The Japan Belting Manufacturers Association recently published a 2018 demand forecast for rubber and resin belts. As part of the report, the association estimated the 2017 production volume of rubber belts at 26,694 tons, marking a 1 percent year-on-year increase and a third consecutive year below 30,000 tons. While transmission belt production stayed flat for 2017, conveyor belt production rose...
The Japan Belting Manufacturers Association is forecasting 11,817 tons of demand for domestically produced transmission belt products during 2017, virtually unchanged from the previous year. While automotive-related demand has somewhat declined, demand has been strong for general industrial belting. Growth was driven by applications for semiconductors, injection molding machinery, machine tools and industrial robots. Transmission belt production from January through...
The supply–demand balance for chloroprene rubber (CR) is tightening worldwide. Japanese CR manufacturers report that they are barely able to keep up with increased demand from existing users, let alone meet new demand. CR’s good balance of physical properties means that this synthetic rubber has found a diverse array of applications. Unable to meet demand despite operating at full capacity,...
Production and shipments for rubber and resin hoses are on an upward trend. Automotive and high-pressure rubber hoses have been solid performers on the back of a recovery in domestic automotive production volume and robust demand for construction equipment and machine tools. Resin hoses and tubes have also been going strong, supported by firm demand from the semiconductor industry. This...
NOK Corp. (TYO:7240) has released its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The major oil seals manufacturer posted net sales of 357.04 billion yen ($3.14 billion), up 6.7 percent year-on-year; operating income of 20.1 billion yen, up 77 percent; ordinary income of 26.6 billion yen, up 175.7 percent; and quarterly net profit of 16.25 billion yen, up 246.1...
Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5161) recently released its business results for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2018. The company, which manufactures weatherstrips and other auto parts, posted sales of 44.29 billion yen ($390.32 million), up 4.7 percent year-on-year; an operating profit of 3.75 billion yen, down 3.5 percent and an ordinary profit of 4.54 billion yen,...
