Japan Archives - Page 28 of 57 - Tyrepress

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Thai Government to prop up rubber prices

According to news published on the The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries’ website, Thailand’s government intends to intervene in its domestic rubber market and support prices following their recent fall. The country’s deputy prime minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, is quoted as saying “we will meet exporters very soon. We need to do something to support rubber prices; they should not fall below 100 baht (£2.01) per kilogramme.” Prices for USS3 rubber fell to 95 baht per kilogramme on March 14, down from 132 baht on March 11. Since mid-February prices for USS3 rubber have plummeted almost 50 per cent.

14th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Japan earthquake exacerbates rubber price decline

Rubber prices have been in decline of late and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have added to this downward trend. The trading of rubber futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange was suspended following a 30 yen per kilogramme drop in the April-delivery contract (to 378.4 yen) while the August delivery rubber contract declined 4.5 per cent or 17.9 yen to 383.5 yen. This decline was tracked by China's benchmark rubber futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which on March 14 fell by six per cent, the daily limit, to RMB 33,480 per tonne.

14th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo issues post-earthquake statement

International News

Expressing it’s the company’s deepest condolences to the victims of the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Toyo Tires group has released further details about the how the tragedy has affected its business and what it is doing to ensure the safety of workers.

Despite the fact that Toyo runs a plant in Sendai near the epicentre of the magnitude 8.9 earthquake, the company reports that neither this nor its other manufacturing plants in Japan have been affected by the tsunami, and there has not been any significant earthquake damage to plant building or facilities.

14th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Japanese tyre makers respond to earthquake disaster

The Bridgestone Group has responded to the widespread earthquake and tsunami damage in Japan with a pledge to contribute donations of 300 million yen (approximately US$3.5 million) to assist with relief efforts. Bridgestone Corporation will donate 200 million yen and Bridgestone Group will donate bicycles and bedclothes worth 100 million yen.

14th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Indonesian petrochemical firm gearing up for butadiene production

Indonesia’s PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical has outlined plans to diversify its production portfolio and enter the synthetic rubber sector through the construction of a new butadiene production facility – Indonesia’s first – in Banten Province. According to Mr. Suryandi, the company’s corporate secretary and investor relations director, the US$100 million facility will have a production capacity of up to 100,000 tons per annum and is expected to commence operations in the third quarter of 2013. Construction of the plant is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of this year.

8th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Proctor & Gamble's Geissler elected to Goodyear Board of Directors

Goodyear has announced the election of Werner Geissler, vice chairman of global operations for The Procter & Gamble Company, to the company’s Board of Directors as an independent director. “Werner brings to our Board of Directors more than three decades of valuable experience in brand and business leadership,” said Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer. “His consumer marketing expertise, along with his international insights, will be an asset as we continue to carry out our global strategy in 2011 and beyond.”

22nd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Peter McMartin 1932 – 2011

With great sadness Maxxis International (UK) PLC has announced the loss of Peter McMartin the company’s founder and chairman. Peter McMartin passed away peacefully with family at his side, late in the evening of Monday 14 February, following a short battle with cancer.

Born in Falkirk, in 1932, Peter McMartin’s entrepreneurial career took off in the early 1970s when he began importing car and motorcycle parts from Japan. He then went on to focus exclusively on motorcycle parts before merging his company with distributor Bickers Anglia (Accessories) Limited in 1986. In 1998 Peter successfully completed the purchase of the company and went on to develop the business with the support of his directors and committed, loyal workforce. The company converted into PLC status for a short time before a new joint venture company was formed in March 2005, Maxxis International UK plc. Maxxis still uses the Bickers name to continue trading in the motorcycle industry, while using the Maxxis brand to trade in the automotive tyre sector. Peter had remained active as chairman until just a few weeks prior to his death, always maintaining a positive hands-on approach to the company he loved.

17th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo issues safety recall in the US

A safety recall covering a number of Toyo and Nitto brand products has been announced by Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. The tyre maker says approximately 4,891 tyres are subject to this recall, of which approximately 588 were produced using a rubber chemical mixture that does not meet the company's specification. “As a consequence, sections of the tread may become detached, potentially causing loss of vehicle control and a crash, which could result in death or injury,” Toyo states in a press release.

14th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Japanese Tyre Machinery Manufacturer Forms Indian JV

Japan’s Kobe Steel has formed a joint venture with India’s Larsen & Toubro Limited to manufacture and sell tyre production machinery in India. Called L&T Kobelco Machinery Private Ltd., the joint venture will make rubber mixers and twin-screw rollerhead extruders used in manufacturing tyres. Plans call for construction of the plant to begin in February 2011 and production to begin in October 2011. Approximately 500 million rupees (900 million yen) will be invested in the facility.

25th January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Awarded for Samurai Ad Campaign

Efforts made by Yokohama Rubber to increase brand recognition in overseas markets have been acknowledged at the Japan IAA Best Advertising Awards. The company shares that at a presentation ceremony on January 27 it will be handed the bronze award for its “Master of the Road” television commercial, which was aired in a number of international markets.

17th January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess to Expand Global Political Communication

Specialty chemicals group Lanxess says it intends to intensify communication with political and social leaders on a global level. As a first step towards accomplishing this, the company is expanding its presence in Berlin with the move to a new liaison office in the German capital. This office will open on January 20, prior to the “Lanxess Kick-Off Berlin 2011” event. Lanxess also intends to open an office in Brussels some time in the spring.

14th January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Solar Power for Yokohama China Site

Yokohama Rubber intends to reduce its greenhouse gases by 25 per cent (using the year 1990 as a benchmark) by 2020, and to achieve this target the company is introducing natural energy sources and more energy efficient equipment. As part of this programme, China based company subsidiary Hangzhou Yokohama Tire Co., Ltd. is installing a photovoltaic power generation system at its head office administration building and guardhouse. The solar power equipment to be fitted there is comprised of seven hundred and twenty nine 100-watt panels in a space of approximately 3,000 square meters, and these will supply about 67,000 kWh of electricity annually – about 0.3 per cent of the facility’s requirement – and cut CO2 emissions by about ninety four tons per year. This first solar power system installed at a Yokohama Rubber company outside of Japan will enter operation in February 2011.

12th January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama – “Complete Zero Emissions” Reached at Thailand Factory

Yokohama Rubber’s car, truck and bus tyre factory in Thailand has become the company’s fifth plant outside of Japan to achieve “complete zero emissions” – in other words, no waste generated in the factory is subject to direct landfill disposal. This achievement was reached in November, eleven months after the factory became the first Yokohama factory outside of Japan to reach “zero emission” – less than one per cent – landfill status.

7th December 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Raise Truck and Bus Tyre Prices in Japan

As of March 1, 2011 prices of Bridgestone’s Japanese market truck and bus tyres will increase by an average of seven per cent. This increase applies to both summer and winter tyre lines.

7th December 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Ecopia OE for Nissan Leaf

Nissan’s ‘Leaf’ electric car goes on sale in December 2010 and will hit the streets fitted with tyre’s from Bridgestone’s Ecopia range as original equipment. In Europe and Japan the Ecopia EP150 is being supplied to Nissan in size 205/55R16 91V while North American customers will receive their Leaf fitted with a size P205/55R16 89H version of the Ecopia EP422, a product designed for all-season use in this particular market. Beyond this fitment, Bridgestone states it will “continue working to bolster its line-up of Ecopia tyres, roll them out globally, and increase their use as original equipment.”

6th December 2010/by Tyrepress Editors