Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) announced on Oct. 16 that it has decided on the name Susym for a new polymer that combines rubber with resin at a molecular level. The name comes from the words “sustain,” “symphony” and “symbiosis,” and represents high hopes for the material as Bridgestone aims to spread the word about its new development. This follows a previous...
Materials
Zeon to Bolster Cycloolefin Polymer Production
Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) has decided to boost cycloolefin polymer (COP) production capacity at its Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. The move comes as an effort to respond to rising demand for optical film. Through this project, Zeon intends to increase its production capacity for this highly transparent thermoplastic resin from a current level of 37,000 tons per year up...
Kuraray Adopts Rehiring System for Former Employees
Chemical manufacturer Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) launched a new system on Sept. 20 to offer re-employment opportunities to those who have left the company. Kuraray also introduced a social networking system (SNS) that enables the exchange of information with former career track employees to exchange information to help them get back up to speed with work. When an employee wishes...
Denka Moves to Increase Singaporean Production of MS Resin
Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) recently announced that it will stop producing its Denka Styrol line of general-purpose polystyrene resin at consolidated subsidiary Denka Singapore Pvt. Ltd. (DSPL). By then carrying out facility remodeling, the company will use the location to instead bolster its production capacity for MS resin going forward. Approximately 2.7 billion yen ($25.02 million) will be invested to...
JSR Launches New SBR Material With Major Improvements to Strength, Wear Resistance, Durability
JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) has developed and launched a new styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) material that offers significant improvements to strength, wear resistance and durability. The company is marketing this SBR for use in tires, and is producing the material using the solution polymerization method at its Yokkaichi Plant in Mie Prefecture. In applications for fuel-efficient tires, this new SBR is able...

BASF Opens New Creation Center in Yokohama
BASF SE recently announced that it has opened a Creation Center in Japan, establishing this as part of its existing Yokohama Innovation Center (YIC). The new center will serve to take customer concepts and ideas and turn these into more concrete solutions. Set to focus on the likes of resin- and urethane-based materials, the new Creation Center will provide resources...