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SRI: Testing breakthrough will lead to higher rubber yields
Japanese tyre maker Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) says its collaboration in a research project has resulted in a technique that may improve natural rubber yields and even enable natural rubber biosynthesis within a laboratory.
SRI: Better tyre rubber through tomato research
Tyres and tomatoes. At first glance these have little in common apart from the same initial letter, but Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. may beg to differ. The Japanese manufacturer shares news of joint research work focusing on an enzyme that is found in tomatoes and has a similar structure to those involved in the biosynthesis of natural rubber.
Golf: SRI bolstering Dunlop brand equity
In addition to producing Dunlop tyres in certain international markets, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has held the global trademark for the Dunlop brand’s use on sporting goods and licenced products since 2017. In a move intended to enhance brand equity amongst golfers and fans of the sport, SRI is adding the Dunlop name to the caps worn by its contracted players. Starting with the Japan Golf Tour in March 2022, Dunlop will appear in place of the Srixon logo currently found on the back of these caps.
Sumitomo Rubber switches to green energy in China
The Sumitomo Rubber Group’s two tyre factories in the People’s Republic of China are now operating on 100 per cent renewably sourced energy. The transition to renewable was completed this month, and Sumitomo Rubber Industries says additional measures will further increase the Changshu and Hunan plants’ sustainability credentials.
SRI: Lower full-year forecast despite profit bounceback
Although Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ (SRI) sales revenues and particularly profit for the first nine months of 2021 were healthily above those achieved a year earlier, the Japanese firm has downwardly revised its sales and profit forecast for full-year 2021.
SRI technique makes sidewall lettering more distinctive
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) has unveiled its ‘Nano Black’ design technique. The company behind the Falken brand shares that the use of Nano Black is a process of applying a deeper black colouring to letters, logos and patterns on tyre sidewalls. This newly developed technique involves adding extremely fine ridges to the sidewall surface in order to inhibit the reflection of light, thereby producing a deeper shade of black than conventional hues.
SRI trialling hydrogen energy in tyre manufacture
This month, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) begins a proof-of-concept study to determine the viability of harnessing hydrogen energy for tyre manufacture. The study will take place at SRI’s plant in Shirakawa, Japan and is being supported by national research and development agency the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
SRI supporting TCFD recommendations
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has pledged to support the recommendations given by the FSB’s (Financial Stability Board) Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). In a statement, the Japanese tyre and rubber products maker declares that moving forward, it will “strive to follow the TCFD recommendations by working to actively disclose information concerning both the risks and the opportunities that climate change presents” in regards to four key areas of its business: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management and Goals/Indicators.
SRI evolving Advanced 4D Nano Design technology
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has presented the “next evolution” of its proprietary Advanced 4D Nano Design materials development technology. The manufacturer of the Falken and (outside Europe) Dunlop tyre brands also reports it is utilising supercomputer technology to accelerate its work on materials simulation.
SRI evaluating hydrogen as production power source, joins association
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) is working to achieve carbon neutrality in its tyre manufacturing processes by 2050, and as part of these efforts recently began examining the possibility of utilising hydrogen energy within its major tyre factories in Japan. In order to “participate more actively in efforts to overcome the challenges involved in bringing about the hydrogen economy while also exchanging useful information with other companies and organisations,” SRI has joined the Japan Hydrogen Association.
Tyre wear detection added to SRI’s Sensing Core
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has announced the next evolution of Sensing Core, and says this latest update to its tyre sensing technology is “revolutionary”. In addition to tyre pressure, tyre load and load conditions, Sensing Core can now detect tyre wear.
SRI tests TPMS solution for Level 4 automated vehicles
Sumitomo Rubber Industries has been working together with Japan’s Gunma University since last year to develop a system that remotely monitors tyre pressure in driverless vehicles. The tyre maker reports that, having created a system that works with Level 4 autonomous vehicles, it conducted a successful proof-of-concept test of this new system on public roads on 12 November.
Chinese tyre maker settles Dunlop Geomax infringement lawsuit
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) shares that a settlement has been reached in its patent infringement lawsuit against Timsum Rubber Tire (Weihai). SRI, which manufactures Dunlop tyres in certain regions outside Europe, filed a lawsuit with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court in response to unauthorised use of the Dunlop Geomax MX52 motocross tyre tread pattern.
SRI testing remote tyre monitoring
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI), manufacturer of the Falken tyre brand, recently began proof-of-concept testing for a new kind of tyre pressure management solutions service that remotely monitors tyre pressure and temperature. Through this testing project, SRI will evaluate the service’s efficacy in supporting safer driving, specifically its effectiveness in reducing maintenance time and workload and preventing operator error. SRI says the project contributes towards its “ultimate aim” of establishing a business model that “helps to enhance the safety and economy of driving.”
