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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.


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#Yarn & Fiber

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

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#Composites

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

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#Recycling / Circular Economy

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

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#Composites

Teijin Carbon advances sustainability leadership with EcoVadis, CDP reporting and expanding Tenax Next™ sustainable carbon fiber portfolio

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#Composites

JEC World 2026 returns with an unprecedented content program

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#Composites

STFI at JEC

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#Knitting & Hosiery

KARL MAYER at JEC: Multiaxial reinforced CFRP pultrusion profiles are picking up speed in the mobility sector

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#Recycling / Circular Economy

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem to accelerate technology scale‑up

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#Yarns

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#Research & Development

Pioneer of the first hour: Michael Carus steps down after more than 30 years from nova-Institute’s Management

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#Knitting & Hosiery

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