Demand for synthetic rubber is projected to keep up a strong performance for the second half of fiscal 2018, spanning October–March. While the first half of the fiscal year saw raw material cost trends drive falling profits in some areas, demand itself has been stable on the whole, with some product types continuing to see tightness in the supply–demand balance....
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) has announced that U.S. subsidiary Bridgestone Americas Inc. will expand its plant in Warren County, Tennessee. The move will give the location additional production capacity for truck and bus radial (TBR) tires, which the company hopes will allow it to respond to growing demand for these tires in the North American market. Over the next three years,...
Kiyoshi Doi, president of major oil seal producer NOK Corp. (TYO:7240), recently provided his thoughts on how the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China is impacting his company’s business. NOK’s operations see the company ship products both from the U.S. to China and vice versa, Doi said. He therefore expects that tariffs being placed on these products will...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) U.S. subsidiary Bridgestone Americas Inc. recently announced plans to increase its production capacity for off-the-road tires. Taking place at a plant in Bloomington, Illinois, this expansion will cost the company $12 million and is slated for completion at some point in 2020. The project will see the plant begin producing 29-inch, 33-inch and 35-inch tires for small-...
Carbon black manufacturer Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd. (TYO:5301) announced on June 26 that it has concluded an agreement to acquire all shares in U.S.-based carbon black manufacturer Sid Richardson Carbon Ltd. (SRC) and its affiliates SRCG Ltd. and New SRCG Genpar LLC. Tokai Carbon is set to pay a total of 34.1 billion yen ($308.74 million) for the acquisition, which...
Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) is exhibiting for the first time at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Expo 2017 taking place in Atlanta, Georgia from Oct. 9–11. The company has introduced its anti-vibration rubber products for railcars at the expo, eyeing a full-scale expansion into the North American market. Anti-vibration rubber products for railcars are installed in the truck...
