With demand for carbon fibre soaring in automotive applications, US company SGL has announced that it’ll be tripling production capacity at its Moses Lake facility in the States to cope with the increased demand.
SGL’s joint venture with BMW already runs two production lines at Moses Lake exclusively for BMW i vehicles, primarily the BMW i3, with annual carbon fibre output being around 3,000 tonnes. A third and fourth production line is currently being built, which will double the plant’s capacity to 6,000 tonnes per year.
Now, the partners have announced further site expansion – an investment of US$200 million will see a fifth and sixth production line being built, with completion targeted by early 2015. This will triple capacity to 9,000 tonnes annually in the medium term. When completed, it’ll make the facility the world’s largest carbon fibre plant.
Currently, the carbon fibre produced at the plant is used for BMW i3 production, but the companies say that applications involving carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) are projected to grow in future vehicle concepts and believe the material offers new opportunities in lightweight construction for an eco-friendly mobility.
The production of carbon fibre composites for automotive manufacturing requires several process steps. The necessary precursor, which is based on polyacrylnitrile fiber, is made by a joint venture between SGL Group and the Japanese company Mitsubishi Rayon in Otake, Japan. The polyacrylnitrile fiber is then turned into the actual carbon fiber in Moses Lake.
The material is then processed at the second joint venture site in Wackersdorf, Germany, and turned into textile carbon fiber layers, the starting point for the production of CFRP body parts at the BMW plants in Landshut and Leipzig.
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I believe by using “carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP)” as part of future product / manufacturing, the price of crude oil will continue it’s growth even further…. You gain some and you loose some … :)
JPJ illegal
if it’s illegal then why do I still see e92 m3 coupe with carbon fiber roof on the road
Either sprayed or painted look alike. We know that CF cant bear impact as it doesnt absorb like how metal does upon accident. Since CF could shattered to pieces, our Gov doesnt allow the use of it to any part of the car exterior especially front bumper or bonnet. Safety purpose.
The e92 M3 has a CFRP roof from the factory. It is not cosmetic treatment.
Your understanding of CFRP and composite materials is incorrect. There are many, many ways to make composite materials, depending on the application intended. For crash structures they are made to be energy absorbing, like the nose of an F1 car, side structure or rear gearbox mounted crash box. For the safety cell, like an F1 tub they are made to be as strong as the toughest alloys.
This BMW I-thingy will remain as niche products..
Sooner or later cf price will drop due to mass production