A representative of Sumitomo Rubber has been awarded “Mentor of the Year 2022” by CenTiRe, a U.S. tire technology consortium. The Mentor of the Year award was created this year to recognize those who have made the greatest contribution in terms of guidance and support to academic researchers. CenTiRe is an industry-government-academia consortium involving the National Science Foundation (NSF), Virginia...
Toyo Tires is planning a Sept. 1 launch for the M937, a studless winter tire made specifically for community buses. The tire will be made available in a single size. While designed as a studless winter tire, the M937 was developed with year-round use in mind. The tire features a wider tread – which provides contact between the tire and...
While demand for automotive-related products has declined, demand for civil engineering and construction has remained strong. Steady progress in civil engineering and other construction work, which began to move in the second half of 2021, has led to demand for upper-level building-related projects. Demand was concentrated in the fourth quarter (January-March 2022), as construction work started moving quickly, especially in...
Shipment volume of rubber sheets (plates) is declining. According to statistics compiled by the Japan Rubber Industry Association, shipments from January to May 2022 totaled 6,908 tons, down 7.3 percent from the same period last year. In 2021, the market recovered from the decline caused by the coronavirus pandemic and remained generally firm throughout the year. However, the recovery trend...
Bridgestone is set to consolidate part of its aircraft retread tire production facilities in Asia. As part of this move, production in Hong Kong, China will cease at the end of June 2023, and will then be consolidated at Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Manufacturing in Thailand. The Hong Kong subsidiary currently supplies retreaded tires to airlines in Asia and Oceania except...
Shikoku Chemicals is set to build new facilities for insoluble sulfur at its Marugame Plant in Marugame, Kagawa. Construction here is scheduled to span April 2023 – October 2024, after which the new facilities will begin production in December 2024. Coming at a total investment of 4.5 billion yen ($32.8 million), the new facilities are set to boost Shikoku’s production...
