Manufacturers Part 1—A recent survey conducted by Japan Rubber Weekly found that over half of respondents, or 54 percent, expect the rubber industry's performance to remain "stable" in 2016, while 23 percent believe it will be "somewhat better" or "better." Meanwhile, 21 percent responded that it will be "somewhat worse" or "worse."
New Year’s Top Interview—Increases in sales of automotive components in China have kept sales up at Hokusay Rubber Industry Co. Ltd., company President Shinichi Yoneya said in a recent interview with Japan Rubber Weekly.
A manufacturer of industrial rubber products in Japan’s Hokuriku area, Hokusay boasts strong business performance in the areas of automotive weather strip and construction gasket products.
New Year’s Top Interview—Although his company has no immediate plans to open new bases, it is in the midst of aggressively expanding existing facilities, said Tadaaki Yasufuku, president of Yasufuku Rubber Industries Co. Ltd., speaking about what’s in store for the company in a recent interview with Japan Rubber Weekly.
With a total of eight bases in the six countries of Japan, the U.S., Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil and Thailand, Yasufuku Rubber makes rubber components for automobiles and recreational vehicles including motorcycles, ATVs and jet skis.
New Year’s Top Interview—In an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly, President Shinichi Yasue of Kuraray Plastics Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) said that re-organizing the company into divisions has fostered a greater sense of togetherness in each of the units with regard to manufacturing, sales and development. He aspires for the rubber and plastics maker to achieve higher revenues and profits in 2016 through this new tripartite organization.
New Year’s Top Interview—Terumoto Shiroeda, president of Kureha Elastomer Co. Ltd., says that 2015 was more valley than peak for his company amid poor economic conditions. He spoke in a recent interview with Japan Rubber Weekly, looking back on the past business year.
Shiroeda said that products for the mining sector did well during the April-September period, putting in a solid business performance.
New Year's Top Interview—Marugo Rubber Industries Ltd., a manufacturer of anti-vibration rubber and rubber hoses for Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Isuzu, Hino and Daihatsu automobiles and motorcycles, is embarking on a new mid-term business plan in 2016, said President Tatsuo Fujiki in an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly. He said that his focus is on energizing the company to succeed over the next 100 years.
