Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) is increasing production of high-performance passenger car tires (18-plus inches in diameter) at its Shinshiro Plant, Aichi Prefecture. The company will commence construction on a new line this May and, with a launch planned for June 2017, is in position to have full production possible by April 2018. With an investment of 3.7 billion yen ($32.76...
Ikuji Ikeda, president and CEO of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110), said in a recent interview with the Japan Rubber Weekly that he expects major progress in his company’s global strategy. The dissolution of the alliance agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of the U.S. will free Sumitomo Rubber of constraints in the North American and European markets...
Suzuka Engineering Co. Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture) reached a financing agreement last November with Hyakugo Bank Ltd. (TYO:8368) on the basis of an intellectual property business assessment report. Serving a wide spectrum of the rubber industry, Suzuka Engineering independently develops and designs rubber manufacturing processes and, most notably, industrial machinery instruments and systems for kneading operations. On the...
The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA) announced that automobile tire production volume (in terms of rubber volume) in 2015 (January–December) in Japan was 1.06 million tons. This marks a 6 percent year-on-year decrease and the fourth consecutive year of negative growth. Looking at product category, production volume was down year-on-year across the board. Truck and bus tires decreased by...
Bridgestone has announced the release of the Playz PX-Series, tires that contribute to driving safety by reducing driver fatigue. These tires have a different pattern on the inboard side and outboard side of the tread. By stabilizing contact with the road surface, they reduce the need for the driver to constantly make minor directional adjustments in steering.
Rubber consumption will see its first annual increase in five years, according to a forecast by the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA). The combined total consumption volume of natural and synthetic rubber in 2016 is expected to amount to 1.3414 million tons, up 0.8 percent from the previous year. See a breakdown of the figures by major product category below.
