Yokohama Rubber has begun deliveries of BluEarth-GT AE51 and BluEarth-FE AE30 tires for use as new-vehicle (OE) tires for Toyota’s new Prius launched in Japan and overseas in January and for the Prius PHEV scheduled for launch in spring. The installed sizes are 195/50R19 88H for BluEarth-GT AE51 and 195/60R17 90H for BluEarth-FE AE30. BluEarth is Yokohama Rubber’s global tire...
Mitsubishi Chemical will construct a new facility at its Okayama Plant to increase the production capacity of Gohsenx and Nichigo G-Polymer, which are specialty brands of polyvinyl alcohol resin (PVOH resin). Operations are scheduled to begin in October 2024. Gohsenx is used as a surface treatment and emulsifier for thermal recording paper and as a processing material for silicon wafers...
Bridgestone and the Okinawa Churashima Foundation have developed an artificial tail fin for the Southern Bottlenose Dolphin nicknamed “Sami”, which has a damaged tail fin and is kept at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. This will help Sami maintain her dignity as a living creature and live in harmony with her friends through the power of technology. Sami is a female...
The city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa, has voiced its support for the World Economic Forum’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters Towards Net Zero Initiative, and is set to take part in this initiative via the “Kawasaki Carbon Neutral Industrial Complex.” Kawasaki becomes the first city in Japan to join this global initiative, and will in doing so collaborate with private companies such as...
Demand for rolls for high-performance films has been strong, and along with the recovery of market conditions, it has been steadily increasing recently to become a driving force for rolls as a whole. Driven by the spread of telework and the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), demand for polarizing film for LCDs and separator film for lithium-ion batteries has been...
Sumitomo Rubber is planning a rollout starting March 1 for the Dunlop SP541, a new rib–lug tire that offers significant improvements to uneven wear resistance and lifespan. The product is intended for use on large dump trucks that drive mainly on paved roads, and will be available in a total of seven sizes. By deftly balancing its contact patch across...
