 |
 |
| January 31, 2005 |
| Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. |
|
|
| Carbon Fiber Business |
|
| Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku,
Tokyo; President, Yoshiyuki Sumeragi) decided to increase the
production capacity of Grafil Inc., a US subsidiary in response
to the rapid expansion in demand for carbon fiber and to outsource
production to the SGL Carbon Group as the first step of a collaboration.
The details of this decision are as follows: |
|
|
| · Increase in production capacity
of Grafil Inc. in the United States |
|
Manufacturing plant : |
Grafil Inc., California,
U.S.A. |
| Production
capacity : |
Expansion by 500 tons/year
from 1,500 tons/year at the current level to 2,000
tons/year |
| Scheduled
start : |
4th quarter of 2005 |
|
|
| · Outsourced production to the SGL
Group |
|
Commissioned plant : |
SGL Technic Ltd., Scotland,
United Kingdom |
Outsourced
production
volume : |
500 to 750 tons/year |
| Scheduled
start of : |
1st quarter of 2006 |
outsourced
production
Type : |
regular tow |
|
|
The Mitsubishi Rayon Group
is a leading manufacturer of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon
fibers.
The carbon fiber business is a
core business in its Acrylonitrile (AN) Business Complex. Through
an integrated production system that encompasses the production
of AN monomers, carbon fiber, prepreg and finished products
such as golf shafts, the Company has maintained a strong competitive
edge and has continued to strengthen its presence in the market
for industrial and sports/recreational applications since it
started production of prepreg on a full-scale in 1976. In 2005
the Company expects to obtain qualification to become a supplier
for the A380, a key aircraft in Airbus’ next-generation
fleet.
The carbon fiber market has been
growing in the sports/recreational applications and space and
aviation applications as well as in a range of other industrial
sectors. This growth has resulted in a steady increase in demand.
Now there is concern about imbalance between demand and supply.
On the verge of expanded applications for pressure vessels and
wind power generation, with the emergence of a new automobile-related
market, carbon fiber manufacturers are urged to establish their
production systems to ensure future stable supply.
Under
these circumstances the Mitsubishi Rayon Group has not merely
increased its carbon fiber production capacity in the United
States but also formed an alliance with the SGL Carbon Group.
With these initiatives the Company hopes to secure a carbonization
facilities in the European market. The SGL Carbon Group is a
leading European manufacturer of carbon fiber compound materials.
By developing a complementary relationship with the SGL Carbon
Group the Mitsubishi Rayon Group can be in a better competitive
position in the expanding market.
In addition,
the Group has started studying the feasibility of launching
a new carbonization line with an approximate production capacity
of 2,000 tons per year in Japan in the third quarter of 2007
to meet market needs. |
| Corporate Profile of Grafil Inc. |
|
Representative : |
Shoichi Usui, President |
| Head
office : |
5900 88th Street Sacramento,
CA 95828, United States |
| Capitalization
: |
1.207 million dollars
(as of Dec. 31, 2004) |
| Ownership
: |
Mitsubishi Rayon America
Inc. 100% |
| Line
of business : |
Manufacture and sale
of carbon fiber |
|
|
| Corporate Profile of SGL Carbon AG |
|
Representative : |
Robert J. Koehler, CEO |
| Head
office : |
Rhingaustrasse 182/65203
Wiesbaden/Germany |
| Line
of business : |
Manufacture and sale
of graphite materials and carbon fiber composites |
| Capitalization
: |
117 million euro (as
of Dec. 31, 2003) |
| Sales
: |
1,046 million euro (in
FY 2003) |
|
|
| Carbon fiber production capacity of the Mitsubishi
Rayon Group |
|
|
January 2005 |
1st quarter of 2006 |
| U.S.A. |
1,500 |
2,000 |
| Japan |
3,200 |
3,200 |
| Europe* |
0 |
500 to
750 |
| Total |
4,700 |
5,700 to
5950 |
|
|
| * The European figures represent the outsourced
production volume. |
|
|
| For further inquiries, please contact: |
| Public and Investor Relations Office |
| e-mail:
koho@mrc.co.jp |
|
|
The contents shown herein are accurate as of the time of posting.
