Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) has set up the tentatively named New Automobile Product Development Laboratory at its plant in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture. The company is positioning the Laboratory as a major part of its management vision for 2020. The Laboratory will work with automakers to apply Sumitomo Riko’s “Smart Rubber” in developing new technologies. One such technology will check...
Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. (TYO:5192) has developed the Hybrid Silicone Belt, a light resin conveyor belt for moving food items. The surface of the new belt employs a copolymer that consists of polyurethane and silicone (polysiloxane), enabling improved releasability and high durability. The product is suited for transporting sticky foods such as bread dough, chewing gum and candies. The new product...
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) has announced that it will release a new product under the company’s global flagship brand, Advan, in Japan. The new product line, Advan Fleva V701, will be sold in 24 sizes starting in August 2016. A high-performance sport tire developed based on the Advan Sport V105, the Advan Fleva V701 offers stable steering and a quiet...
Seismic isolation rubber alleviates the destructive force of earthquakes. And it does so with isolation components, manufactured from laminated rubber and other materials, to take the brunt of the seismic motion. So a relevant question is how buildings with seismically isolated structures faired during last month’s earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan. Along with taking a look at conditions in post-quake Kumamoto,...
YHT-N highway joints built by Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) for use in elevated highways and bridge extensions have recently been fully installed as replacements on the No. 1 Haneda Route of the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo. The model was selected as the replacement in January of this year. Yokohama Rubber’s goal is for the YHT-N to replace highway joints...
Sagami Rubber Industries Co. Ltd. (TYO:5194) is making good sales on its polyurethane condoms despite being priced twice as high as their latex counterparts. The polyurethane product features superior thinness and strength, reassuring consumers and contributing to expanded sales. Approximately 70 percent of Sagami Rubber’s sales are from condoms. Ultra-thin polyurethane condoms (0.01mm thick) have been selling especially well ever...
