Corporate News

Tyre Technical Center Opens

2009.09.24

Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. in Kobe, Japan constructed new Tyre Technical Center and held the opening ceremony on Friday September 17, 2009. The facility will play a major role in heritage and creation of technologies to enable the company to continue to grow in the next 100 years.

The slogan of our 100th anniversary is "now, toward the next century." Based on the thought that our past 100 years are for the 100 years to come, we will ensure "heritage and creation" of technological capability, which is the core of our corporate value, to maintain our growth in the next century. Tyre Technical Center is positioned as the nuclear of tire technology, research and development for the Sumitomo Rubber group. It was built under the concept of creation of space "to transmit our technical and R&D leadership" and "to work in live and comfortable environment" with the catchphrase of "the new stage to fly to the future."

The new facility features eco-friendliness and safety to reduce environment burdens, utilizing rooftop garden, solar panels and our group's original GRAST technology to produce high damping rubber to absorb vibration of the building^*.

^*This vibration absorbing system received Rank A of CASBEE, Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency, of City of Kobe.

We set our own standards in development of eco-friendly products last November to aim to protect the world environment. Tyre Technical Center will play a main role in development of such eco-friendly products including high fuel-efficient tires in the future. It will show the leadership in development of 100% fossil resources-free tires and 50% low rolling resistance tires, both of which are the major projects currently highlighted.

Outline of Tyre Technical Center