Mitsubishi Chemical’s Carbon Fiber SMC Finds Use in Roof of New Toyota GR Yaris Nov. 27, 2020. - Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. recently announced that its carbon fiber sheet molding compound (SMC) has been adopted for use in the roof of the new GR Yaris launched in September by Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203). In selecting this SMC, Toyota judged that the material would be able to facilitate both significant lightweighting and a high level of component performance while also […]
Sumitomo Rubber Tests TPMS to be Used in Level 4 Autonomous Driving Nov. 26, 2020. - Looking to help achieve Level 4 autonomous driving, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has built an integrated system that handles everything from obtaining tire pressure data through to facilitating maintenance for detected issues. The company recently subjected this system to proof-of-concept testing on public roads in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, on Nov. 12. This system comes as part of a joint […]
Mitsubishi Chemical’s Carbon Fiber SMC Finds Use in Roof of New Toyota GR Yaris Nov. 27, 2020. - Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. recently announced that its carbon fiber sheet molding compound (SMC) has been adopted for use in the roof of the new GR Yaris launched in September by Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203). In selecting this SMC, Toyota judged that the material would be able to facilitate both significant lightweighting and a high level of component performance while also […]
Sumitomo Rubber Tests TPMS to be Used in Level 4 Autonomous Driving Nov. 26, 2020. - Looking to help achieve Level 4 autonomous driving, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has built an integrated system that handles everything from obtaining tire pressure data through to facilitating maintenance for detected issues. The company recently subjected this system to proof-of-concept testing on public roads in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, on Nov. 12. This system comes as part of a joint […]
Sumitomo Rubber Tests TPMS to be Used in Level 4 Autonomous Driving Nov. 26, 2020. - Looking to help achieve Level 4 autonomous driving, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has built an integrated system that handles everything from obtaining tire pressure data through to facilitating maintenance for detected issues. The company recently subjected this system to proof-of-concept testing on public roads in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, on Nov. 12. This system comes as part of a joint […]
Carbon Black Production Rises as North American Tire Demand Trends Toward Recovery Nov. 25, 2020. - Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd.’s (TYO:5301) carbon black business is on the rebound after bottoming out during the April–June quarter, says President Hajime Nagasaka. Speaking at a financial results briefing on Nov. 5, Nagasaka said that demand is recovering particularly in the U.S. and Thai markets, adding that the company’s U.S. production bases have utilization rates up in the 90–95 percent […]
Sumitomo Riko Starts up Production at New Indian Plant for Automotive Hoses Oct. 23, 2020. - Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) recently announced that Tokai Imperial Rubber India Pvt. Ltd. (TIR), a consolidated subsidiary for the production and sale of automotive hoses, has built and launched a new Indian plant. TIR was first established in India, the world’s second largest country by population, back in 2005. Since then, the Sumitomo Riko Group has grown its Indian […]Nitta Launches Two New Types of Virus Filter Oct. 15, 2020. - Nitta Corp. (TYO:5186) recently announced that it has launched two new antiviral filter products: a RIM Light-branded filter for viruses, bacteria and mold, and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. These new products are highly efficient at trapping and inactivating any viruses attached to particles and the like. Both have gone through JIS L 1922:2016 verification testing, which is carried […]
Osaka Soda Sees Decline in Sales, Profits for Q2 Despite New Adoption of Acrylic Rubber Nov. 20, 2020. - Chemicals manufacturer Osaka Soda Co. Ltd. (TYO:4046) recently reported its business results for the April–September quarter of fiscal 2020, showing a decline in both sales and profits. The company posted sales of 45.18 billion yen ($434.46 million), down 14.8 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, operating income was 3.5 billion yen, down 29.4 percent; ordinary income was 3.7 billion yen, down 28.7 percent; […]
Asahi Kasei Raises Hydrogenated Styrenic TPE Prices Nov. 19, 2020. - Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) has raised the prices for its Tuftec and S.O.E. hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer products to 25 yen ($0.24) or more per kilo, starting with November 16 shipments. The chemicals manufacturer said that the price hike is due to manufacturing cost increases far beyond the range it can cover through its own cost-cutting efforts, being necessary then […]
Interview: Toyoda Gosei President Naoki Miyazaki Explains Plans to Boost Revenue in 2020 Jan. 30, 2020. - Facing a tough market and a need for innovation, Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:7282) has been making a range of moves to solidify its business foundations and pave the path for future growth. Company president Naoki Miyazaki recently sat down with Japan Rubber Weekly to give some insight into these plans. To begin with, Miyazaki noted that 2019 saw Toyoda […]
Interview: Gates Unitta Asia VP Shuji Miyamoto Details Plans for Sales Growth Jan. 21, 2020. - Gates Unitta Asia Co. is making a number of efforts to improve its sales of V-belts, auto tensioners and more across the Asian market. Shuji Miyamoto, who serves as VP at the company, recently took some time out to sit down for an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly and talk about Gates Unitta Asia’s efforts toward this. 2020 is expected […]
Natural Disasters Keep Infrastructure-Related Demand Strong Even Amid COVID-19 Oct. 2, 2020. - While economic conditions are taking a hit from COVID-19, Japan’s demand for infrastructure-related products has avoided any major slump, staying comparatively firm. The infrastructure maintenance sector makes use of a wide range of rubber and plastic products for all sorts of applications. This includes conveyor belts and hoses used for moving materials and dirt at building sites, as well as […]
Denka Research for Infection Testing Selected for Subsidies Under AMED Project Jun. 17, 2020. - Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) announced on June 10 that it has been offered subsidies for an in-house R&D effort focused on infection testing. The company has been working here to develop and test new multiplexed diagnostics technology that targets COVID-19 alongside a range of other infections. The subsidy offer came in on May 28 from the Japan Agency for Medical […]
JSR to Set up Joint Research Department With Institute of Statistical Mathematics Oct. 20, 2020. - JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) and the Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM) recently announced that they have agreed to establish a joint research department named the JSR-ISM Smart Chemistry Lab, with aims being to get started this month. Through this joint lab, the partners intend to develop basic technologies that promote data-driven materials research. These technologies will then be used to significantly […]
Toyoda Gosei Makes Headway With Deep-UV LED Light Modules Able to Combat Viruses, Bacteria Oct. 1, 2020. - Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:7282) has developed deep-UV LED light modules with the ability to eliminate viruses and bacteria. As a first step toward mass production here, the Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) group company recently announced that it will supply deep-UV LED water purification units to be fitted in water-recirculating Wosh portable washstands. These washstands are set to be launched […]
JRW Report: Rubber and Resin Conveyor Belts See Spotty Demand Amid Coronavirus Nov. 17, 2020. - Demand for rubber and resin conveyor belts remains spotty as the industry is impacted by the wide division of peaks and valleys it faces. Since the spread of COVID-19, demand for rubber and resin parts has declined for many applications, as is the case with other rubber and resin products. On the other hand, there are also applications for which […]
Showa Denko Sees Decline in Chloroprene Rubber Sales for First Quarter May. 29, 2020. - Showa Denko KK (TYO:4004) recently released its business results for the first quarter of calendar 2020, revealing a decline in both sales and profit metrics. The company posted sales of 171.73 billion yen ($1.6 billion), down 26.8 percent from the same period last year; operating income of just under 2.47 billion yen, down by 94.6 percent; and ordinary income of […]
