Tokyo’s Bokuto Rubber Industrial Committee and two other regional rubber associations in Hyogo and Kyushu recently announced that they have agreed to establish a liaison committee comprised of their representatives. It is tentatively named the Rubber Industrial Association Committee and due to be formed this autumn. Japan’s rubber industry is supported by rubber associations whose members consist of small and...
Industry
Showa Rubber Joins Forces With Mongolian University on Products Targeting Agriculture Industry, Air Pollution
Showa Rubber Co. Ltd. and Mongolian University of Life Sciences (MULS) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to test Showa Rubber’s products in the agriculture–livestock industry and those that can reduce air pollution in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. The two organizations will collaborate also on the development of new products and product uses. At 12,000 students, MULS is a large-scale...
Yokohama Rubber Develops New Structural Adhesive for Automotive Resin Panels
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) recently announced that it has developed a new structural adhesive product for use with automotive resin panels. The company intends to market the product, which was developed with the goal of reducing vehicle weight, as part of its Hamatite brand of sealants and adhesives. Utilizing a fast-curing urethane adhesive with an NCO/OH ratio of 1.5,...
Bridgestone Completes Acquisition of Gaco Western
Firestone Building Products Co. LLC (FSBP) revealed on April 3 that it has completed its acquisition of roofing materials supplier Gaco Western Inc. Gaco is a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance waterproofing and heat insulation products and leads the industry with innovative silicon-based roofing materials. FSBP is a wholly-owned roofing solutions and construction materials supply subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Inc.,...
Japan Rubber Workers Union Confederation Negotiates Average Wage Increase of 5,243 Yen
The Japanese Rubber Workers Union Confederation (JRWUC) has disclosed settlement results from the 2017 spring labor offensive negotiations regarding monthly wage and annual bonus demands to major rubber companies. Forty-nine of the JRWUC’s 58 member unions submitted demands to the companies of the unions’ respective labor forces, from which 21 unions have reached agreements. Forty-five of these member unions submitted...
Major Rubber Manufacturers Increase New Graduate Recruitments for 2017
Both publicly listed and private rubber manufacturers in Japan held ceremonies on April 3 to welcome their new employees. Japan Rubber Weekly conducted a survey of major rubber companies and related businesses regarding the current landscape for the recruitment of new hires out of high school, undergraduate school and graduate school in the spring of 2017. According to responses from...