JSR BST Elastomer Co. Ltd. (JBE) plans to begin commercial operations of its phase-two plant in the second half of current fiscal year (April-October 2016). JBE, a joint venture between JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) and Thailand’s Bangkok Synthetics Co. Ltd., manufactures solution styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) in Thailand. The new facility is located adjacent to the phase-one plant. Its annual production...
Fujikura Rubber Ltd. (TYO:5121) is expanding the second plant of its Vietnamese subsidiary, Fujikura Composites Haiphong Inc. The company intends to raise the production capacity at the subsidiary in anticipation of further increasing demand for industrial materials with the growth of ASEAN economies. It is envisioned spending $6.4 million on an expansion plan that will allow sales to increase by...
The Japanese tire labeling system for defining fuel-efficient tires began in January 2010 as a voluntary industry standard, covering rolling resistance and wet-grip performance. Thanks to the continuous marketing efforts of tire manufacturers, the penetration rate of fuel-efficient tires in line with the grading system has steadily grown. However, these same manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate their...
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) is supplying one-make tires for Super Formula, which just kicked off the 2016 season. In the final race held at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture on April 24, a crowd of 32,000 excited spectators witnessed the performance of the Advan sports tires made by Yokohama Rubber, which has returned to super formula after a...
Rubber manufacturers in the Japanese prefectures of Kumamoto and Oita have been greatly affected by a recent string of earthquakes that have centered on Kumamoto Prefecture, beginning with a foreshock at 9.26 p.m. on April 14. Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) and NOK Corp. (TYO:7240) suspended operations at their respective manufacturing plants in Kumamoto Prefecture. Meanwhile, damage to locally based Tsuchiya Rubber...
Lanxess AG is focusing on investment for organic growth, said Matthias Zachert, chairman of the German chemical firm’s management board at a press conference at Tokyo’s Palace Hotel during a recent visit to Japan. Outlining corporate activities for fiscal 2016, he said that the company has been working to rebuild business operations during the 24 months following his appointment. According...
