Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005) has developed a new grade of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) for rubber-to-metal adhesion, coming as part of a broader company effort to develop various new grades of EPDM. The development of this new grade was achieved via a random arrangement of ethylene and propylene. Sumitomo Chemical is now sending samples of the grade to...
Materials
Tough Environmental Regulations Impact Elastomix Operations in China
Carbon masterbatch (CMB) manufacturer Elastomix Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of JSR Corp. (TYO:4185), is in the process of increasing its production capacity in China. As part of this, the company will look to take prompt measures to ensure the ensure the scheduling of its operations, with Chinese environmental regulations forcing production shutdowns on days with heavy pollution, among other requirements....
Mitsui Chemicals to Strengthen Sales Efforts for Highly Heat-Resistant EPDM Rubber
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) has recently announced that it will step up its market development efforts for a highly heat-resistant metallocene-based grade of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber in a move to boost sales. The chemical giant’s heat-resistant grade of EPDM rubber is able to withstand temperatures 30 degrees higher than conventional alternatives. Last fiscal year, the company started...

JSR Aims to Surpass Market Growth Forecast for S-SBR Used in Fuel-Efficient Tires
JSR Corp. (TYO:4185), a leading manufacturer of synthetic rubbers, is promoting its sales of solution-polymerized styrene–butadiene rubber (S-SBR) products that utilize the company’s solutions and highly functional materials. These efforts are focused on applications in fuel-efficient tires. While the S-SBR market has been projected to grow 6 to 7 percent per year by sales volume between 2015 and 2019, JSR...
Denka Plans 10,000-Ton Production Increase for Chloroprene Rubber
Toshio Imai, a managing executive officer at chloroprene rubber (CR) market leader Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061), recently revealed plans by the company to deal with globally tight supply for CR. Imai clarified that Denka intends to increase its production of the material by 10,000 tons, and that plans here include resuming operations at a stopped line within its domestic Omi...
Shin-Etsu Polymer Reports Growth to Sales, Profits for Fiscal 2017
Shin-Etsu Polymer Co. Ltd. (TYO:7970), a processing manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and silicone rubber products, has reported 79.34 billion yen ($722.47 million) in sales for fiscal 2017, up 7.3 percent from a year prior. In other metrics, the year saw Shin-Etsu Polymer generate 7.21 billion yen in operating profit, up 30.7 percent; 7.27 billion yen in ordinary profit, up...