Bridgestone, Sumitomo Rubber, Yokohama Rubber and Toyo Tires have released their nine months (January-September) financial results for fiscal 2024. While some companies achieved record-high performance in the same period, partly due to the effect of yen depreciation, the North American market, which is in a sense a dollar box for Japanese, European, and U.S. tire makers, was affected by the...
The establishment of a subcommittee on the environment in ISO/TC45 is gaining momentum. The Working Group 16 (Environmental Aspects) has been dealing with environmental issues for a long time. However, with the rubber industry actively working to achieve material recycling on a global scale, the working group is scheduled to be upgraded one level higher to subcommittee. Originally, ISO/TC45 is...
Bridgestone has signed a collaboration agreement with Astrobotic Technology to develop tires for lunar rover vehicles. Working on research and development of tires for lunar rovers since 2019, the company has developed first and second-generation tire concept models and has conducted a series of ground driving tests and simulations. Astrobotic is a leading space exploration and technology development company with...
The impact of China’s overproduction, which has become a global problem for steel and commodity resins, is spreading to synthetic rubber as well. First in line are commodity synthetic rubber products for tires, but will it spread to other types of products as well? On October 25, Ube announced that it has resolved to dissolve its equity method affiliate Lotte...
Bridgestone’s in-house venture Soft Robotics Ventures and the unisex fashion brand Crafsto have announced the launch of a triangle bag, a collaboration between the two companies. The bag’s handles are upcycled rubber actuators from Soft Robotics Ventures’ soft robotic hand Tetote. This is the first upcycling of the rubber actuators. Crafsto is a fashion brand operated by Heritage. The brand...
Rubber sheet manufacturers are expected to change their pricing strategies. Until recently, they were prone to price wars due to mutual restraint, but from now on, they are expected not hesitate to revise their prices every year. The reason for this is the rapid rise in labor and other costs. Since these increases are expected to continue in the future,...
