Bridgestone Begins AirFree Demonstration in Founding City Nov. 28, 2025. - Bridgestone has signed a partnership agreement with Kurume City, where the company was founded, to conduct demonstration tests of its next-generation “AirFree” tire, which requires no air inflation. A signing ceremony was held the same day at Kurume City Hall, where both parties confirmed their commitment to accelerating the social implementation of new mobility technologies that support local communities. AirFree […]
Sumitomo Rubber Elevates Dunlop Brand with Active Tread Technology in All-Season Tires Nov. 27, 2025. - Sumitomo Rubber President Satoru Yamamoto reported on the progress of the company’s mid- to long-term management strategy, R.I.S.E. 2035, and outlined efforts to enhance the premium positioning of its tire business. According to Yamamoto, the company will differentiate its products by equipping Dunlop-branded all-season tires, high-performance tires, and large-diameter off-road tires for pickups and SUVs with its proprietary Active Tread […]
Bridgestone Begins AirFree Demonstration in Founding City Nov. 28, 2025. - Bridgestone has signed a partnership agreement with Kurume City, where the company was founded, to conduct demonstration tests of its next-generation “AirFree” tire, which requires no air inflation. A signing ceremony was held the same day at Kurume City Hall, where both parties confirmed their commitment to accelerating the social implementation of new mobility technologies that support local communities. AirFree […]
Market Report: Rubber Gloves Nov. 25, 2025. - Industrial gloves are used to protect workers in environments that require countermeasures against chemical handling, static electricity, and cut-related accidents, as well as in factory production lines. Demand has been stable. Among them, cut-resistant gloves are playing a particularly strong leading role. These gloves incorporate special materials and cut-resistant fibers, protecting hands during tasks involving blades and other sharp tools. […]
Bridgestone Begins AirFree Demonstration in Founding City Nov. 28, 2025. - Bridgestone has signed a partnership agreement with Kurume City, where the company was founded, to conduct demonstration tests of its next-generation “AirFree” tire, which requires no air inflation. A signing ceremony was held the same day at Kurume City Hall, where both parties confirmed their commitment to accelerating the social implementation of new mobility technologies that support local communities. AirFree […]
Sumitomo Rubber Elevates Dunlop Brand with Active Tread Technology in All-Season Tires Nov. 27, 2025. - Sumitomo Rubber President Satoru Yamamoto reported on the progress of the company’s mid- to long-term management strategy, R.I.S.E. 2035, and outlined efforts to enhance the premium positioning of its tire business. According to Yamamoto, the company will differentiate its products by equipping Dunlop-branded all-season tires, high-performance tires, and large-diameter off-road tires for pickups and SUVs with its proprietary Active Tread […]
Togawa Industry Sales Stable in First Half, Markets Remain Challenging Nov. 17, 2025. - For the first half (April–September) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, Togawa Industry, a manufacturer of rubber and resin hoses, posted a 3% year-on-year increase in sales. The company said that, although revenue rose slightly, the gain was largely due to the price revisions implemented this spring. In terms of volume, sales for automotive production equipment, semiconductor manufacturing […]
Tiger Polymer Sees Steady Hose Business in First Half Nov. 14, 2025. - For the first half (April–September) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, Tiger Polymer’s hose business recorded a slight year-on-year increase in sales. The company said that while revenue increased slightly, the number of units sold actually declined due to the impact of price revisions implemented at the beginning of the year. Sales of hoses for home appliances dropped […]
NOK to Consolidate Japanese Subsidiaries into Five Companies Nov. 26, 2025. - NOK will reorganize its Japanese domestic production bases and establish five new subsidiaries on April 1 next year. These companies will handle the production and sales of seal components, industrial functional parts, and other products. Through the reorganization, NOK aims to optimize the allocation of management resources, strengthen its production framework, enhance global competitiveness, and achieve sustainable business growth. In […]
Tokai Carbon Sees Profits Surge: 9M results Nov. 21, 2025. - Tokai Carbon reported its consolidated results for the first nine months of the fiscal year ending December 2025 (January–September). Net sales amounted to 237.34 billion yen ($1.53 billion), down 8.2% from the same period last year. Operating profit increased 40.0% to 21.30 billion yen, ordinary profit rose 30.8% to 21.06 billion yen, and net profit surged 192.9% to 16.35 billion […]
Top Interview: President Tomio Ueno of Bando Chemical Sep. 2, 2025. - In an interview with Tomio Ueno, President of Bando Chemical, we discussed the company’s current business performance, the progress of its medium- to long-term management plan Creating New Value for the Future 1st Stage (CV-1), and the status of its overseas production bases. Regarding the situation overseas, Ueno explained that market conditions in Asia vary by country and timing. India, […]
Interview: Hideki Ogawa, President of Nishikawa Rubber Jan. 27, 2025. - Japan Rubber Weekly recently sat down for an interview with Hideki Ogawa, president of Nishikawa Rubber, to discuss the year ahead. “In 2025, we will continue to take on any challenge with elastic ideas,” Ogawa said. Also actively promoting the use of AI and automation, the company is on track to develop new products and technologies that are expected to […]
Toyoda Gosei Invests in Startup Aiming for Practical Nuclear Fusion Power Generation Jul. 30, 2025. - Toyoda Gosei has invested in Helical Fusion, a startup focused on commercializing nuclear fusion power generation, seen as a promising future energy source. Nuclear fusion power generates high-output energy from CO2-free nuclear reactions, using abundant fuel sources like deuterium found in seawater. Considered easier to control than nuclear fission used in traditional nuclear power, it is driving a global race […]
Sumitomo Rubber Develops Rubber Material Compatible with 3D Printing Jul. 17, 2025. - Sumitomo Rubber has developed a rubber material that can be processed using 3D printers. The company aims to commercialize the material for 3D printing applications by 2026 and will continue to advance its development. Traditionally, producing rubber products using 3D printers has been considered difficult. However, Sumitomo Rubber has succeeded in developing a proprietary material with excellent resilience and high […]
Japan Glove Manufacturers Association Publishes 2024 Glove Sales Volumes Apr. 18, 2025. - According to the 2024 Japanese domestic glove sales volume statistics compiled by the Japan Glove Manufacturers Association, household glove sales reached 73.253 million pairs, down 1% year-on-year, nearly flat. Nitrile gloves alone grew by 14%, but cautious buying due to a sluggish market continued to suppress demand post-COVID. Ultra-thin gloves (excluding medical use) totaled 5.405 billion pieces, up 6% and […]
CEMA Publishes Construction Machinery Demand Forecasts for Fiscal 2024 and 2025 Mar. 7, 2025. - The Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) recently released its construction machinery demand forecasts for fiscal 2024 (April 2024-March 2025) and fiscal 2025 (April 2025-March 2026). The forecasts were compiled based on a questionnaire survey conducted in January among 61 construction equipment manufacturers that are regular members of the association. According to the survey, in fiscal 2024, Japanese domestic shipments […]
