Inoac Corp. is poised to launch the new material Fortrex in Japan within this year. A high-performance elastomer developed by Inoac’s global partner U.S.-based Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc., Fortrex combines the advantages of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and will be sold as Japan’s first superelastomer of its kind. In the U.S., Fortrex is used in automotive...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) announced on June 1 the acquisition of Industrial Rubber Co. through Bridgestone HosePower LLC, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary engaged in hose sales and services. Established in 1950 and based in the U.S. state of New Jersey with a staff of 17 employees, Industrial Rubber covers hydraulic and industrial hose sales and services in the Northeastern U.S....
Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) has received the fiscal 2017 Japan Petroleum Institute Award for Technological Progress. This comes in recognition of the company’s previous development of a process for manufacturing cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME). CPME is a hydrophobic ether solvent made using Zeon’s unique raw materials and compounding technologies. Easily separated and recovered from water, it also provides for quick vaporization...
The Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan (SRIJ) held its 90th anniversary ceremony alongside commemorative speeches on May 31. With 400–500 attendees participating in a series of events between May 30 and June 1, the ceremony was a major event. Speaking at the ceremony, SRIJ President Toshikazu Takata – also a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology –...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) was announced on May 23 as a member of the Australian-based Industrial Transformation Training Center for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure (ITTC Rail). Operating under the Australian Research Council (ARC), ITTC Rail targets the development of next-generation technologies in rail infrastructure. Bridgestone’s participation here will include the launch of a joint research project with Australia’s University...
Daicel-Evonik Ltd.’s Vestakeep Care brand of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) resin has been selected for use in a high-performance plastic syringe needle currently under development by Yamada Seiko Co. Ltd. Made using precision die casting and molding technologies, the needle is extremely thin, featuring an outer diameter of 0.57 millimeters and an inner diameter of 0.31 millimeters. The product is...
