Yokohama Rubber expands marine fender portfolio

Hiratsuka, Japan— Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has added V-type solid fenders for harbor moorings to its product range, the Japanese group has announced.

The solid products are in addition to pneumatic fenders, which YRC has supplied for many years, according to the tires & rubber products maker.

The company will continue to expand its line-up of solid fenders in phases, with the objective of becoming a comprehensive manufacturer of fenders, added its 27 July release.

Fenders are cushioning materials designed to prevent damage to a vessel’s hull and to the quay by protecting it from the impact of berthing.

The units are mainly used when berthing between quays and vessels onshore, such as at harbor moorings, and offshore during ship-to-ship operations.

Pneumatic fender absorbs shock through the elasticity of the encapsulated air, while the solid type absorbs shock through rubber elasticity.

Solid fenders for onshore use, which are being added to the product portfolio, account for around 80% of the demand for fenders, said YRC.

YRC developed the first pneumatic fenders for offshore uses in1958 and has since focused on this product-type.

Pneumatic designs, it noted, are used in harsh offshore environments that require the highest performance requirements and specifications.

In the future, YRC “will use the brands and technologies it has developed to enter the solid fender market, a key market for fenders, to further strengthen their revenue base.”

YRC is to market a new solid model for use in ports and harbours, which has been certified by the Specialists Center of Port and Airport Engineering (SCOPE).

In the future, the group said it plans to develop a high-performance version of the solid fender with a buffer plate for use in cargo handling facilities at ports.

The group also intends to create a comprehensive product portfolio together with its ABF-P pneumatic fender, which is the top-end model currently on sale.

Under its current medium-term management plan to fiscal 2023, YRC is concentrating its non-tire resources in its two strongest business domains—hose & couplings and industrial products.

As part of this effort, the group said it aims to maintain its high market-share for fenders and other marine products, which are included among its industrial products.