The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA) has revamped its membership system, introducing a new associate membership system as of April 1, 2016. On the same date, two companies — Nihon Michelin Tire Co. Ltd. and Nippon Goodyear Ltd. — were registered as associate members. The establishment of this new membership system reflects the fact that tires are a global...
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck at 9.26 p.m. Japan Standard Time on April 14, with its epicenter near the city of Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. At Bridgestone Corp.’s (TYO:5108) Kumamoto Plant in Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture, the earthquake was recorded on the Japan Meteorological Agency’s seismic intensity scale as 6-lower, and the plant ceased operations immediately after the earthquake struck....
Amidst an economic slowdown in the Chinese market, tire sales for Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) have risen by double digits over the previous year. The chief secretariat and director of the company’s business planning division, Hiroaki Shioiri, recently discussed business conditions surrounding passenger car tires in China – as well as the outlook moving forward. Showing Double-digit Growth China’s...
Katsura Roller Mfg. Co. Ltd.’s winding roller, e-Core, has earned the award of “Gold Ecotech,” which is given to Osaka-developed products that are judged as being advanced environmental technology. The e-Core is a product that provides new features to the roller core, which is necessary for rolling plastic film, sheets and metal foil for industrial, printing and packing purposes. By...
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) has announced it will release new all-terrain SUV tires “Geolandar A/T G015” in August under its Geolandar SUV tire brand. The product will come in 27 sizes. Marking the 20th anniversary of the Geolandar brand, the new product targets drivers who enjoy an active lifestyle. The product’s overall improvements enable higher off-road capabilities and endurance...
Lotte Ube Synthetic Rubber SDN BHD (LUSR), a Malaysian polybutadiene rubber (BR) manufacturing joint venture of Ube Industries Ltd. (TYO:4208), has reached the final stages of preparations for full-fledged operations. Ube Industries’ fourth BR manufacturing location, LUSR will have a production capacity of 50,000 tons per year. It began commercial operations in June 2015. At the current stage, operations are...
