Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. (TYO:5192) is setting aside approximately 5.7 billion yen ($52.64 million) for capital investments in fiscal 2019, marking a 74 percent increase over fiscal 2018 to make for the company’s largest ever year of such investments. This will go toward updating and expanding the company’s production facilities, both in Japan and abroad; enriching test research facilities; and reconstructing...
The Japan Belting Manufacturers Association recently released statistics showing Japan’s domestic production of transmission belts to have increased 2 percent year-on-year for 2017, reaching a total of 11,985 tons. While automotive demand stalled, demand for general industrial applications was solid. Increased demand was seen for applications such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, injection molding machines, machine tools and industrial robots. Looking...
The Japanese market is witnessing a decline in demand for automotive belts, says Hajime Kakiuchi, president of major automotive belts and parts manufacturer Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. (TYO:5192). Sitting down recently for an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly, Kakiuchi said that the drop-off comes as a consequence of not only the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) but also with the expanded...
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...
Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195) has been working to bolster existing businesses while creating new ones as part of Breakthroughs for the Future, the company’s medium- to long-term business plan. The plan was embarked upon in fiscal 2013, and its first stage – or “BF-1” – concludes this year. According to Bando Chemical’s president, Mitsutaka Yoshii, the company has made...
