Bando Chemical has invested in Inaho, a company that provides services for manufacturers focusing on automated agricultural harvesting robots using AI. With the mission of making farming more sustainable with technology, Inaho is a startup company that supports the resolution of management issues in agriculture through the use of AI and Robotics. To this end, it is working on the...
Bridgestone has begun research and development of tire materials utilizing NanoTerasu, a 3GeV high-brilliance synchrotron radiation facility located on the new Aobayama Campus of Tohoku University. NanoTerasu utilizes soft X-rays, which are suitable for observing polymer materials such as rubber, to observe polymer materials widely used in tire products on a molecular scale. By understanding the characteristics of polymer materials...
Sumitomo Rubber has succeeded in observing the fine structure of the sulfur-based cathode active material of the lithium sulfur (LiS) battery it is developing, using latest measurement technology at NanoTerasu, a 3 GeV high-brilliance synchrotron radiation facility. The observation was conducted jointly with Tohoku University. In addition to the prospects for LiS batteries, which are expected to improve in performance...
Sumitomo Rubber and Khon Kaen University, a national university in Thailand, have concluded an agreement on joint research on rubber tree tissue culture technology, and held a signing ceremony. The purpose of the research is to analyze data on the plant physiological response of rubber tree and to elucidate the mechanism that leads to improved yields. This will accelerate efforts...
Kouhoku Rubber was highly acclaimed at the Tokyo Business Design Award 2023 in February this year, receiving the Award of Excellence. The award is designed to create new businesses by combining the excellent technologies and materials of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in Tokyo with ideas from designers. Companies that collaborate with designers are selected from among the applicants, and...
NOK and Eneos have jointly developed “self-lubricating rubber,” a rubber material that reduces friction in oil seals and other sealing products by up to 40% compared to conventional products and maintains the same sealing performance as before even in poorly lubricated environments. In industries where sealing products are in demand, the amount of lubricating oil used is being reduced and...
