Bridgestone 2008 Annual Report Download - page 39

The Group has positioned runat tires as strategic products. We
are actively working to promote the further use of runats, which
continue to function safely at a specied speed for a specied
mileage even after a loss of air pressure. In addition, because
runat tires eliminate the need for a spare tire (emergency-use tire),
they help to conserve resources and support improved fuel
efciency through reduced vehicle weight. Bridgestone’s runats
offer both advanced runat features (post-puncture durability) and
advanced handling and ride features, and our plants have shipped
more than 10 million units of these tires.
In aircraft radials, meanwhile, our original new-construction tires
support improved safety and lower fuel costs, and they have been
highly evaluated for their enhanced characteristics. In 2007, they
were selected for installation on the state-of-the-art Airbus A380
wide-body aircraft, and subsequently they were selected for
installation on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operated by the ANA
Group. Through the use of cords with high elastic modulus and
strength, these tires can offer not only enhanced safety but also
enhanced abrasion resistance, which allows for more takeoff and
landing cycles between tire replacement, and reduced tire weight,
which results in better fuel efciency.
DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTS
In the diversied products segment, R&D activities are directed
toward strengthening product groups positioned as “concentration”
businesses and toward providing products that can accurately
meet rapidly changing needs and ensure customer satisfaction.
In chemical and industrial products, we have opened a new
testing and development center on the grounds of the Yokohama
Plant, which is the main plant for these products. Moving forward,
we will take steps to consolidate testing and development
functions for chemical and industrial products, speed up product
development, and strengthen our ability to respond to markets
and customers.
In the eld of high-performance lms, adhesive lms for solar
modules are one of our “concentration” products. These lms
utilize our original technologies, and their quality is highly regarded
in the marketplace. Demand for solar modules, which offer a
power generation system that is clean and eco-friendly, is growing
rapidly in markets around the world. The Bridgestone Group is
working to further enhance the capabilities of these products and
at the same time to aggressively increase its production capacity
and contribute to the increased utilization of clean energy.
In electronic paper, meanwhile, we plan to make further
progress in verication testing of electronic shelf tags and to
commence full-scale commercialization initiatives beginning in
2009. A key characteristic of electronic paper is that it does not
require electrical power to maintain an image, so in addition to
reducing resource consumption when used in place of paper, it
also contributes to energy savings. Moving forward, we will take
steps to cultivate demand for this promising product.
BandagRetreadFactory:To promote Eco Value Pack,
Bridgestone plans to open about 20 Bandag Retread Factory
locations in Japan over the next few years.
ANewTestingandDevelopmentCenterinYokohama
Plant:This facility focuses on experimental performance tests in
the development of chemical and industrial products.
ElectronicShelfTags:Our electronic paper display modules
can read bar codes and QR codes, and they can display a wide
range of information.
37