Deliver fun and peace of mind
- Environmentally-friendly products
- 3R promotion initiatives
- Initiatives to improve
quality and reliability
We continue to respond to changing needs by providing safe and high-quality products and services
Results of initiatives
Proportion of environmentally-friendly
products among all products
100%(FY2017, consolidated)
Turning all our products into environmentally-friendly ones
As of the end of fiscal 2017, we achieved our target of increasing the percentage of our products that feature environmentally-friendly technologies to 100%. We worked under our Action Guidelines to turn all of Yokohama Rubber’s products into environmentally-friendly product in an aim to reduce our environmental impact from fiscal 2006, which we achieved in fiscal 2017.
Four criteria for assessing environmental friendliness
We assess products in reference to our own four environmental
criteria from the procurement of raw materials to disposal and
recycling: prevention of global warming, resource recycling, resource
conservation, and safety and comfort. Our guidelines mandate that
all new products achieve an aggregate improvement of at least 5%
over existing products and that they at least match existing products
in regard to all four criteria. In addition, we have a mechanism that
does not allow commercialization if these criteria are not fulfilled.
Development work on new product candidates includes
establishing targets, and each candidate undergoes a design review
where we determine whether it has attained the targets. No product
proceeds to commercialization unless it clears the design review.
An environmental assessment check is incorporated in the review,
and product development is only possible if the
Environmentally-Friendly Products Regulations are cleared.
Safeguarding the environment will remain a core emphasis in
product development at Yokohama, and that will include broadening
our measures for preventing adverse environmental impact.
Development of BluEarth-air EF21: Our Latest Advance in Light-Weight, Fuel-Saving Tires
The BluEarth-air EF21 offers new advances in reducing
environmental impact. We have achieved those advances by
supplementing what was our most fuel-efficient tire with the latest
Light-Weight design technology. The BluEarth-air EF21 was a
limited-run offering (and has reached the target sales volume).
Reducing tire weight contributes to Fuel-Saving by reducing
overall vehicle weight, and it also means a reduction in material
consumption, which contributes to reduction in the environmental
impact. We achieved a weight reduction of 25% in the BluEarth-air
EF21 with design breakthroughs that engender a thinner,
more-rigid structure.*1 *2
The BluEarth-air EF21 has earned the highest ratings under Japan’s
tire-labeling system for Rolling resistance (AAA) and for Wet Grip (a),
and it combines Fuel-Saving performance with superior safety.
- [VOICE] Developer of BluEarth-air EF21Tire Designing Dept. No.1 Group No.1
Masatoshi Kuriyama -
The BluEarth-air EF21 is a breakthrough product that has achieved a significant weight reduction while maintaining the highest levels for Wet performance, Rolling resistance, and Wear resistance that are inherently conflicting features. Dedicated compounds and the latest rubber mixing technologies have been adopted through engagement between structural design personnel and materials design personnel to achieve something that has not been possible as an extension of tire development up until now. We will leverage the concept of lightness going forward as we continue to aim for low-price tire products that are high quality, long life, and environmentally-friendly.
Contributing to safer cargo loading through the development of MEGA Yokohama Floating Pneumatic Rubber Fender
A fender is a cushioning product that fulfills the role of preventing
damage to the hull and the quay wall during ship-to-ship
operations or when ships are moored.
Yokohama’s floating pneumatic fenders are fenders using the
power of air as the first fenders in the world developed using rubber
materials technologies. These fenders have many benefits including
little degradation in performance after repeated use or changes in
performance from the impact from crashing or changes in the
temperature, and these fenders are widely used as materials for
ship-to-ship operations or mooring in a wide variety of fields
including oil, mining, fisheries, and offshore drilling. By using the
world’s largest with a diameter of 6m that was developed by the
company in December 2017 for LNG-FPSO (floating production,
storage and offloading system) where demand is expected to
increase as demand for LNG* rises, it has become possible to
maintain a greater distance apart than that with previously existing
fenders to increase the safety of offloading operations.
If an accident were to occur on the sea, it could cause immense
damage to the environment and marine life. If fenders that do not
fulfill quality standards become accidentally damaged, it could also
result in damage the hull or the death or injury of a crew member.
These can be folded down to a small size for delivery to the site,
as a product that can reduce transportation costs and energy
consumption at the same time.
- [VOICE] Developer of MEGA
Yokohama Floating
Pneumatic Rubber FenderIndustrial Products Technical Dept. Group No. 3
Kouko Suzuki -
This project was started in response to the needs for MEGA Yokohama Floating Pneumatic Rubber Fender along with increase in ultra-large ships so as those used for LNG transport around the world. It was extremely difficult to achieve a good balance when trying to increase the diameter to 6m because pressure resistance tends to worsen if size is prioritized. We were able to clear these challenges by introducing materials and manufacturing methods differing from conventional ones through a process of trial and error. With the cooperation of people from many different departments, we were able to complete fenders that are top-class in terms of size, quality, and performance for the first time in the world.
We preserve limited resources for the future
Results of initiatives
Ratio of recycled materials in products
2.3%(FY2017, consolidated)
Achievement rate of
total zero-emissions for wastes
100%(FY2017, consolidated)
3R promotion: Retread tires initiatives
Yokohama Tire Retread (YTR) is engaged in the manufacturing and sales of retread tires. Retread tires are tires that have been reused through replacement of tread rubber that has worn out to restore function as a tire. People have a high level of recognition and understanding of retread tires in Western countries, and the ratio of retread tire sales to the total sales of tires including new tires is at least 40%. However, in Japan, this ratio is currently less than 20%. They are mainly used as tires for trucks, buses, trailers, and dump trucks. YTR will strengthen cooperation with the related companies in the Yokohama Rubber Group and aim for the further spread of retread tires.
Characteristics of retread tires
- Low environmental impact:The environmental impact is lower because of approximately 32% of the petroleum resources (mass ratio, calculated by National Council on Retread Tires) required for production and approximately 40% of the CO2 emissions during manufacturing compared to new tires.
- Excellent economic efficiency:Because new truck and bus tires are basically designed while consideration to durability including retread usage, retread leads to total cost reductions.
- Ensures sufficient quality, performance, and service:YTR is subject to regular quality inspections and quality evaluations by Yokohama Rubber, and after-sales service equivalent to that for new products is provided.
In light of the characteristics to the left, these retread tires offer
strong environmental conservation effects from the perspective of
the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle).
In terms of the production method, so-called “Remold method”
is used in which a tire with unvulcanized* ribbon shape rubbers
wrapped to a tire casing is vulcanized in a mold. Feature of this
method is high quality of appearance and suitable for mass
production.
Another benefit is possible to apply tread design similar to new
products. From year 2018, we also release wide-based tires (two
tires replace to one of wide tire) for trailers and tanker trucks, and
this has resulted in further contributions to the reduction of
environmental impact.
- [VOICE] Retread tire production sites
that are also addressing resource
issues through quality oriented manufacturing
Yokohama Tire Retread (YTR)
Right: Osamu Takahashi, Senior Managing Officer and Head of Saitama
Office (at the time)
Left: Ryu Takahashi, Manufacturing Section Manager -
Osamu Takahashi: We believe that demand will continue to grow for wide-based retread tires. Because the voice to develop this tire is getting larger. So we have prepared several new equipment for manufacturing this size. The entire YTR Saitama is working to
Ryu Takahashi: Because the Saitama Office became the first of YTR’s four offices in Hokkaido, Saitama, Nagoya, and Onomichi to manufacture wide-based tires, I feel both very honored along with a feeling of responsibility. We intend to make high-quality retread tires and contribute to resource issues.
TOPIC
Received Award for Resources Recirculation Technologies and Systems for reduction activities in the manufacturing process
The Ibaraki Plant received the FY2017 Award for Resources Recirculation Technologies and Systems* for effort to reduce rubber mold materials in the hose manufacturing process. Rubber mold materials cover the outer surface rubber when a hose is manufactured, and they can be used repeatedly for about 30 times by peeling off from a vulcanized hose, grinding, melting, and molding. However, an issue faced is that the amount of materials recovered decreases as the recycling process is repeated. We have made significant improvements to this process through two initiatives.
a) We have suppressed the occurrence of fine powder by
making the screen mesh of the grinder larger and
making the holding time in machinery shorter
b) By using a conveyor belt instead of air transport, fine
powder can be used as materials for the next mold
without falling in the dust collector
As a result of these efforts, we have improved the materials recovery rate after use 30 times from 70% to 90%, and reduced the annual usage amount of rubber mold materials by 3.6 tons.
We have established a quality assurance system through all product processes
Results of initiatives
Number of newly certified tire service engineers
Domestic: 6employees
overseas: 28employees
Number of tire complaint judgment delegates
Domestic: 27employees
overseas: 1employees
(Number of product safety employees
with qualifications FY2017, consolidated)
Service Skills Contest National Championship
The Yokohama Tire Sales Group including Yokohama Tire Japan
holds a Service Skills Contest for personnel at commercial tire
directly-managed stores once a year for the purpose of ensuring
that the same high-level of tire service is offered at all locations
throughout Japan.
For the third such contest in fiscal 2017, the written
examination was held at a hotel in Yokohama, Kanagawa
Prefecture in September. On the day following the written
examination, a skills test was held at the Honmoku Branch of
Yokohama Tire Network Service Shutoken.
The qualifying round was participated in by one representative
from 150 commercial tire directly-managed stores in eight
different blocks for all of Japan. 13 participants who were able to
survive the intense competition in the qualifying rounds then
advanced to the final round.
The contest was judged based on safety, accuracy, and
efficiency for the three items of a written examination, work, and
customer service. The written examination consists of 30
questions relating to knowledge on standard work and major
products to be answered within 50 minutes. There are two types
of skills tests, one in which the front tires for a truck or bus have to
be changed in 25 minutes and one consisting of customer service
including a tire inspection to be completed in 15 minutes. The
participants competed based on the knowledge, skills, and
services that had been developed through day-to-day work.
This contest also served as an opportunity for announcements
aimed at rolling out these efforts throughout the entire
Yokohama Rubber Group, and Yokohama Club Network contract
owner stores in the network of retail stores that mainly consisting
of Yokohama Tire participated as judges. In addition to safe and
secure work that had been a theme of the first two contests,
efficiency was added as an important judgment point by setting
a time limit for skills this time to see how fast participants could
work while doing other tasks. In the customer service
examination, we focused on how participants properly
communicated with customers on the details of the check
through means such as putting a scar on a tire brought in by a
customer and politely telling the customer how the tire could no
longer be used or purposely setting a trap that could lead to a tire
falling off by loosening a nut or space tire to check whether a
thorough safety check is conducted as a professional.
As a result of rigorous screening by the judges, the top three
participants were decided on as winners. The winners will serve
as instructors for service training, etc. in the regional area they are
responsible for.
These efforts are used to communicate advanced skills to all of
Yokohama Rubber’s commercial tire service personnel to
encourage safe, accurate, and efficient work. We would like to
expand participation to contract owner stores in the future.
- [VOICE] Winner of the contestYokohama Tire Network Service Chugoku
Tire Center Kure Branch Takafumi Omoda (left) -
Osamu Mikami Receiving award certificate from Member of the Board and Managing Officer, President of Tire Business and Head of Japan Replacement Tire Sales & Marketing Division (at the time)
Normally, I am mostly involved in removing and refitting tires for passenger vehicles and tires for trucks and buses.
In preparation for participation in the contest, I basically used the standard work manual for replacing tires for large trucks as a reference point for constant repeated practice for book study and thinking about the response when a customer comes to the branch, the work procedure, and how to allocate time while receiving instructions from my seniors in-house. Although I felt quite nervous, I approached the contest with the intent of adhering to the basics. I think I was able to come in first place thanks to this approach.
When seeing the certificate and plaque displayed in our branch since I won the contest, customers now tell me that they feel reassured with letting us do their tire replacement work, and I think that customers feel even more reassured towards our work than up until now.
Although I had not been able to see how people did this work in other regions up until now, by looking at the DVD that was recorded during the contest, I have been able to learn about unique work tool innovations or efficient approaches used by some branches.
Our branch will try to innovate while incorporating the good points from other branches as we encourage each other through friendly competition.
TOPIC
Learning about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Workshops for business partners)
We purchase wide variety of raw materials to make
various kind of products and materials that are used in
our plants. These materials are provided by various
business partners. We have seven plants throughout
Japan, and each of these plants has developed in
cooperation with companies engaged in business in the
respective region.
We hold workshops together with business partners
aiming to sustainable procurement of raw materials and
other materials to ensure stable production. In these
workshops, we learned about compliance and harmony
with nature (biodiversity) in fiscal 2016 and SDGs,
resource recycling, and health and safety in fiscal 2017. In
addition to getting better understanding CSR, we believe
that we can minimize management risks through supply
chain and create win-win relationships that are mutually
beneficial. At the workshop, we ask some requirements to
our suppliers related to CSR and cultivate a common
understanding regarding CSR.
364 people from 330 companies have participated to
the workshop in fiscal 2017, and we heard from our
suppliers that they thought they have enriched their
understanding of CSR by hearing topics and information
that they had seldom heard, and they have brought back
them to their companies.