The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has worked with the University of Tokyo to develop a rubber composite material that offers heat conductivity on par with that of metal. This was achieved by dispersing two kinds of carbon fiber – specifically carbon nanofiber (CNF) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) – as fillers throughout polyrotaxane, a type of...
The Japan Rubber Hose Manufacturers Association has used statistics from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to compile results for Japan’s rubber hose sector in 2019. Figures here show that the sector’s production volume using new rubber fell 10.9 percent year-on-year to 34,593 tons, with shipment value down 1.4 percent to 142.53 billion yen ($1.33 billion). This marks...
Efforts in Japan to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus infection are moving forward at a rapid pace. On Feb. 25, Japan’s central government issued its basic policy on novel coronavirus countermeasures, with large-scale events postponed or canceled the following day. JRW has compiled the following report on concurrent efforts being undertaken in rubber-related industries. Many companies have instituted staggered...
Japan’s four major tire manufacturers – Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108), Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110), Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) and Toyo Tires Corp. (TYO:5105) – are all forecasting improvements at the operating profit level for calendar 2020. Bridgestone is using adjusted operating profit here, while Sumitomo Rubber and Yokohama Rubber use business profit. However, with Bridgestone noting that it is...
With the spread of the novel coronavirus showing no signs of letting up, companies in the rubber sector are seeing increasingly serious effects on business. Problems are piling up with regard to securing employees, carrying out logistics, operating supply chains and more. Issues on the production side of business have spread to regions outside of China, including Japan. And with...
Japan’s total demand for carbon black is expected to drop for a second consecutive year, according to a recent forecast from the country’s Carbon Black Association. Including exports, demand here is estimated at 775,218 tons for 2020, which would mark a year-on-year decline of 0.6 percent. Demand for rubber applications – this being calculated based on forecasts of customer sectors...
