Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) recently announced that it has developed a new structural adhesive product for use with automotive resin panels. The company intends to market the product, which was developed with the goal of reducing vehicle weight, as part of its Hamatite brand of sealants and adhesives. Utilizing a fast-curing urethane adhesive with an NCO/OH ratio of 1.5,...
Firestone Building Products Co. LLC (FSBP) revealed on April 3 that it has completed its acquisition of roofing materials supplier Gaco Western Inc. Gaco is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance waterproofing and heat insulation products and leads the industry with innovative silicon-based roofing materials. FSBP is a wholly-owned roofing solutions and construction materials supply subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Inc.,...
The Japanese Rubber Workers Union Confederation (JRWUC) has disclosed settlement results from the 2017 spring labor offensive negotiations regarding monthly wage and annual bonus demands to major rubber companies. Forty-nine of the JRWUC’s 58 member unions submitted demands to the companies of the unions’ respective labor forces, from which 21 unions have reached agreements. Forty-five of these member unions submitted...
Both publicly listed and private rubber manufacturers in Japan held ceremonies on April 3 to welcome their new employees. Japan Rubber Weekly conducted a survey of major rubber companies and related businesses regarding the current landscape for the recruitment of new hires out of high school, undergraduate school and graduate school in the spring of 2017. According to responses from...
ZS Elastomers Co. Ltd. (ZSE), a solution styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) joint venture between Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005), will commence operations on April 3. ZSE has obtained approvals from the relevant authorities in Japan and overseas and will take over the sales and R&D functions of Zeon and Sumitomo Chemical’s S-SBR businesses. The company will also...
Member unions of the Japan Rubber Workers Union Confederation (JRWUC) have submitted their wage demands at the group’s annual spring labor offensive, directing most of their efforts toward large rubber companies. Demands have been made by 52 out of a total 58 JRWUC member unions, with a total of 42 unions demanding higher monthly wages. While monthly wage demands from...
