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[March 2007]
SGL Further Expands Position in Carbon Fibres and Composites
SGL Carbon (Wiesbaden, Germany) has announced moves in its carbon fibres and composites capability. Steadily increasing prices for energy and raw materials as well as growing demand for increasingly scarce resources require ever greater use of energy saving, high performance materials. Carbon fibres are indispensable here. They make it possible to manufacture materials which are both considerably lighter and more robust and feature exceptional properties.As a result of an agreement on a joint venture with Lenzing AG concluded in the past few days, SGL Carbon has now secured long-term supply of the raw materials it requires for production of carbon fibres. In this joint venture, a special polyacrylonitrile fibre precursor, the respective raw material for carbon fibres, is to be manufactured. Therefore, the company will become independent of the purchase of the precursor. The joint venture is subject to final approval of the German antitrust authorities.
In addition, SGL Carbon has now successfully launched on the market a high quality multi-filament carbon fibre as part of its strategic alliance with the Japanese Mitsubishi Rayon Corp (MRC). Compared to the low-filament fibres common on the market, production of these carbon fibres is particularly cost-effective while maintaining the high standard of quality. Long-term purchase agreements have already been concluded with a major customer from the wind energy industry.
In order to satisfy the increasing demand from customers worldwide, SGL Carbon has also started and implemented various capital expenditures to increase its carbon fibre capacity. Already in 2006, work began on construction of an additional carbon fibre production line in the plant in Inverness (Scotland). This will start production in August 2007. A further line for Inverness is already being planned and will be ready in 2008. Moreover, a third line is planned for 2008 as part of another joint venture with Lenzing AG in Germany. In the mid-term planning over the next five years, SGL Carbon will spend a total budget of €80 million for these capital expenditure measures. This will lead to carbon fibre capacity increases from 2,000 tons per annum at present to 6,000 tons per annum.
www.sglcarbon.de
ENDS