EUDR Likely to be Postponed, Impact on Natural Rubber Oct. 15, 2024. - On October 2, the European Commission announced that it would propose a one-year extension of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was originally scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2024 for large companies and on June 30, 2025 for small and medium-sized companies. Japanese domestic tire manufacturers and others have been taking steps to apply the regulation and have […]
Showa Glove Launches Gloves for Touch Panel Operations Oct. 11, 2024. - Glove manufacturer Showa Glove has in October released AP800 smartphone compatible nitrile palm gloves, which allow operation of smartphones and other touch panels while wearing gloves. Increasingly, in logistics, manufacturing, cleaning, service, and other workplaces, smartphones and tablet terminals need to be operated for inspection and picking work, inventory control, customer service, and other tasks. However, the touch panel is […] EUDR Likely to be Postponed, Impact on Natural Rubber Oct. 15, 2024. - On October 2, the European Commission announced that it would propose a one-year extension of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was originally scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2024 for large companies and on June 30, 2025 for small and medium-sized companies. Japanese domestic tire manufacturers and others have been taking steps to apply the regulation and have […]Lanxess Sells Urethane Systems Business to Ube Oct. 10, 2024. - Lanxess signed an agreement to sell its Urethane Systems business to Ube. The value of the business is equivalent to 460 million euros ($503.3 million), and the sale price is expected to be approximately 500 million euros. With this transaction, Lanxess will exit its last polymer business. The Urethane Systems business has five manufacturing sites worldwide and laboratories for application […]
Bridgestone to Close Retreading Materials Plant in Belgium Sep. 19, 2024. - Bridgestone group company Bandag Europe announced at a special meeting of its employees its intention to close its retreading materials (pre-cured tread and cushion rubber) production plant in Lanklaar, Belgium, by the first half of 2025. The truck and bus business in Europe, including retread tires, has been facing many profitability issues, and the company has been restructuring its business […]
Sumitomo Rubber Deploys Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sep. 18, 2024. - Sumitomo Rubber began selling its Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in July. The company has been offering a tire pressure and temperature management service for trucks using this system at Dunlop’s truck tire dealers since the same month, and is now focusing on developing its tire solution business, which is a key business for the company. At the DTS (Dunlop […]
Showa Glove Launches Gloves for Touch Panel Operations Oct. 11, 2024. - Glove manufacturer Showa Glove has in October released AP800 smartphone compatible nitrile palm gloves, which allow operation of smartphones and other touch panels while wearing gloves. Increasingly, in logistics, manufacturing, cleaning, service, and other workplaces, smartphones and tablet terminals need to be operated for inspection and picking work, inventory control, customer service, and other tasks. However, the touch panel is […]Nitta Moore Moves Korean Plant Oct. 8, 2024. - Nitta’s consolidated subsidiary Korea Nitta Moore relocated and expanded its plant in Gumi, Korea, and began operations at the new plant on October 1. The investment was 23 billion won ($17.1 million). With a land area of 30,312 square meters and building area of 21,705 square meters, the new plant is 2.3 times larger than the old one. Air pollution […]
Kuraray Raises Prices of Septon and Other Elastomers Oct. 10, 2024. - Kuraray will raise the prices of its hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomers Septon and Hybrar as well as TU polymers globally, beginning with shipments on October 15. The price increase is $0.22 per kilogram. Regarding the price increase, the company said, “The increase in costs for the subject products, including key raw materials, utility and logistics costs, and repair costs, is […]
Lanxess Sells Urethane Systems Business to Ube Oct. 10, 2024. - Lanxess signed an agreement to sell its Urethane Systems business to Ube. The value of the business is equivalent to 460 million euros ($503.3 million), and the sale price is expected to be approximately 500 million euros. With this transaction, Lanxess will exit its last polymer business. The Urethane Systems business has five manufacturing sites worldwide and laboratories for application […]
Interview With Bando Chemical President Tomio Ueno Sep. 3, 2024. - Bando Chemical is pursuing its medium-term business plan under the three guiding principles of Value Creation, Smart Manufacturing Creation, and Evolution of Organizational Capabilities for the Future. With co-creation as its keyword, the company is working to create new value and steadily achieving results in the fields of electronic materials, medical equipment, and healthcare equipment. Japan Rubber Weekly sat down […]
Interview With Yokohama Rubber President and COO Shinji Seimiya Aug. 21, 2024. - Japan Rubber Weekly recently sat down with Shinji Seimiya, president and COO of Yokohama Rubber, to talk about the company’s latest developments. Semiya is in charge of tire design and development, as well as manufacturing, quality, and and overseeing technology and production on a global scale. Under the new mid-term management plan Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026), which started this year, […]
Nagoya University and Aisin Chemical Develop Next-gen Structural Adhesive Oct. 1, 2024. - A research group led by the Graduate School of Engineering at Nagoya University has developed a next-generation structural adhesive with superior impact strength and peel strength through joint research with Aisin Chemical. The newly developed adhesive, when used in automobiles and other vehicles, will greatly contribute to vehicle weight reduction, improved driving stability, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced emissions. The […]
Toyoda Iron Works Launches Sheet-shaped Cushioning Material Aug. 30, 2024. - 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 […]
Nitta Posts Financial Results, Sees Opportunity in Semiconductor-related Business May. 24, 2024. - Nitta announced net sales of 88.61 billion yen ($565.29 million), up 0.7% year-on-year; operating income of 4.42 billion yen, down 11.4%; ordinary income of 12,01 billion yen, down 6.9%; and net income of 9.68 billion yen, down 9.2%, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. “Sales were decent, but profits fell sharply due to a slower-than-expected decline in the […]
Special Report: Signs of Recovery in Demand for Rubber Sheets Apr. 26, 2024. - Signs of recovery have emerged in demand for fluorine rubber sheets, which had been in a slump. With the elimination of the oversupply of semiconductors, there has been movement in the production of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which had been undergoing production adjustments, and this has led to an upturn in current demand. Demand for silicone rubber sheets is also increasing […]
