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Sumitomo Riko Aims to Bolster Overseas Production of Non-Automotive Products

on December 18, 2017 in Materials

Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) is gearing up to grow its business for general industrial products in non-automotive sectors. These plans include starting overseas production of water-developable flexographic printing plates and increasing the company’s overseas production bases for anti-vibration rubber for use in railcars. Sumitomo Riko will establish a production base for water developable flexographic printing plates in Turin, Italy,...

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Dow Corning Toray’s Molykote Approaches 70th Year in 2018

on December 15, 2017 in Materials

Molykote, a special lubricant produced and sold by Dow Corning Toray Co. Ltd., will celebrate its 70th year in 2018. Unlike regular lubricants, Molykote can withstand a large range of high and low temperatures while preventing wear and tear. It is used in automobile pistons and brakes to mitigate friction and to control vibrations, noise and squeaking. As a more...

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Zeon Opens High-Performance Materials Distributor in California

on December 11, 2017 in Materials

Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) has established a new local distributor for high-performance materials in California’s Silicon Valley. The company, Zeon Specialty Materials Inc. (ZSM), moved into its offices in October and will begin operating in January. The new entity will take over North American sales operations from fellow Zeon Group company Zeon Chemicals LP, which is based in Kentucky. More specifically,...

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Chloroprene Rubber Supply Tightens as Japanese Manufacturers Struggle to Keep up With Demand

on November 28, 2017 in Market Background, Materials

The supply–demand balance for chloroprene rubber (CR) is tightening worldwide. Japanese CR manufacturers report that they are barely able to keep up with increased demand from existing users, let alone meet new demand. CR’s good balance of physical properties means that this synthetic rubber has found a diverse array of applications. Unable to meet demand despite operating at full capacity,...

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Shin-Etsu to Hike Silicone Product Prices From January

on November 20, 2017 in Materials

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4063) has announced a price change for all of its silicone products. Starting from shipments for January next year, the company will raise prices by 10 to 20 percent. The price of metallic silicon – a main raw material for silicone – has risen, and further increases are expected, a Shin-Etsu representative says. As it has...

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Japan’s Carbon Black Production Rises 0.3% for January–September

on November 17, 2017 in Materials

Domestic carbon black production increased 0.3 percent year-on-year to 419,983 tons for the first nine months of 2017, according to figures from the Carbon Black Association of Japan. Furnace black for rubber totaled 392,964 tons, up 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, other carbon black for non-rubber applications totaled 27,019 tons, down 2.8 percent. The total shipment volume for the period was 413,336...

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