Bando to Focus on Sales Growth Through Salesperson Training Initiatives Oct. 31, 2025. - Bando Chemical expects sales of its resin conveyor belts for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 (April–September) to increase year-on-year. In the logistics sector, the company reported steady growth. “Over the past few years, we have focused our sales strategy on the logistics market, which has allowed us to capture demand steadily,” the company said. […]
ContiTech Japan Strengthens Sales Activities, After-Sales Support Oct. 30, 2025. - ContiTech Industrial Solutions Japan said ContiTech’s business performance for the first half of 2025 (January–June) remained under pressure from challenging market conditions and high costs carried over from last year. Despite this environment, the company maintained financial stability, recording sales of approximately 3.1 billion euro ($3.61 billion) and achieving an adjusted EBIT margin of 5.6%. In Japan, the company’s conveyor […]
JRMA Holds 36th Executive Committee Meeting in Osaka Oct. 28, 2025. - The Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA), chaired by Takashi Shimizu, President and CEO of Toyo Tire Corporation, held its 36th Executive Committee meeting on October 24 at the Hotel Hankyu International in Osaka. In his opening remarks, Chairman Shimizu reflected on global and domestic developments that have shaped the year. “This year began with the inauguration of re-elected U.S. President […]
Zeon Launches IoT Platform to Boost Data Use in Manufacturing Oct. 22, 2025. - Chemical manufacturer Zeon has built and begun operating a new IoT common platform to advance companywide smart factory initiatives. The platform will enable visualization and effective use of diverse data from manufacturing sites and research facilities, driving efficiency in on-site operations and broader deployment of digital technologies. Since 2020, the company has pursued smart factory transformation using digital tools to […]
Bridgestone Breaks Ground on Precision Pyrolysis Pilot Plant for End-of-Life Tires at Seki Plant Oct. 29, 2025. - Bridgestone held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 21 at its Seki Plant in Gifu Prefecture for the construction of a Precision Pyrolysis Pilot Demonstration Plant for End-of-Life Tires. The initiative marks the transition from research to the demonstration phase of a project aimed at realizing circular tire recycling—returning used tires to raw materials that can once again be used to […]
Bridgestone Names Yasuhiro Morita as New Global CEO Oct. 27, 2025. - Bridgestone announced on October 23 that Yasuhiro Morita, currently Executive Vice President and Representative Executive Officer, will be appointed Global CEO effective January 1, 2026. The current Global CEO, Shuichi Ishibashi, will step down from his executive role on December 31, 2025, and retire from the Board of Directors at the conclusion of the company’s annual general shareholders’ meeting scheduled […]Bando to Focus on Sales Growth Through Salesperson Training Initiatives Oct. 31, 2025. - Bando Chemical expects sales of its resin conveyor belts for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 (April–September) to increase year-on-year. In the logistics sector, the company reported steady growth. “Over the past few years, we have focused our sales strategy on the logistics market, which has allowed us to capture demand steadily,” the company said. […]
ContiTech Japan Strengthens Sales Activities, After-Sales Support Oct. 30, 2025. - ContiTech Industrial Solutions Japan said ContiTech’s business performance for the first half of 2025 (January–June) remained under pressure from challenging market conditions and high costs carried over from last year. Despite this environment, the company maintained financial stability, recording sales of approximately 3.1 billion euro ($3.61 billion) and achieving an adjusted EBIT margin of 5.6%. In Japan, the company’s conveyor […]
Kraton Raises Prices of Kraton D-Series SBS and Related Products Oct. 8, 2025. - Kraton Polymers Japan has increased the prices of domestically produced Kraton D-Series SBS, oil-extended SBS, and SIS by 34 yen ($0.23) per kilogram, effective with shipments on or after October 1. The company said that this price adjustment is necessary in light of continued cost increases since 2022, including expenses related to facility maintenance, logistics, packaging materials, and labor. Despite […]
Mitsui Chemicals Links R&D Closer to Business to Accelerate Innovation Oct. 7, 2025. - Mitsui Chemicals has implemented an organizational restructuring effective October 1 aimed at strengthening its research and development framework and accelerating product development. The company has separated its development divisions from the Research & Development Headquarters and reassigned them under the three designated growth areas—Mobility (including the Elastomers Business), Life & Healthcare, and ICT—so that each business division is now directly […]
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 […]
