Yokohama Rubber, the University of Tsukuba, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) have developed a new image processing method to clearly visualize the internal nanoscale structure of rubber materials. Conventional electron microscope images are noisy and obscure the outline of the interior of rubber, but the new method clearly captures the network structure of reticular molecules and quantifies...
Bando Chemical has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Canadian based Inmotive in two-speed transmissions for electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers. Inmotive’s vision is to accelerate the global evolution of affordable zero-emission mobility and play a key role in mitigating climate change. The company is a start-up company developing the two-speed transmission Ingear, which is expected to extend cruising range through...
Bridgestone, Sumitomo Rubber, Yokohama Rubber and Toyo Tires have released their nine months (January-September) financial results for fiscal 2024. While some companies achieved record-high performance in the same period, partly due to the effect of yen depreciation, the North American market, which is in a sense a dollar box for Japanese, European, and U.S. tire makers, was affected by the...
The establishment of a subcommittee on the environment in ISO/TC45 is gaining momentum. The Working Group 16 (Environmental Aspects) has been dealing with environmental issues for a long time. However, with the rubber industry actively working to achieve material recycling on a global scale, the working group is scheduled to be upgraded one level higher to subcommittee. Originally, ISO/TC45 is...
Bridgestone has signed a collaboration agreement with Astrobotic Technology to develop tires for lunar rover vehicles. Working on research and development of tires for lunar rovers since 2019, the company has developed first and second-generation tire concept models and has conducted a series of ground driving tests and simulations. Astrobotic is a leading space exploration and technology development company with...
The impact of China’s overproduction, which has become a global problem for steel and commodity resins, is spreading to synthetic rubber as well. First in line are commodity synthetic rubber products for tires, but will it spread to other types of products as well? On October 25, Ube announced that it has resolved to dissolve its equity method affiliate Lotte...
