Zeon has filed a lawsuit in Germany against Arlanxeo, seeking an injunction and damages for infringement of Zeon’s German patent on lithium-ion battery materials and an injunction against the manufacture and sale of such products in Germany. The lawsuit seeks an injunction and damages for the manufacture and sale in Germany of Arlanxeo products, which the company believes are manufactured...
News
Toyoda Iron Works Launches Sheet-shaped Cushioning Material
Toyoda Iron Works has succeeded in developing Toyototsu, a sheet-shaped cushioning material that has already been widely used in automobile armrests, consoles, instrument panels, and other parts. The company has recently succeeded in extrusion molding, instead of the conventional injection molding process, using the proprietary technology of Osaka-based Katsuron, and has begun developing applications not only for automobiles but also...
Japan’s Rubber Unions Secure Average Pay Raises of 14,508 Yen, 1.62M Bonus in Labor Offensive
Gomu Rengo, the Japanese Rubber Workers Union Confederation, has announced the results of its spring 2024 labor offensive. According to the report, 51 of the 52 member unions reached wage agreements and all 52 unions reached lump-sum pay agreements. The average wage increase among the 47 unions with definite wage amounts was 14,508 yen ($100), or 4.85% of the previous...
Yokohama Rubber Ups Expectations for Medium Term Plan
Yokohama Rubber has revised upward its financial targets for its new medium-term management plan Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026) announced on February 16. The company took into account the current strong performance, the realization of technology and production reforms that it will pursue, and the performance of the OTR (off-the-road tire) business to be acquired from Goodyear. It upwardly revised its...
Bridgestone Promotes Global Cost Reductions Throughout Value Chain
Bridgestone is promoting cost reductions throughout the entire value chain by optimizing the balance between sales, production and inventory. The company is reducing fixed costs in line with sales volume, optimizing the production system, and thoroughly reducing inventory based on volume and value. In production, Bridgestone is shortening operating days and suspending operations of some processes to improve profitability of...
Four Japanese Tire Makers Post Record Sales and Profit in First Half
The four Japanese tire makers have released their first half (January-June) results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. Bridgestone, Sumitomo Rubber, Yokohama Rubber and Toyo Tires all posted record-high sales and profits for the period. Although tire sales volume was slightly struggling, the external environment, including raw material prices, yen depreciation, and lower ocean freight rates, in addition...