Kraton Develops Unvulcanized TPE With High Levels of Softness, Strength Jan. 23, 2019.- Kraton Corp. recently developed a new type of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) latex under the name Cariflex IR2GL1. Taking the form of a new styrene block copolymer TPE latex, the product is aimed toward use in the likes of surgical gloves. Cariflex IR2GL1 foregoes the conventional need for vulcanization while exhibiting strength, softness and flexibility. In addition, it is free from […]
Bridgestone Set to Launch Upgraded Line of Regno Tires Jan. 22, 2019.- Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) subsidiary Bridgestone Tire Japan Co. Ltd. recently unveiled the Regno GR-XII, a new product under the company’s premium Regno brand of passenger car tires. Speaking at the event, Director Junji Nagashima said that Bridgestone emphasizes having its tires combine strong results across seven metrics of driving performance. These are a sense of stability; dry performance; wet performance; […]Michelin Completes Acquisition of Camso for $1.36B Jan. 21, 2019.- The Michelin Group announced on Dec. 18 that it has completed its acquisition of Camso Inc., a Canadian company engaged in the design, production and sales of off-the-road (OTR) mobility solutions. The final price of the acquisition came to $1.36 billion. Through this acquisition, French-based Michelin will become a global leader in the OTR market, tying together the abilities of […]
New Year’s Interview: JRMA President Ikuji Ikeda Discusses Priorities for 2019 – Part 2 Jan. 9, 2019.- Following his inauguration as president of the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA) last May, Ikuji Ikeda has been giving significant thought to where Japan’s rubber industry is headed. After hearing what Ikeda had to say on his role at the JRMA and the hidden potential of rubber, Japan Rubber Weekly found out his thoughts on development trends heading into this […] Bridgestone Set to Launch Upgraded Line of Regno Tires Jan. 22, 2019.- Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) subsidiary Bridgestone Tire Japan Co. Ltd. recently unveiled the Regno GR-XII, a new product under the company’s premium Regno brand of passenger car tires. Speaking at the event, Director Junji Nagashima said that Bridgestone emphasizes having its tires combine strong results across seven metrics of driving performance. These are a sense of stability; dry performance; wet performance; […]
Sumitomo Rubber to Appoint Satoru Yamamoto as New President Jan. 16, 2019.- Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) plans to appoint Satoru Yamamoto, currently a director and senior executive officer at the company, to the role of President and CEO, effective March 26. Current CEO and president Ikuji Ikeda will then move into the role of chairman and representative director. Yamamoto has a long history of working with domestic tire replacements. Following this, […]Gates Unitta Asia Pushes Product Applications in EV-Related Equipment Jan. 7, 2019.- Gates Unitta Asia Co. forecasts its domestic sales for general-purpose industrial belts for December 2018 will increase by around 5 percent year-on-year. In addition to the strong sales of its mainstay products for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, machine tools and industrial robots, demand for new electric vehicle (EV)-related applications also expanded. Sales for products used in food and packaging manufacturing equipment […]
Fujikura Rubber Acquires ISO Certification for Medical Device Quality Management Systems Dec. 3, 2018.- Major industrial rubber manufacturer Fujikura Rubber Ltd. (TYO:5121) recently obtained ISO 13485:2016 certification, the international standard for quality management systems of medical devices. In contrast to the ISO 9001:2015 standard, ISO 13485:2016 comes chiefly aimed at medical device manufacturers. It seeks conformity with regulatory requirements these devices, adding in risk management, cleanliness, pollution control and other such requirements specific to […]
JSR Director Koichi Kawasaki Outlays Goals, Results Targets for 2019 Jan. 18, 2019.- JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) is intending to pursue its various goals for fiscal 2019 in a steady manner while achieving results, says Koichi Kawasaki, a representative director and managing officer. While external conditions for the year are difficult to predict, the first point of call, he said, will be in making efforts to get Hungarian operations up and running for solution-polymerized […]
Mitsufuku Industry Sees Growth With Fluororubber Compounds Business Jan. 17, 2019.- Carbon masterbatch (CMB) manufacturer Mitsufuku Industry Co. Ltd. has seen favorable conditions for its compounds business in fiscal 2018. A number of trends continuing from the previous year – such as a downsizing of automotive engines, high semiconductor-related demand and growth for fluororubber sponge – have led to an increase in Mitsufuku Industry’s production levels, particularly for fluororubber compounds. As […]
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. […]
Kraton Develops Unvulcanized TPE With High Levels of Softness, Strength Jan. 23, 2019.- Kraton Corp. recently developed a new type of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) latex under the name Cariflex IR2GL1. Taking the form of a new styrene block copolymer TPE latex, the product is aimed toward use in the likes of surgical gloves. Cariflex IR2GL1 foregoes the conventional need for vulcanization while exhibiting strength, softness and flexibility. In addition, it is free from […]
Kyokuto Sangyo, Hazama Ando Develop Paint Able to Suppress Radioactivation Using Low-Energy Neutrons Nov. 20, 2018.- Kyokuto Sangyo Co. Ltd., a major producer of rubber and resin linings, has worked with semi-major general contractor Hazama Ando Corp. (TYO:1719) to develop a paint that uses low-energy neutrons to suppress radioactivation. The new paint utilizes a hydrogen component that it contains to slow down neutrons, then sees these neutrons absorbed by a boron compound to suppress radioactivation. Tests […]Rubber Hose Production up 5.4% for First Half on Back of Strong Demand for High-Pressure Hoses Sep. 7, 2018.- Rubber hose operations in Japan have achieved growth in both production volume and revenues for the first half of calendar 2018, according to new results compiled by the Japan Rubber Hose Manufacturers Association. In terms of the volume of new rubber, production was up 5.4 percent year-on-year to end at 19,111 tons for the half, while shipment value rose 2.8 […]
Revenue From Construction Equipment Shipments Projected to Rise 1% for 2019 Sep. 3, 2018.- Japan’s construction equipment industry is expected to achieve healthy performance for fiscal 2018–2019, according to a demand forecast recently compiled by the Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA). This continues a trend from both fiscal 2017 and early fiscal 2018 wherein sluggish domestic demand has been offset by stronger demand overseas, leading to higher revenues on the whole. Alongside this […]
