Based on these two developments, the Teijin Group aims to strengthen its upstream-to-downstream carbon fiber business as well as accelerate global expansion through its trilateral hubs in Japan, U.S. and Europe. In particular, the company has been leveraging research and development to expand carbon fiber business in the aircraft and automotive fields, focusing on helping companies reduce their environmental footprints to satisfy tightening environmental regulations worldwide. Teijin, aiming to be an enterprise that supports the society of the future, is evolving its carbon-fiber and other businesses under a long-term vision.

Total investments of new carbon fiber production facility in the U.S. and precursor capacity expansion in Japan will amount to JPY 35 billion, or approximately USD 320 million.

Precursor, the material that Toho Tenax will expand production by increasing the capacity of its Mishima Factory, is oxidized at 200-300 degrees centigrade and carbonized at 1,000-2,000 degrees centigrade in an oxygen-free environment and made into carbon fiber.

Integrating carbon fiber subsidiary Toho Tenax

Furthermore Teijin Limited will integrate its subsidiary Toho Tenax Co., Ltd., the core company of Teijin’s carbon fibers business, on April 1, 2018.