2017 marks Yokohama Rubber’s one-hundredth year in business, and the company is energetically tackling the final Phase IV of its Grand Design 100 (GD100) medium-term business plan, said Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) President Hikomitsu Noji during a recent talk with Japan Rubber Weekly. In its tire business, Noji said that Yokohama Rubber is focusing on the global original equipment...
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5105) will expand its research and development capabilities at its Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. (TNA) facility located in White, GA, to strengthen its North American business. Scheduled for completion during 2017, the expansion will build on the product development capabilities and the resources and personnel at the existing TNA R&D department. Established...
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) will increase its U.S. production capacity of passenger car and light truck tires from currently 5,000 tires to 10,000 per day by the end of 2019, said President and CEO Ikuji Ikeda during a recent interview with Japan Rubber Weekly. He added that this move aims at expanding sales of high value-added tires in the...
Sitting down for an interview recently, Brigestone Corp. (TYO:5108) CEO Masaaki Tsuya reflected on what 2016 held for the Japanese tire manufacturer – and touched also on what the near future might have in store. Tsuya said that, in terms of innovation, last year saw Brigestone promoting the development of new materials such as tough polymer composites. It is part,...
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) is proceeding with revamping its North American plants and bringing in new equipment for use with current production, said President & CEO Ikuji Ikeda at a press conference last week. He added that, with a view to the future, the company will also adopt new production technology to increase production capacity for high-performance tires. Increasing...
The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA) has announced its 2016 estimates for domestic demand of automobile tires, together with its forecast for 2017. According to the association, domestic demand in 2016 was in line with the previous year at 117.87 million units, and a virtually identical demand of 118.19 million units is anticipated for 2017. This demand estimate is...
