Japanese producers of carbon masterbatch (CMB) have seen an uptick in performance over recent years, highlighting good conditions in the local industry for rubber refining. However, developments in 2019 have raised concerns over the current direction of the market. Looking at the figures of 24 companies under the Japan Polymer Mixing Manufacturers Association (JPMA), CMB production trended upward for 2017,...
Concerning signs are appearing in the market for rubber products, which had until recently been trending well in terms of shipments. According to August shipment and production figures compiled by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan’s shipments of rubber products came to a total value of 166.77 billion yen ($1.53 billion) for the month, falling 4.6 percent...
Michelin, Continental AG and agricultural software developer Smag are forming a joint venture for Rubberway, a smartphone application aimed at mapping the supply chain for natural rubber. The new JV is slated to begin operations by the end of 2019 and will focus on bolstering the app’s technological development and rollout. The Rubberway app has been designed to comply with...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) has started up a new exhibit at Bridgestone Today, a company museum located in Kodaira, Tokyo. Set to run until Nov. 5, the exhibit includes a number of advanced mobility designs that were created as part of a joint project with Musashino Art University. Established with an eye toward industry upheavals like Mobility as a Service (MaaS)...
Bridgestone Corp.’s (TYO:5108) Eco Loop, a hose product for use with EcoCute water heating systems, has received a Good Design Award for 2019. Eco Loop hosing is used to connect an EcoCute system’s hot water storage unit with its heat pump unit, which allows for heat exchange. As hoses for EcoCute are in contact with boiling water over a long...
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.’s biodegradable, biomass-derived plastic BioPBS has been chosen by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) as part of a special project. With this project, the MOE is looking to outsource the construction of test systems that will allow better resource circulation for plastic and other such materials. The idea is that this will then help society to move...
