Survey: Rubber Product Manufacturers Voice Concern and Uncertainty Over Economic Trends Aug. 12, 2020. - Japan Rubber Weekly recently sent a survey regarding current economic conditions to 156 domestic manufacturers of rubber and plastic products. Responses were received from 102 of these companies, helping to quantify expectations for the industry’s economic outlook. In an earlier survey conducted this January, the major concern was sluggish performance in demand industries on account of the U.S.–China trade war, […]
Bridgestone Releases New Environmental Targets as Part of 2019–2020 Sustainability Report Aug. 11, 2020. - Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) recently published its 2019–2020 Sustainability Report, making this available via a dedicated page on its company website. The report includes Milestone 2030, which lays out a set of new medium-term environmental targets for the Bridgestone Group to achieve by 2030. This comes as part of the broader effort to achieve long-term environmental goals for 2050. As a […]
Survey: Rubber Product Manufacturers Voice Concern and Uncertainty Over Economic Trends Aug. 12, 2020. - Japan Rubber Weekly recently sent a survey regarding current economic conditions to 156 domestic manufacturers of rubber and plastic products. Responses were received from 102 of these companies, helping to quantify expectations for the industry’s economic outlook. In an earlier survey conducted this January, the major concern was sluggish performance in demand industries on account of the U.S.–China trade war, […]
METI Sheds Light on Japan’s Withdrawal From IRSG Jul. 17, 2020. - As previously reported, Japan left the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) on June 30. Responding to a comment request from Japan Rubber Weekly, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) explained the withdrawal by stating that while Japan recognizes the importance of the IRSG’s activities, the government determined that its own participation in the group was not strictly essential. […]
Bridgestone Releases New Environmental Targets as Part of 2019–2020 Sustainability Report Aug. 11, 2020. - Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) recently published its 2019–2020 Sustainability Report, making this available via a dedicated page on its company website. The report includes Milestone 2030, which lays out a set of new medium-term environmental targets for the Bridgestone Group to achieve by 2030. This comes as part of the broader effort to achieve long-term environmental goals for 2050. As a […]
Sumitomo Rubber Anticipates 16% Drop in Sales Revenue for 2020 Aug. 6, 2020. - Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has disclosed its business results estimates for the first half along with its forecast for the full business year through December. The forecast through end of June anticipates first-half sales revenue of 340 billion yen ($3.22 billion), down 20.8 percent from the first half of the previous year; business losses of 2.5 billion yen compared […]
Okamoto Sees Business Results Drop Across the Board Due to Coronavirus Aug. 7, 2020. - Chemical products and condom manufacturer Okamoto Industries Inc. (TYO:5122) recently posted results for the April–June quarter of fiscal 2020. Net sales here were down year-on-year 14.6 percent, dropping to 19.365 billion yen ($183.47 million); operating income was down 15 percent, dropping to 1.923 billion yen; ordinary income fell 5 percent to 2.416 billion yen; and net profit dropped 10.4 percent, […]
Zeon Moves to Launch New Positive-Tone Photosensitive Insulating Material Jul. 31, 2020. - Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) recently announced that it has developed Zeocoat ZC100, an alkaline-developable, positive-tone photosensitive insulating material. By way of its lithography and thermosetting, ZC100 is capable of forming an insulating layer on the micrometer level, and it can be cured at the low temperature of just 180 degrees Celsius. In addition to its high resolution, the product is notable […]
Zeon to Revise Prices of Domestically Produced Synthetic Rubber Aug. 5, 2020. - Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) recently announced that it will be increasing its synthetic rubber prices starting with shipments made on Aug. 17. This will see prices here rise by 11–22 yen per kilogram ($0.10–$0.21). The price hike will apply to products manufactured at Zeon’s domestic Japanese facilities, and will differ between general rubber and specialist rubber products. This will be Zeon’s […]
JSR’s Elastomers Business Posts 5.57B Yen Operating Loss for First Quarter Aug. 3, 2020. - JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) recently revealed that its Elastomers business has taken a significant hit from the novel coronavirus, with this news coming as part of the company’s financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The quarterly results revealed a company-wide sales revenue of 93.09 billion yen ($877.9 million), down 22 percent year-on-year; an operating profit of 2.36 billion […]
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 […]
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 […]
Asahi Rubber Helps Prevent COVID-19 Infections by Providing Free Face Shields to Medical Institutions Jun. 4, 2020. - Asahi Rubber Inc. (TYO:5162) is producing and donating face shields to help prevent droplet infection at medical facilities dealing with the novel coronavirus. As a recent effort here, the manufacturer of industrial rubber products sent through a free shipment to the Fukushima Association for Clinical Engineering Technologies (FACET). These face shields are used to cover the heads of patients on […]
Toyoda Gosei Develops Deep-UV LED With Strong Ability to Sterilize Coronavirus Jul. 30, 2020. - Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:7282), a rubber and resin manufacturer under the Toyota Group, has developed a deep-UV LED light module using technology cultivated over the course of various production and development efforts with blue LEDs. The module can be used to sterilize the likes of water or air. Deep-UV LEDs emit short-wavelength UV rays that destroy the genetic information […]
Zeon Wins Award for Positive Electron-Beam Resist Aimed at Use in Next-Gen Electronic Components Jun. 30, 2020. - A positive electron-beam resist for use in next-generation electronic components has seen Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) receive an award of excellence in the semiconductor electronic materials category of the 2020 Semiconductor of the Year awards. These awards are run by Japanese publication Electronic Device Industry News. The award here went to Zeon’s ZEP530A electron-beam resist, which not only offers superior resolution […]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 […]
Shin-Etsu Polymer Posts Sales Drop for FY2019 Despite Silicone Rubber Molding Products Finding Solid Foothold May. 19, 2020. - Shin-Etsu Polymer Co. Ltd. (TYO:7970) has revealed decreased sales and a mixed bag of profit metrics in its business results for fiscal 2019. The chemical manufacturer posted sales revenue of 80.25 billion yen ($746.98 million), down by 6.1 percent year-on-year; operating profit of 7.76 billion yen, down by 4.9 percent; ordinary profit of slightly less than 8.1 billion yen, up […]
