Both production volume and shipment value of rubber hoses was down year-on-year for the month of July, according to records collated by the Japan Rubber Hose Manufacturers Association. Based on statistics from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the records reveal that production volume of hoses for July was 2,863 tons in terms of new-rubber volume, which represents...
Shipment volume of carbon black in July was down 7.3 percent to 49,900 tons from the same period last year, marking the eighth consecutive year-on-year decline, according to the Japanese Carbon Black Association. Carbon black shipments for rubber products dropped by 6.5 percent for tires and 10 percent for general rubber products. The total shipment volume for rubber products was...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) recently announced findings from research into high-strength material that would lead to resource-saving tires. The research was part of an R&D program within iMPACT (Importing Paradigm Change through Disruptive Technologies Program), a project for furthering innovations in R&D that is being led by the Japanese Cabinet Office’s Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. The R&D program is...
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5105) recently released the Open Country R/T, a new tire model designed for off-road kei cars. The tire establishes an entirely new genre, filling the gap between mud-terrain and all-weather tires. It targets the growing number of people who enjoy off-roading in SUV/CUV-style kei cars. The tire is designed to meet both on and...
Glove manufacturer Sanko Kagaku Co. Ltd. recently launched its new, groundbreaking medical glove, the Sanko Silky Fit Zero. Providing hitherto unachievable sensitivity, it is the first medical glove in the world to use thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The TPE material achieves zero levels in multiple areas, including latex proteins, powder, rubber odor, and vulcanizing agents and accelerators. This serves to prevent...
The Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA) recently published the 2016 edition of its almanac “State of the Petrochemical Industry.” Published almost every year since 1961, the publication provides data about the Japanese petrochemical industry and the composition of the industry’s upstream supply chain. The almanac features an overview of the petrochemical industry, industry-related statistics, production capacity of main petrochemical products...
