100 Year History of Staying Ahead of Society

  • Yokohama Rubber will celebrate its 100th anniversary since foundation in 2017. Over this period of 100 years, we have overcome various difficulties and worked as a company to develop products ahead of the world.
    We will introduce the values Yokohama Rubber has continued to provide to society along with our environmental and CSR activities.

1917 to 2017 100 Year History

  • 1917 to 1937
    Foundation to prewar growth period

    Established with aspirations of producing some of the finest products in the world
    Operating based on a founding spirit that values economic efficiency and social qualities.

  • Hiranuma Plant
Developments at Yokohama Rubber
Representative products
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. was established on October 13 as a joint venture between the BF Goodrich Company and Yokohama Electric Cable Manufacturing Company. Has the ambition to produce the best rubber products in the world using the advanced technology of the US. 1917
Started tire production 1920

1921 Independent development and utility model registration of a cut-edge flat belt

Developed Japan’s first corded tire, the “Hama Town Cord”
Extended the life of tires by three times
Hiranuma Plant was completely destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake
Worked to rebuild the plant while importing and selling tires from the BF Goodrich Company.
1923
Started operations of the Yokohama Plant completed in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama
The speech at that time by President Suekichi Nakagawa adopted as the founding spirit.

Founding spirit (summary)

  1. Production business is a social service.
  2. Commit to delivering quality products unrivaled by those of competitors.
  3. Management should adhere to the principles of fairness and consideration.
  4. Making the best use of the productivity of machines is the great secret for improving efficiency.
  5. Make a great effort to succeed in business.
1929 Started domestic production of V-belt
Revolutionized the V-belt industry with high-speed operation, long life, and excellent acoustics

1937 Launched a Y-shaped tire that adopts a new tire cord
Improved durability, etc.
  • 1938-1950s
    From military demand, expansion, and defeat to reconstruction

    Business driven by military demand/overseas production and reconstruction from postwar
    Promptly developed environmentally friendly products while resuming business following hardships.

  • Head Office and Tokyo Branch Office
Developments at Yokohama Rubber
Representative products
Established production sites in Asian countries 1938 to 1944

1940 Started sales of recycled rubber
Opening of Mie Plant 1944
Yokohama Plant rendered inoperative by Allied air raids
Lost all the business sites in Japan and overseas
1945 (end of war)
Got a fresh start based on a dauntless spirit
Started operations at Mishima Plant
1946
Started operations at Hiratsuka Plant 1951

1952 Launched Japan’s first cord conveyor belts

1954 Launched the “Y-29”, Japan’s first snow tire

1958 Launched HAMATITE® sealant made from a rubber and resin compound
Aimed for the domestic production of construction sealant, which passed stringent durability testing and has been used in many high-rise buildings.

Developed a pneumatic fender as the Company’s first environmental contribution product
Previously, whales had been used as cushioning material for whaling ships coming alongside the pier, which were substituted by this fender.
  • 1960s to 1970s
    High growth period

    Taking on our social responsibility as quickly as possible
    As pollution had become a social issue and in anticipation of the times, we indicated a stance of consideration for not only our own company, but also the supply chain and the local community.

  • Onomichi Plant
Developments at Yokohama Rubber
Representative products
Renamed to The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. 1963

1964 Japan’s first spiral high pressure hose released
Supports the adoption of hydraulics for industry machinery.

1965 Manufacturing and sales of the first jet aircraft tires in Japan

1967 Launched sales of “G.T. Special” and “G.T. Special XX”, radial tires for passenger cars
Radial tires with doubled durability of bias tires up until now became mainstream.
Pollution Prevention Committee established
Became the Environmental Improvement Department the following year.
1970

1971 Launched sales of “G.T. Special Steel”, Japan’s first steel radial tubeless tire for passenger cars
Established Tokyo Retread Co., Ltd. and started a retreading business 1972
Formulated a new management philosophy
Aim to put an emphasis on corporate social responsibility. Around this time, we indicated that we would not generate pollution even at the stages of subcontractors, raw materials suppliers, and customers.
1973
Started operations at Onomichi Plant
Equipped with a full factory wastewater closed system.
1974

1976 Started development of fuel-efficient tires for North America
Occurrence of some defects in car steel radial tires and subsequent announcement
Started withdrawal and replacement measures. Made prompt response efforts including inspections.
Planned and executed recurrence prevention measures.
1977

1978 Launched sales of “ADVAN HF” for passenger cars
  • 1980s-1990s
    From the bubble economy to a period of low economic growth

    Pioneering environmental support
    Launched sales of the “DNA” series as the first eco-tires in Japan, staying ahead of the global low fuel consumption trend

  • “DNA”, the first eco-tires in Japan
Developments at Yokohama Rubber
Representative products

1980 Launched sales of “ASPEC AX-323”, a Kevlar radial tire for passenger cars
Entered the PRGR (ProGear) golf business 1983 Launched sales of golf balls

1988 Launched sales of low-permeability air hose with one-tenth the alternative freon R134a permeability of traditional products

1990 Launched sales of “SY101”, a studless tire for trucks and buses

1991 Launched sales of “Flex Line”, a cylindrical conveyor belt that prevent scattering of the transported object
Formulated the corporate philosophy

Mie Plant completes a tire incineration boiler using waste heat in consideration of the environment
1992
Formulated environmental protection action plan 1993
Established production and sales subsidiaries in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam

1996 to 1997

1998 Launched sales of “ES-01” and “ES-02” as first offerings of new fuel-efficient “DNA” series of passenger car tires in Japan
The rolling resistance used for indicating fuel economy at this time is regarded as a benchmark for tire fuel economy now.
Acquired ISO 14001 for all plants in Japan 1999
  • 2000s
    Evolution of CSR management

    Becoming a company having world-class strengths in technologies for protecting the environment.
    We have implemented various initiatives as a company having world-class strengths in technologies for protecting the environment based on GD100 and the Environmental GD100.

  • Logo for GD100
Developments at Yokohama Rubber
Representative products

2000 Began sales of prepreg for aircraft structures
Achieved a significant reduction in weight compared to conventional metal structure materials and contributed to improved fuel economy.
Started a zero emissions campaign
Aim to stop producing industrial wastes for landfills by end of fiscal 2005
2001 Launched sales of “ECU-193” wood-based flooring material elastic adhesive as a sick house countermeasure
Established production and sales subsidiaries in China and Thailand

2001 to 2004

2002 Launched sales of “iceGUARD iG10” studless tires for passenger vehicles
Completed construction of Shinshiro-Minami Plant in Aichi Prefecture 2003 ISO certification acquired for Yokohama Rubber’s pneumatic fenders

Launched sales of “Ecotex”, an energy efficient conveyor belt
Established a tire sales company in Russia, Yokohama Russia L.L.C 2005 ADVAN become a global flagship brand
Launched worldwide sales of “ADVAN Sport V103”


Launched sales of the “AIR Watch” tire pressure monitoring system for passenger cars
Announced new medium-range management plan, Grand Design 100 (GD 100)
At the same time, set out on a policy of being a company having world-class strengths in technologies for protecting the environment

Established production and sales subsidiaries in China (Shandong, Suzhou)
2006
Started the YOKOHAMA Forever Forest tree-planting project
We create forests in consideration of biodiversity at offices in various locations.


Established a local subsidiary in India, Yokohama India Pvt. Ltd.
2007 Launched sales of “ZEN 102ZE”, a fuel-efficient, low maintenance tire for trucks and buses
Established a Corporate Social Responsibility Division
Released the CSR Management Vision of “To build a trusted identity as a contributing member of the global community.”
2008

2009 Launched sales of “Y-coat”, a coating material used in household appliances and electronic devices
Contributed to improved durability for information home electronic products such as mobile phones.
Formulated Guidelines on Biodiversity 2010 Launched sales of “BluEarth AE-01”, a fuel-efficient tire for passenger cars, as the first offering in the “BluEarth” series

2010s
Further progress of globalization and expansion of social activities

In preparation for the next generation of society
Evolution of social activities aimed at the next 100 years

  • Conversion of the Alliance Tire Group into a subsidiary
  • Indonesia Plant (marine products manufacturing)
Developments at Yokohama Rubber
Representative products
Established Yokohama Peer Support Co., Ltd., as a company promoting employment of disabled individuals

Started environmental protection project in the Laojunshan Preservation Area in China

2011
Received integrated ISO 14001 certification (China)

Signed the United Nations Global Compact
2012 Launched sales of “Duotex”, a long-life conveyor belt composed of recycled materials

Introduced a regional comprehensive work position system, and abolished general position system 2014
Held social contribution activities awards for business partners
Awards were based on the result of self-diagnosis and questionnaires previously conducted with business partners
2015 Launched sales of the “AC6B 11” air conditioning hose, the first in the world to support next-generation refrigerant

Acquired Alliance Tire Group B.V.

Certified for top-ranking A List in the CDP Climate Change Report 2016

2016 Launched sales of the “ibar HG82” hose for high-pressure hydrogen gas

Acquired Aichi Tire Industry Co., Ltd.

Achieved the goal of planting 500,000 trees in the YOKOHAMA Forever Forest Project

2017 Expected to achieve goal of 100% environmentally-friendly products