The China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) has revealed that the planned labeling system showing a tire’s environmental performance characteristics at a glance will be implemented starting on Sept. 15, 2016. Comprising a grading scheme and a set of labeling management regulations, the system ranks tires as fuel-efficient “Green Tires” when specified standards for rolling resistance, wet grip and noise are...
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NEDO Launches Biotech Development to Produce Industrial Materials From Plants, Microorganisms
Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Development Organization (NEDO) plans to begin innovative efforts to develop biotechnologies that will help Japan free itself from dependence on foreign technologies. The effort is aimed at developing national technologies for genome editing, as well as Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, which can be applied to the production of industrial materials from plants and microorganisms,...
Sumitomo Rubber Develops New, Show-stopping Studless Tire
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) this August will roll out sales of its new studless tire for passenger vehicles, the Dunlop Winter Maxx 02. The new tire represents the brand’s best to date for performance on ice and snow and for overall durability. The Winter Maxx 02 improves upon the ice and snow-braking performance of its predecessor, the Winter Maxx...
Brexit: Japanese Rubber Companies Take Wait-and-see Approach, But Strong Yen a Source of Concern
With many Japanese rubber companies having bases in the U.K., its recent referendum result to leave the EU will likely have an impact on the Japanese rubber industry. Recent interviews by the Japan Rubber Weekly revealed that, although Japanese rubber companies are worried about Brexit’s negative effects, most will wait and see before deciding what measures to take. News of...
Bridgestone and Others Brace for Post-Brexit Changes
With Britain’s referendum vote to depart from the EU, a number of Japan’s tire manufacturers have now been left to speculate as to what the exact fallout will be. Of Japan’s four tire manufacturers, Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108), Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) and Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5105) have sales locations in Britain. Asked what the aftereffects of Brexit will...
Yokohama Rubber Completes Acquisition of Alliance Tire Group
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) has completed its acquisition of Alliance Tire Group B.V. (ATG) effective July 1. ATG will be included in company’s consolidated accounts from the third quarter of FY 2016 (October – December). ATG is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its main business is the manufacture and sale of tires for agricultural, forestry, industrial, and construction machinery....