Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042), a chemical manufacturer that makes synthetic rubber, has established a new on-the-job training and research facility at its Nanyo factory complex in Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The training facility was built to provide manufacturing operators and technical staff with real experience in both normal and emergency plant operations and control methods. It will be used for real-life training...
Gates Unitta Asia Co. has released a new product, the Two Fit Belt, which acts in both capacities of synchronous power transmission and friction transmission. A multifunction belt, this new product has a curvilinear toothed synchronous belt with synchronized transmission on one side, while on the other side has a V-ribbed, high-load capacity belt with friction transmission. Primarily used to...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) has introduced a state-of-the-art tire-molding system equipped with information communications technology (ICT) at its factory in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. The tire-molding system has been in operation since February and uses Bridgestone’s own ICT and artificial intelligence (AI) features to heighten quality and productivity. Dubbed “Examation,” the system takes its name from the concepts “evolutional,” “attractive” and “automation.”...
Members of the carbon nanotube (CNT) development team at Nitta Corp. (TYO:5186) have received an award for environmental technology from the Kinki Chemical Society. The specific achievement earning the recognition was the team’s success in reducing the weight of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) made from CNT composite carbon fibers. Making CFRP products more lightweight will enable more efficient use...
A research team at Tokyo City University has succeeded in developing a new seismic isolation rubber for use in new buildings that could have roughly twice the earthquake mitigation performance of structures using conventional materials. Led by Prof. Isao Nishimura of the architectural faculty in the university’s engineering department, the team is moving ahead on joint development with a manufacturer,...
Hakko Corp. has developed a product line of super-flexible electrically conductive fluorine hoses in response to the need to convey flammable fluids without generating static electricity. Until recently, the Japanese standard for preventing static electricity buildup required measurements of interterminal electrical resistance, including that of joints. But resistance measurements were only required for one meter of a given length of...
