Mitsubishi Rayon expands in Europe

Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (MRC)  is constructing a new plant at Vilshofen in Bavaria, Germany, for the production of sheet molding compound (SMC)  intermediate materials. This decision forms part of the company's move to expand its carbon fiber and composite materials business in Europe.

The factory is expected to start operation in September 2016  with annual production capacity of 1,000 metric tons. Later on, capacity will be expanded up to 6,000 tons as demand rises in the European market. The completion of the expansion will push MRC's overall production capacity to 9,000 tons, triple the current production capacity at the Toyohashi plant in Japan.

As Europe tightens its regulation on fuel efficiency, car manufacturers are moving toward vehicle weight reduction and this gives rise to the adoption of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). CFRP,  with its high strength and light weight, is now increasingly being used for luxury cars as well as mass-produced cars.

MRC has developed high-performance large-tow carbon fiber that is suitable for automobile applications, and quick-cure prepregs - intermediate materials with which elaborate exterior panel parts can be press-molded in a short period of time.

To further grow its business in Europe, MRC has developed the production base for CFRP-made automotive parts and intermediate materials by acquiring Wethje Carbon Composites GmbH and TK Industries GmbH, and has explored the needs for carbon fiber and composite materials for automotive applications by establishing the CF Marketing and Technical Center and by increasing local marketing staff.

The construction of this new SMC production plant is aimed at satisfying the needs for high-end solutions for luxury cars as well as those for solutions for mass-produced cars that are low-cost and also technically easily accessible.