Shipment value of rubber products made a slight year-on-year increase in August, moving up 0.8 percent to 163 billion yen ($1.55 billion), according to records collated by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Although the shift was of only a small degree, it represents the first year-on-year improvement in 14 months. Broken down by product type, the production...
Production and shipment of high-pressure hoses are recovering, according to records compiled by the Japan Rubber Hose Manufacturers Association based on Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) statistics. August production rose 12.6 percent year-on-year to 313 tons, while the value of shipments rose 10.8 percent to 1.293 billion yen ($12.44 million). High pressure hoses are largely used in construction...
Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042) is looking to integrate its R&D activities through the establishment of a new research wing at its Yokkaichi Complex, Mie Prefecture. The company is investing some 4.5 billion yen ($4.33 million) in order to consolidate at Yokkaichi its macromolecule and urethane-related research, which to date has been divided over three locations. Plans call for the process to...
Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195) has exhibited the company’s new technologies and products at Bando Techno Fair 2016 in Kobe City. The event took place on Oct. 13–14 at Kobe International Exhibition Hall, held for the first time in nine years. At the exhibition, divisions covering areas such as automotive components, industrial materials, high-performance elastomer products, R&D, and the Bando-affiliate...
A restrictive trend is developing on investments in manufacturing equipment within Japan’s rubber industry. While largely robust performance was witnessed from many of the 21 companies comprising the Japan Rubber Machinery Association (JRM) through September, expectations for October onwards are that of tight market conditions. Japan’s domestic rubber industry is in a vague state of uncertainty at present. On the...
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has announced that it has signed on to participate in the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i). Established by the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of natural rubber (NR) as a resource, SNR-i will form part of Sumitomo Rubber’s corporate social responsibilities (CSR) and its efforts toward preserving the...
