Japan’s Toray Industries says that it has decided to expand French subsidiary Toray Carbon Fibers Europe S.A.’s production facilities for regular tow medium- and high-modulus carbon fibres. This move will increase annual capacity at the Abidos plant (South-West France) from 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes/year. Production is expected to start in 2025.
Demand for medium and high-modulus carbon fibres is rising in Europe, driven by a push to move towards a net-zero society. This growth is mainly due to higher build rates for commercial aircrafts (secondary structures and engines), as well as centrifuge for energy production, satellites, and high-end automobiles. By boosting carbon fibre production capacity in Europe, Toray is responding to its customers’ demand for medium and high-modulus carbon fibres, as befits the market leader.
Toray has made sustainable growth pivotal to Project AP-G 2025, its medium-term management program. Accordingly, the company has developed solutions to tackle climate change with its carbon fibre composite materials. Toray will fully leverage its resources to help achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, in keeping with its corporate philosophy of contributing to society by creating new value.
Regular tow fibres are carbon fibres with up to 24,000 filaments, serving in fields requiring exceptional performance and quality, including aircraft and pressure vessels.