Dunlop Home Products Co. Ltd., an affiliate of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110), is developing a market for healthcare products such as water-filled cushions and a wheelchair ramp designed for portability. The Dunslope portable wheelchair ramp was developed as an assistive device enabling wheelchairs to move over steps and other uneven areas. Readily portable, it enables wheelchair users to create...
Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. (TYO:5192) has developed the Hybrid Silicone Belt, a light resin conveyor belt for moving food items. The surface of the new belt employs a copolymer that consists of polyurethane and silicone (polysiloxane), enabling improved releasability and high durability. The product is suited for transporting sticky foods such as bread dough, chewing gum and candies. The new product...
Seismic isolation rubber alleviates the destructive force of earthquakes. And it does so with isolation components, manufactured from laminated rubber and other materials, to take the brunt of the seismic motion. So a relevant question is how buildings with seismically isolated structures faired during last month’s earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan. Along with taking a look at conditions in post-quake Kumamoto,...
Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195), a major manufacturer of power transmission belts and conveyor belts, is looking to increase its sales of power transmission belts in the Chinese market and the Asian market overall. The company plans to increase its sales in the Chinese market through the end of the 2016 fiscal year to 11.8 billion yen ($107.6 million) from...
Chairman Kozaburo Nakaseko of the Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan, is urging industry members to take full advantage of the International Rubber Conference (IRC) 2016 as a showcase for technology and an opportunity for networking. In coordination with host Kitakyushu City, the industry association is the primary organizer of the conference to be held in October. Acknowledging the evolving...
Belt, hose and tube manufacturer Nitta Corp. (TYO:5186) expects to post 64.5 billion yen ($586.6 million) in sales for the business year through March of next year. The forecast exceeds the current record high of 64.2 billion yen in sales for the year from April 2007 through March 2008. Profits, however, are forecast to decline. In addition to the effects...
