Japan-based Toray Industries plans to invest approximately JPY5 billion (USD45.8 million) over the next two years to boost processing capacity for carbon fibre composite materials in Europe, reports Nikkei Asian Review. The investment is aimed at adding an additional production line at its German subsidiary Euro Advanced Carbon Fiber Composites this year, with plans to add a third line in 2017.
Significance: Currently, almost every major automaker is focusing on reducing vehicle weight to meet regulations in the areas of fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Use of carbon fibre is one of the options automakers are adopting to make lightweight materials. The expansion will triple the company’s capacity for carbon fibre composites, enabling it to supply these materials to major automakers such as Daimler, BMW and Porsche, according to Nikkei Asian Review report. Additionally, the company intends to increase processing capacity by 40% in 2016 at Composite Materials (Italy) and Delta Tech, both of which became part of Toray in 2015. These two sites produce pre-impregnated, intermediate sheets of carbon fiber, 50-60% of which are sold to European automakers. The company expects to boost global carbon fibre composite sales to the automotive industry to JPY30 billion in fiscal 2020, up three times compared with fiscal 2015.
