Michelin Japan to Launch New All-Season Tire for Small Wheel Loaders Apr. 20, 2018. - Nihon Michelin Tire Co. Ltd. has announced that it will launch the Michelin Cross Grip, an all-season radial tire for small wheel loaders, in Japan this September. The tire will be sized at 440/80R24, which is equivalent to 16.9R24. The most significant feature of the new product is its ability to help meet year-round urban needs – such as construction, […]
Bridgestone Americas, Goodyear to Merge US Wholesale Networks Apr. 19, 2018. - Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) subsidiary Bridgestone Americas Inc. and The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. announced on April 17 that they will jointly establish TireHub LLC, a nationwide U.S wholesale company. TireHub will handle U.S. wholesale operations for the passenger vehicle tire and small truck tire businesses of both parent companies. Bridgestone Americas and Goodyear will use the opportunity to offer […]
Chloroprene Rubber Shortage Intensifies Worldwide, Affecting Japanese Firms Apr. 18, 2018. - Chloroprene rubber (CR) is continuing to face a global shortage. Japanese CR manufacturers are already at their limit, holding down exports to prioritize domestic supply, while both producers and users of the product are struggling to navigate a situation where there are no expectations of a falloff in demand. A representative of one Japanese CR manufacturer has said that his […]
Half of Japan’s Rubber Manufacturers Miss New Graduate Hiring Target Apr. 4, 2018. - A recent Japan Rubber Weekly survey has found that, between the 23 major rubber and synthetic rubber manufacturers who responded, a total of 1,096 new graduates have been hired in the Japanese rubber industry for spring 2018. This figure is down by 21 graduates, or 1.9 percent, from the 1,117 new graduates hired by the respondents last spring. However, 10 […]
Michelin Japan to Launch New All-Season Tire for Small Wheel Loaders Apr. 20, 2018. - Nihon Michelin Tire Co. Ltd. has announced that it will launch the Michelin Cross Grip, an all-season radial tire for small wheel loaders, in Japan this September. The tire will be sized at 440/80R24, which is equivalent to 16.9R24. The most significant feature of the new product is its ability to help meet year-round urban needs – such as construction, […]
Bridgestone Americas, Goodyear to Merge US Wholesale Networks Apr. 19, 2018. - Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) subsidiary Bridgestone Americas Inc. and The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. announced on April 17 that they will jointly establish TireHub LLC, a nationwide U.S wholesale company. TireHub will handle U.S. wholesale operations for the passenger vehicle tire and small truck tire businesses of both parent companies. Bridgestone Americas and Goodyear will use the opportunity to offer […]
Yokohama Rubber Targets Sales Growth for Highly Abrasion-Resistant Conveyor Belts Apr. 9, 2018. - Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) is working to expand sales of Tuftex α, a material that excels when used to make conveyor belts for reclaimers, which move bulk amounts of resources like iron ore and coal from stockpiles. Tuftex α conveyor belts feature the world’s highest level of abrasion resistance, which has earned them a strong reputation at reclaimer job […]Showa Glove Launches New Solvent-Resistant Gloves for Chemical Handling Work Mar. 29, 2018. - Showa Glove Co. recently launched the Showa 3415, a chloroprene-based glove designed to protect hands from the dangers of working with chemical substances. The gloves come in black and are available in the three sizes of medium, large and extra large. As a solvent-resistant glove fully coated in chloroprene rubber, the company’s new product offers resistance to both acidic and […]
Tosoh Resumes Operations at Nanyo Complex Following Minor Electrical Accident Apr. 12, 2018. - Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042), a manufacturer of synthetic rubber and chemical products, provided a follow-up report on April 11 regarding an electrical accident and corresponding noise that occurred on April 6 at its Nanyo Complex in Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The report notes that, as of April 10, Tosoh is moving to sequentially resume production at facilities within the Nanyo Complex and […]
JSR Elastomer India Starts Business Operations Apr. 11, 2018. - JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) announced on April 9 that its Indian subsidiary JSR Elastomer India Pvt. Ltd. has started operations. Located in the city of Gurugram, Haryana, JSR Elastomer India was established on Dec. 20 last year to bolster operations and marketing activities for elastomer products such as synthetic rubber with a focus on India. It is the fourth JSR subsidiary […]
Interview: Toyoda Gosei President Highlights Plans for Lighter, Quieter EVs Feb. 15, 2018. - Sitting down for a recent interview with Japan Rubber Weekly, Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:7282) President Naoki Miyazaki said that the automotive industry is entering a massive, once-in-a-century turning point. Such a shake-up to business is an opportunity for growth, he said. Miyazaki spoke on the impact of electrification and Toyoda Gosei’s strategy to deal with it, saying that although […]Tigers Polymer President Kentaro Watanabe Eyes Increased Sales, Production for 2018 Feb. 9, 2018. - Tigers Polymer Corp. (TYO:4231) President Kentaro Watanabe recently sat down with Japan Rubber Weekly to talk about his company’s overseas operations for 2017 and where he expects to see things go here moving forward. Sales for the industrial rubber and resin products manufacturer are generally in good shape across the Americas, Southeast Asia and China, Watanabe said, particularly in China. […]
Nitta Makes New Development in Proprietary CNT Dispersion Technology Feb. 27, 2018. - Nitta Corp. (TYO:5186) has recently developed new technology to be applied as part of the company’s proprietary carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersion technology. The new technology improves flow, conductivity and film strength by taking elongated, isolated and dispersed CNTs and turning these into round cotton ball-like shapes. As it improves in usability, Nitta’s new technology is expected to find an expanded […]Sumitomo Riko Lauded for Application of Anti-Vibration Rubber to Table Tennis Rackets Feb. 21, 2018. - Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) has been in the limelight after its co-development of Q3, a rubber for use in table tennis rackets, with sporting goods manufacturer Mizuno Corp. (TYO:8022). While product supply in the sports industry is a first for Sumitomo Riko, the company has been able to leverage its know-how, cultivated over many years, in both anti-vibration rubber […]
Japan Belting Manufacturers Association Releases Demand Forecast for 2018 Jan. 31, 2018. - The Japan Belting Manufacturers Association recently published a 2018 demand forecast for rubber and resin belts. As part of the report, the association estimated the 2017 production volume of rubber belts at 26,694 tons, marking a 1 percent year-on-year increase and a third consecutive year below 30,000 tons. While transmission belt production stayed flat for 2017, conveyor belt production rose […]
Transmission Belt Demand up for General Industrial Products, Flat for Auto Products Dec. 19, 2017. - The Japan Belting Manufacturers Association is forecasting 11,817 tons of demand for domestically produced transmission belt products during 2017, virtually unchanged from the previous year. While automotive-related demand has somewhat declined, demand has been strong for general industrial belting. Growth was driven by applications for semiconductors, injection molding machinery, machine tools and industrial robots. Transmission belt production from January through […]
