Teijin Ltd. (TYO:3401) has announced that its polycarbonate (PC) resin has been selected for use in the pillarless front windshield of the Tommykaira ZZ, a sports electric vehicle (EV) manufactured by GLM Co. Ltd., a Kyoto University-spawned automaker. This represents the world’s first production model road car windshield to be made of resin. Teijin uses...
Automotive
Key to the Car of Tomorrow: V2X – Part 1
The situation surrounding advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), the connected car, autonomous driving and automobiles has been changing at a rapid pace. These changes concern not just in-vehicle electronics but also infrastructural aspects such as communications and electricity supply. As such, many companies are beginning to draft growth strategies that account for these changes in...
Key to the Car of Tomorrow: In-Vehicle Displays – Part 2
With the field of automotive displays showing continued growth, material and component manufacturers join display manufacturers in their hope for the future of this market, which has different requirements than that of displays for smartphones and other consumer devices. In addition to high durability and long lifespan, there is the need for high image quality...
LiB Materials Hold Key to EV Market Prospects – Part 2
China is getting on the high-capacity lithium-ion secondary battery (LiB) bandwagon as the country’s government pushes to popularize EVs. This shift makes for business opportunities for Japanese manufacturers. One executive at a Japanese maker of separators identified LiBs using ternary cathodes as one such opportunity. Why would the use of these components prove beneficial to...
LiB Materials Hold Key to EV Market Prospects – Part 1
Automakers around the world are stepping up their efforts to develop electric vehicles (EVs). In Europe, manufacturers have released plans to have EVs account for roughly 25 percent of total automobile sales by 2025. In the U.S., Tesla Inc. has exceeded General Motors Co. in terms of market value. Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) is...
DIC Contemplates Increased PPS Compound Production at Home and Abroad
DIC Corp. (TYO:4631) is looking at ramping up its Japanese and overseas production of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) compounds, used in auto parts and other products. The plan under consideration would raise production capacity in Japan and abroad by 20–30 percent over the next few years. DIC’s global capacity is currently around 40,000 tons a year....
Toyota Boshoku Develops Lightweight Door Trim Material With Kenaf
Toyota Boshoku Corp. (TYO:3116) has developed a lightweight door trim material using kenaf. The material is a foam created by combining kenaf with thermally expandable microcapsules, thereby reducing weight by 20 percent while maintaining the same stiffness as conventional non-foam material. Toyota Boshoku plans to keep up with industry efforts to develop lighter plastic automobile...
Denka to Increase Production of Synthetic Specialty Rubber by 30%
Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) aims to increase production capacity for one of the company’s synthetic specialty rubbers by 30 percent. The rubber is both heat and oil resistant and is used in items such as automotive parts. The production boost is part of an effort to meet increased global demand for hose material used in...
Asahi Kasei Heads to Silicon Valley in Search of Innovative Auto Technology
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) has set up an intelligence-gathering operation in Silicon Valley to focus on the automotive sector. Positioning growth in this field as its top priority, Asahi Kasei dispatched a staff member to the U.S. from its Automotive Marketing Department in April. The department was established last year to enhance functions throughout the...
Toray Executive Yasuo Suga Discusses Present and Future of Carbon Fiber Industry – Part 1
By Yusuke Sekiguchi, Editor Toray Industries Inc. (TYO:3402) holds the world’s largest market share in both regular-tow (RT) and large-tow (LT) carbon fiber. Despite a market slowdown last year, demand for carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) has increased in the automotive industry, as the material’s ability to reduce vehicle weight enables better fuel efficiency and...
Vestaro to Expand Into Japanese Market With Automotive Composite Molding
Vestaro GmbH, a German joint venture between Evonik Industries AG and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (TYO:8031)-funded Forward Engineering GmbH, will begin full-scale development efforts in Japan’s automotive composite molding market. The JV will utilize its know-how of differentiated, market-rare products such as polyurethane prepreg and epoxy resin sheet molding compound (SMC) to process and supply...
Imerys Targets Electric Vehicle Market With New LiB Electrode Materials
Imerys Graphite & Carbon Switzerland Ltd is strengthening its efforts to provide materials used in secondary lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). The company recently obtained surface processing technology for negative electrode materials by acquiring Nippon Power Graphite Co. Ltd. (NPG) of Japan. Together with this technology, Imerys will accelerate its efforts to develop new negative electrode materials...
Toray Prepares for New Era of Automotive Carbon Fiber SMC – Part 2
Expecting demand for carbon fiber sheet molding compound (CFSMC) to increase in the automotive industry, Toray Industries Inc. (TYO:3402) has decided to accelerate its development of the material. Development of CFSMC for mass production has primarily been led by Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. However, Toray German subsidiary Euro Advanced Carbon Fiber Composites GmbH (EACC) also owns...
Toray Prepares for New Era of Automotive Carbon Fiber SMC – Part 1
Toray Industries Inc. (TYO:3402) plans to accelerate its development of carbon fiber sheet molding compound (CFSMC), as the company expects demand for the material to increase in the automotive field. Although carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is gaining in popularity in vehicle mass production in the 5–10 million yen ($44,010–$88,020) class, Toray is backing the...
Kobe Steel to Establish Korean JV With Novelis, Boost Auto Aluminum Production
Kobe Steel Ltd. (TYO:5406) plans to grow its automotive aluminum panel materials business. Seeking to expand its capacity to supply semi-finished product for processing, Kobe Steel will establish a South Korean joint venture with Novelis Inc., the world’s largest rolled aluminum sheet producer. Closer to home, the Japanese company also intends to spend a further...
Hitachi Chemical to Acquire Germany’s Isolite, Expand Automotive Parts Business
Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4217) announced on April 27 its conclusion of an agreement to acquire Isolite GmbH, a German manufacturer of insulation products. Hitachi Chemical aims to expand its automotive products business through this acquisition. The high thermal insulation performance of Isolite’s glass- and silica-fiber-based components offers the prospect of improved automobile fuel efficiency....
Mitsui Chemicals to Employ Rapid Prototyping for Auto Parts – Part 2
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) plans to employ a rapid prototyping method for the company’s automotive materials business. Utilizing computer-aided engineering (CAE), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and 3D printing technology, the method significantly improves test production speeds for automotive parts and materials. The method will be put into practice at Mitsui Chemicals’ Mobility Development Center, a facility...
Mitsui Chemicals to Employ Rapid Prototyping for Auto Parts – Part 1
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) plans to employ a rapid prototyping method for the company’s automotive materials business. Utilizing computer-aided engineering (CAE), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and 3D printing technology, the method will significantly speed up the company’s test production of automotive parts and materials. Mitsui Chemicals plans to put the method into practice at the Mobility...
Sekisui Chemical to Acquire Polymatech Japan
Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4204) announced plans on April 25 for an acquisition of Polymatech Japan Co. Ltd., a Saitama-based supplier of heat dissipation materials that incorporate silicone, by August 2017. With the acquisition, Sekisui Chemical will obtain advanced technologies that will help it meet an anticipated growth in demand for processed products that incorporate...
Toray Develops Sound-Absorbing Material to Cut Down Road Noise
Toray Industries Inc. (TYO:3402) has developed a sound-absorbing material that reduces road noise produced by automobile tires. Until now there had been no material that absorbs sound at around 1,000 Hertz, the frequency of road noise. Toray plans to highlight the high added value delivered by the material’s sound-absorbent properties and convince manufacturers to start...
