JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) and the Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM) recently announced that they have agreed to establish a joint research department named the JSR-ISM Smart Chemistry Lab, with aims being to get started this month. Through this joint lab, the partners intend to develop basic technologies that promote data-driven materials research. These technologies will then be used to significantly...
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Japan Sees Imports and Exports of Rubber Products Drop Significantly Amid Pandemic
Japan’s exports of rubber products fell 23.2 percent year-on-year to 453.8 billion yen ($4.3 billion) over January–August, while imports were down 11.3 percent to 273.8 billion yen, according to trade figures published by the Ministry of Finance and compiled by the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA). The spread of COVID-19 had a significant impact on both fronts here. Exports showed...
Bridgestone Group Wins Good Design Award for Two New Products
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) and Bridgestone Cycle Co. Ltd. have each received an award as part of the 2020 Good Design Awards run by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JIDP). The first of these awards was given for a prosthetic sole to be used by athletes, while the other was given for the TB1e electric assist bicycle. The prosthetic sole...
Nitta Launches Two New Types of Virus Filter
Nitta Corp. (TYO:5186) recently announced that it has launched two new antiviral filter products: a RIM Light-branded filter for viruses, bacteria and mold, and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. These new products are highly efficient at trapping and inactivating any viruses attached to particles and the like. Both have gone through JIS L 1922:2016 verification testing, which is carried...
Rubber and Plastic Hose Sector Faces Mixed Outlook for Market Recovery
Demand trends for rubber and plastic hoses appear to be showing mixed signs at present, with different prospects lying ahead for each application. In the area of automotive hoses, things have been slowly trending upward, spurred on by an automotive production rebound that started in summer. But at the same time, there appears to be little hope of a quick...
Sumitomo Riko Backs UNGC Statement for Global Business Cooperation
Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) has endorsed and signed on to the Statement from Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation, an initiative under the UN Global Compact (UNGC). Signed by 1,294 major company heads, this statement was presented to the UN Secretary General at this year’s Private Sector Forum, which was held on Sept. 21 during the UN General Assembly...
