Market Background

High-Pressure Hoses Recover on Construction Equipment, up 12% for August

Production and shipment of high-pressure hoses are recovering, according to records compiled by the Japan Rubber Hose Manufacturers Association based on Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) statistics. August production rose 12.6 percent year-on-year to 313 tons, while the value of shipments rose 10.8 percent to 1.293 billion yen ($12.44 million). High pressure hoses are largely used in construction...

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Tosoh to Consolidate Macromolecule and Urethane R&D at Yokkaichi

Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042) is looking to integrate its R&D activities through the establishment of a new research wing at its Yokkaichi Complex, Mie Prefecture. The company is investing some 4.5 billion yen ($4.33 million) in order to consolidate at Yokkaichi its macromolecule and urethane-related research, which to date has been divided over three locations. Plans call for the process to...

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Bando Showcases New Technologies and Products at Bando Technical Fair in Kobe

Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195) has exhibited the company’s new technologies and products at Bando Techno Fair 2016 in Kobe City. The event took place on Oct. 13–14 at Kobe International Exhibition Hall, held for the first time in nine years. At the exhibition, divisions covering areas such as automotive components, industrial materials, high-performance elastomer products, R&D, and the Bando-affiliate...

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Rubber Machinery Manufacturers Forecast Bleak Market Conditions

A restrictive trend is developing on investments in manufacturing equipment within Japan’s rubber industry. While largely robust performance was witnessed from many of the 21 companies comprising the Japan Rubber Machinery Association (JRM) through September, expectations for October onwards are that of tight market conditions. Japan’s domestic rubber industry is in a vague state of uncertainty at present. On the...

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Sumitomo Rubber Joins IRSG Initiative for Natural Rubber Sustainability

Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has announced that it has signed on to participate in the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i). Established by the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of natural rubber (NR) as a resource, SNR-i will form part of Sumitomo Rubber’s corporate social responsibilities (CSR) and its efforts toward preserving the...

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JSR Subsidiary to Launch Carbon Masterbatch Company in Mexico

Elastomix Co. Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary of major synthetic rubber manufacturer JSR Corp. (TYO:4185), has announced plans to establish a new company in Mexico for carbon masterbatch (CMB) manufacturing. Commercial production is slated to begin in 2018. Mexico is a major exporter to the North American automotive market. Elastomix aims to expand by establishing a manufacturing hub in the region...

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