubber products added as an occupation type under Japan’s Technical Intern […]TOYO TIRE Donates $50,000 Toward Recovery in Tornado-Stricken US Region Jan. 6, 2022. - Toyo Tire Corp. (TYO:5105) recently donated $50,000 to areas of the southern and midwestern U.S. stricken by massive tornadoes. Administered through the Warren County Public Schools Disaster Relief Fund for Families, the donation is aimed at offering sympathy to the victims and helping with recovery and reconstruction efforts for the affected areas. A spokesperson for Toyo Tires offered prayerful wishes […]
Sumitomo Rubber Plans Global Launch of New Flagship Tire for Premium Vehicles Jan. 17, 2022. - Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO: 5110) is targeting a March 1 launch for the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 060+, a new flagship tire designed to bring out the full potential of premium vehicles. This tire will be released with open pricing in a wide lineup of 58 sizes. Sales will begin in Japan, followed by the Middle East, Central and […]
Yokohama Rubber Plans Domestic Price Hike on All Aftermarket Tires Starting April Jan. 13, 2022. - Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) is set to revise its manufacturer’s selling prices for domestic aftermarket tires. The change will apply to all tire categories in the Japanese aftermarket sector – including summer, winter and all-season tires – as well as to tubes and flaps. Summer tires, all-season tires, tubes and flaps will see the adjustment made on April 1, […]
Okamoto Builds New Plant to Produce Automotive Interior Materials in Wuhan, China Jan. 18, 2022. - Yoshiyuki Okamoto, chairman and president of Okamoto Industries Inc. (TYO:5122), recently said that the company is planning to add 10 billion yen ($87.25 million) in investments over the coming three years. On top of setting up a new logistics base in Okayama to bolster its foundations in western Japan, the company is making efforts overseas as well, with plans to […]
Mitsuboshi Belting Sets up New Building for Twisting of Tensile Cords Jan. 14, 2022. - Transmission belt manufacturer Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. (TYO:5192) has finished constructing a new building for the twisting of tensile cords at its Shiga Plant in Takashima, Shiga. Coming in at an investment of 900 million yen ($7.91 million), the new building has a total floor area of 2,327 square meters and is slated to begin operations this April. The investment here […]Ube Industries Plans New Plant to Produce Polyimide Film for LCD TVs and Smartphones Jan. 5, 2022. - Ube Industries Ltd. (TYO:4208) has decided to build a new plant to manufacture Upilex polyimide film at its Ube Chemical Factory in Yamaguchi Prefecture. This comes as the film faces growing demand for use in the circuit boards of OLED smartphone displays and LCD TVs. Scheduled to begin trial operation in October 2024, the new facility will be equipped with […]
Sumitomo Riko Starts Using Carbon-Neutral City Gas Dec. 20, 2021. - Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) recently announced that it has started to introduce carbon-neutral city gas supplied by Toho Gas Co. Ltd. (TYO:9533) to its facilities earlier this month. This comes as Sumitomo Riko’s first such initiative, with the company aiming to help bring about a sustainable society through the adoption of cleaner energy. The city gas introduced here sees […]
Sumitomo Riko President Shines Light on Plans to Get Results From Structural Reform Starting 2023 Jan. 12, 2022. - Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) President Kazushi Shimizu recently spoke about current efforts being made by the company, highlighting here the good progress being made on the structural reform it has been pursuing of late. And with this in mind, plans going forward are to achieve growth for both auto parts and general industrial products, he said. Shimizu noted here […]Zeon President Kimiaki Tanaka Sees 2022 as Year to Take Next Step Forward Jan. 11, 2022. - Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) President Kimiaki Tanaka recently expressed very high hopes for fiscal 2022 as a year for the company to take its next step forward. Beyond just business expansion, the company intends to use the year to pursue efforts such as the formulation of a master plan for reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Giving his broad outlook for Zeon […]
Yokohama Rubber Donates 40 Tires to Mie Prefecture for Use on Vaccine Transport Vehicles Jun. 18, 2021. - Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.’s (TYO:5101) Mie Plant has donated 40 tires for vaccine transport vehicles to Mie Prefecture, providing these on June 1. This comes as part of the plant’s efforts to help out the local community and support medical countermeasures against COVID-19. The donated tires have been fitted to official vehicles used for transporting COVID-19 vaccines to hospitals, health […]Bando Chemical Offers Employees Paid Leave for COVID-19 Vaccination Jun. 10, 2021. - Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195) is bringing in special paid leave days for its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. By providing this paid leave, the transportation and conveyor belts manufacturer aims to reduce health risks from COVID-19 and help prevent its spread. However, the company will only recommend vaccination rather than require it, leaving it up to each individual […]
Bando Chemical Launches New Device to Monitor Swallowing Habits Nov. 10, 2021. - Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195) launched sales last month for B4S, a health care device in the form of a swallowing monitor that utilizes the company’s proprietary C-Stretch stretchable strain sensor. The new product is able to easily perceive throat movement: the B4S device is pressed against the throat, with its embedded C-Stretch stretchable strain sensor then perceiving throat movement […]
Toyoda Gosei Develops New Airbag to Protect Pedestrians Oct. 28, 2021. - Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:7282) has developed what has been dubbed a “pedestrian protection airbag,” which serves to protect the head of any pedestrian hit by a fitted vehicle. This marks the company’s first entry into the field of airbags aimed at protecting pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. The highest mortality rate among Japanese traffic accidents is seen in […]
Asahi Kasei Records Major YoY Increases in First-Half Performance on Back of Material Segment Nov. 17, 2021. - Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) has posted its business results for the first half of fiscal 2021, revealing a 19.4 percent year-on-year increase in sales – reaching 1.18 trillion yen ($10.27 billion) – and a 47.4 percent increase in operating income, 113.14 billion yen. Ordinary income too was up, marking a 53.9 percent increase to 119.23 billion yen; as was net […]
Tokai Carbon Sees January–September Sales Revenue Rise 28% Year-on-Year Nov. 8, 2021. - Carbon black manufacturer Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd. (TYO:5301) has posted its business results for the first three quarters of fiscal 2021, revealing 185.1 billion yen ($1.63 billion) in sales revenue, up 28 percent year-on-year, and 17.67 billion yen in operating income, up 137.9 percent. Looking at individual segments, the company’s carbon black business generated 72.26 billion yen in sales revenue, […]
