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#Composites

Teijin’s carbon fiber and resin used in world’s first laptop-sized automated people mover

Teijin Limited announced today that thermoplastic materials made with its Tenax® carbon fiber and Panlite® polycarbonate alloy resin have been adopted for use in the world’s first laptop-sized automated people mover (APM), the WALKCAR®, developed by cocoa motors. Inc.

The WALKCAR®, which is small enough to be carried in a bag, measures just 21.5 cm by 34.6 cm, roughly the size of a 13-inch laptop computer, and weighs only 2.9 kg. The WALKCAR® can travel about 7 km at a maximum speed of 16 km/h on a single charge. Operated by simply shifting one’s center of gravity, the APM requires neither a handle nor controller, and stops automatically as soon as the operator steps off.

The sturdy but lightweight WALKCAR® is made with Teijin’s thermoplastic carbon fiber reinforced  laminates Tenax® TPCL, thermoplastic  woven  fabric Tenax® TPWF  and polycarbonate alloy resin Panlite®.


(c) 2020 Teijin
(c) 2020 Teijin


(c) 2020 Teijin
(c) 2020 Teijin

 

Compared to steel, Tenax® offers 10 times the strength at just one quarter of the weight. Panlite® polycarbonate resin boasts some 200 times more  impact  resistance  than  fiberglass  but  only  half  of  the  weight.  The  impressive characteristics  of  these  Teijin  materials  is  why  the  amazing WALKCAR® is  able  to combine low weight and high durability.

The WALKCAR®  went  on  sale  in  Japan  in  June  and  overseas  sales  will  begin  from August 11. Orders can be placed via the cocoa motors' website:

https://en.cocoamotors.com/

Teijin develops high-performance materials and offers them in solutions targeting diverse fields under a long-term vision of becoming a company that supports the society of the future.


More News from Teijin Aramid

#Yarn & Fiber

Teijin Aramid: Taiichi Machida to succeed Peter ter Horst as CEO

Peter ter Horst will step down as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2025, after 19 years of dedicated service. Effective October 1, 2025, Taiichi Machida will take over as CEO.

#Yarn & Fiber

Teijin announces availability of DPP-compliant products aligned with Europe’s ESPR Environmental Regulation

Teijin Limited announced today that it has started rolling out initiatives to enable aramid fibers and carbon fibers to be accompanied by Digital Product Passport (DPP) technology, which enhances supply chain transparency by verifying the origins of materials and supporting sustainability claims. The company is using the supply chain traceability system from Netherlands-based Circularise B.V., in which Teijin has invested since November 2024, to develop DPPs for each product.

#Composites

Teijin Carbon showcases new eco-friendly Tenax Next™ R2S 513 6mm short carbon fiber at JEC World 2025

Teijin Carbon, a leading manufacturer of carbon fiber products, is presenting its latest development in sustainable materials at JEC World 2025 (hall 6, G22). New Tenax Next™ R2S 513 6mm is a short carbon fiber product in rice-shaped form for reinforcing thermoplastic compounds that not only offers exceptional performance characteristics but also reinforces the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and circularity.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Teijin to invest in Circularise B.V. and adopt its supply chain traceability platform to promote the Circular Economy

Teijin Limited announced today that it will invest in Circularise B.V., a company based in The Hague, Netherlands, which develops product traceability management systems using blockchain technology. Teijin will also implement Circularise’s software to improve visibility into its global supply chain. Circularise’s proprietary “Smart Questioning”(*) solution, which utilizes Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology, provides both anonymity and transparency to ensure a highly reliable product traceability system.

More News on Composites

#Composites

MEL Composites and Carrocerías Ayats collaborate on lightweight composite window frames

MEL Composites is proud to announce its ongoing collaboration with Spanish bus and coach manufacturer Carrocerías Ayats, showcasing the benefits of advanced composite technologies and scalable manufacturing processes originally developed for the sporting goods sector. The joint development of lightweight composite window frame covers demonstrates how MEL’s process innovation can be successfully transferred to the transportation industry to meet new regulatory and performance goals.

#Composites

FLYING WHALES selects HEXCEL for the supply of composites materials for its LCA60T AIRSHIP

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#Composites

KONGSBERG and HEXCEL sign a long-term partnership agreement

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) and HEXCEL Corporation (HEXCEL) have signed a long-term partnership agreement at the Paris Air Show for the supply of HexWeb® engineered honeycombs and HexPly® prepregs for KONGSBERG’s strategic production programs over a five-year period.

#Composites

Hexcel presents lightweight aerospace composite innovations at 55th International Paris Air Show

Hexcel Corporation [NYSE: HXL] will demonstrate its latest developments for the Aerospace markets at the Paris Air Show 2025, Le Bourget, Paris, 16 – 22 June 2025.

Latest News

#ITM 2026

The Address of innovation and investment in textile technologies: ITM 2026

Sales for ITM 2026, one of the world’s most comprehensive and prestigious exhibitions in textile technologies, are continuing at full steam. The record number of exhibitors and visitors achieved at ITM 2024 once again proved the industry’s confidence and the commercial success of the exhibition; meanwhile, the strong interest shown in ITM 2026, to be held on 9-13 June 2026, has far exceeded expectations.

#Knitting & Hosiery

STOLL in focus:

At the beginning of this year, KARL MAYER announced that it would be shifting its focus back to its core areas of warp knitting, warp preparation and technical textiles. As part of this strategic realignment, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand will be discontinued. The Reutlingen plant will close down on 31 October 2025. Production in China will end in December 2025. This was an extremely difficult decision for KARL MAYER.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

RECOVER™ Central America wins Textile Exchange’s Climate and Nature Impact Award for Textile-To-Textile Partnership

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#Heimtextil 2026

Heimtextil 2026 strengthens the global home textile industry with trends, designs and AI technologies

With an optimised hall layout, progressive design collaborations, inspiring trends and AI-driven innovations, Heimtextil 2026 reacts to the current market situation – and offers the industry a reliable constant in challenging times. Under the motto ‘Lead the Change’, the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles and textile design shows how challenges can be turned into opportunities. From 13 to 16 January, more than 3,100 exhibitors from 65 countries will provide a comprehensive market overview with new collections and textile solutions. As a knowledge hub, Heimtextil delivers new strategies and concrete solutions for future business success.

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