NOK and Eneos have jointly developed “self-lubricating rubber,” a rubber material that reduces friction in oil seals and other sealing products by up to 40% compared to conventional products and maintains the same sealing performance as before even in poorly lubricated environments. In industries where sealing products are in demand, the amount of lubricating oil used is being reduced and...
Industry
Special Report: Rubber Compounders Facing Uphill Battle
Current carbon masterbatch demand is sluggish, lacking momentum both domestically in Japan and internationally, and the outlook for recovery is uncertain. In addition, manufacturers are facing a number of challenges, including aging facilities, aging employees and rising costs. Although the industry is indispensable in supporting rubber products, the environment in which it operates appears to be difficult. Carbon masterbatch production...
Valqua Launches AI-Powered Equipment Abnormality Detection System
Valqua and Ridgeye, an AI and deep learning technology consulting and development company, have developed an equipment abnormality detection system that is equipped with a jointly developed AI technology that can handle vibration and ultrasonic sensing of rotating equipment in general. Marketed a Vherme, the system can flexibly respond to on-site needs for equipment abnormality detection by combining Valqua’s abnormality...
Zeon Forms Alliance With SiAT to Produce Single-wall Carbon Nanotube Conductive Paste
Zeon has formed a strategic alliance with Sino Applied Technology (SiAT), a Taiwanese manufacturer of advanced nanomaterials for batteries. The partnership relates to single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) conductive paste. The product can replace or combine with carbon black as a conductive aid in the cathode/anode formulation of lithium-ion batteries, and can be widely applied to transparent films and EMI shielding....
Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration to Promote Automotive Recycling
The “Technology Demonstration of Arteriovenous Integrated Process for ELV (End-of-Life Vehicle) Automatic Precision Dismantling as a Starting Point” project, which is being promoted by Denso, River, DIC, UACJ, Kinjo Sangyo, Kyushu Metal Industry, Sumitomo Chemical, Daido Steel, Toray Industries, Toyoda Gosei, Toyota Boshoku, Nomura Research Institute, Furukawa Electric, Matec, Mitsui Chemicals, Waseda University, and other companies and corporations, has been...
Sumitomo Rubber and Murata Manufacturing Develop Tire Wear Detection System
Sumitomo Rubber and Murata Manufacturing have jointly developed a tire wear detection system that detects tire wear by capturing the shape of the tire in three dimensions and providing data feedback to users. By combining Sumitomo Rubber’s expertise in tire maintenance and tire development with Murata Manufacturing’s sensing technology based on three-dimensional measurement cultivated in the telecommunications market and its...