Company overview

Sumitomo Rubber Group network diagram connecting Tire business, Sports business (Sports Business HQ), and Industrial products business (Hybrid Business HQ). Main affiliates of Sports business: DUNLOP SPORTS MARKETING CO. LTD., DUNLOP SPORTS ENTERPRISES, DUNLOP GOLF CLUB, LTD. Main affiliates of Industrial products business: SUMIGOMU SANGYOU LTD., DUNLOP HOME PRODUCTS, LTD.

“GRAST” is a vibration control technology developed by the Sumitomo Rubber Group.

The origins of “GRAST” trace back to Sumitomo Rubber's racing tires. The advanced technology cultivated through research and development in that field gave birth to the high-damping rubber, which has the characteristic of instantly converting kinetic energy into heat energy. This technology was first applied to dampers for bridge cables, marking the beginning of vibration control dampers. The vibration control technology born from the Sumitomo Rubber Group was named “GRAST.” It has opened new possibilities for earthquake countermeasures by developing dampers used in buildings, detached houses, and even cultural heritage sites such as Kumamoto Castle.

Company history of vibration control damper business

1985 Development of high-damping rubber materials began.
1994 Delivered the first damper for bridge cables.
1995Affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (Kobe Head Office and factory).
Accelerated development of vibration control technology aiming for social contribution as a disaster-affected company.
2003 Started development of vibration control dampers for detached houses.
Started development of vibration control dampers for buildings.
2004 Misawa Homes Co., Ltd. launched sales of "MGEO" (industry’s first seismic control method for detached houses).
2006 Delivered first and second building dampers.
2007 Started sales of building dampers in Taiwan.
2008 Began development of seismic retrofitting methods for buildings.
2009 Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. launched sales of the “Seismic Energy Absorption Panel.”
2011Affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Shirakawa Factory, Fukushima Prefecture)
2012 Launched sales of residential vibration control unit “MIRAIE.”
Obtained performance certification for building dampers.
2016 Started sales of building dampers in South Korea.
2019 Started sales of building dampers in the Philippines.
2021 Started sales of building dampers in Indonesia.