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SGL Group and BMW Group Set to Install a State-of-the-art Carbon Fiber Manufacturing Plant
SpecialChem - Apr 22, 2010
SEATTLE -- SGL Group and BMW Group jointly announced at an event in Seattle that their joint venture, SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers LLC, will build a state-of-the-art carbon fiber manufacturing plant in Moses Lake, WA. During the initial phase, US$ 100 million will be invested and 80 local jobs will be created.
The new facility is an important element of both companies' strategy to commercialize viable manufacturing of ultra light weight carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) for use in future vehicle concepts. The fibers manufactured at Moses Lake will be used exclusively for BMW Group's upcoming Megacity Vehicle. In February of this year, BMW Group announced that this new vehicle for urban mobility - set to be launched before 2015 under a BMW sub-brand - will be assembled in Leipzig, Germany. Now, a key piece of the Megacity Vehicle has a base in the USA.
The decision to build the carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake was based primarily on the availability of renewable clean hydropower and competitive energy costs in the state of Washington. Favorable infrastructure conditions, existing utilities, a skilled labor force and ease of working with the local government were also contributing factors in selecting Moses Lake as the location.
"This new plant in Moses Lake will be the world's most cost efficient carbon fiber plant using state-of-the-art technologies," said Robert Koehler, CEO SGL Group. "This significant investment further underlines our commitment to the U.S., where we already operate carbon fiber and composite materials plants. Together with our partner BMW Group, we will ensure that carbon fibers play a revolutionary role in lightweight automotive construction."
"We consider carbon fiber a cutting-edge material. Our joint efforts will make sustainable mobility possible in urban environments. The energy demand for producing carbon fiber will come from environmentally friendly hydropower," said Friedrich Eichiner, Member of the Board of Management, Finance, BMW AG. "Lightweight construction is a core aspect for sustainable mobility improving both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, two key elements of our EfficientDynamics strategy. By combining the know how of SGL Group and our expertise in manufacturing CFRP components, we will be able to produce carbon fiber enhanced components in large volumes at competitive costs for the first time. This is particularly relevant for electric-powered vehicles such as the Megacity Vehicle".
The production of CFRP involves several work stages. The raw material needed to manufacture carbon fibers, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based precursor, will be produced by a joint venture between SGL Group and the Japanese company Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC) in Otake, Japan. In the next step, the facility in Moses Lake will convert the polyacrylic fibers into the actual carbon fibers. These fibers are then processed into light weight carbon fiber fabrics at a second joint venture site in Wackersdorf, Germany. The CFRP parts and components will then be made from these fabrics at the BMW Group Plant Landshut, Germany.
The joint venture operates through two companies, one based in the USA (SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers LLC) and the other in Germany (SGL Automotive Fibers GmbH & Co KG). SGL Group holds 51% of the shares and the BMW Group 49%.
Sustainability and Recycling
Along the entire supply chain, ecological, social and economic aspects will be aligned. For this reason, the manufacture as well as processing of the carbon fibers and carbon fiber composites will be achieved with careful consideration to environmental resources. The Moses Lake production site will use hydropower as its eco-friendly energy source and processes are being developed to recycle carbon fibers and downstream composite materials.
About SGL Group - The Carbon Company
SGL Group is a manufacturer of carbon-based products. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite products to carbon fibers and composites. SGL Group's core competencies are in high-temperature technology as well as its applications and engineering know-how gained over many years. SGL Group's carbon-based materials are used whenever other materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, plastics, wood etc. fail due to their limited properties. Products from SGL Group are used predominantly in the steel, aluminum, automotive, chemical and glass/ceramics industries. However, manufacturers in the semiconductor, battery, solar/wind energy, environmental protection, aerospace and defense industries as well as in the nuclear energy industry also figure among the Company's customers.
With 43 production sites in Europe (23), North America (12) and Asia (8) as well as a service network covering more than 100 countries, SGL Group is a company with a global presence. In 2009, the Company's workforce of around 6,000 generated sales of €1.2 billion. The Company's head office is located in Wiesbaden/Germany. The North American headquarters are located in Charlotte/North Carolina.
About The BMW Group
With its three brands -- BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce - the BMW Group is one of the world's most successful premium manufacturers of cars and motorcycles. It operates internationally with 24 production sites in 13 countries and a global sales network with representation in more than 140 countries. During the financial year 2009, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.29 million cars and more than 87,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2009 was euro 413 million, revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 96,000 employees.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements on future developments that are based on currently available information and that involve risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results deviating from these forward-looking statements. The statements on future developments are not to be understood as guarantees. The future developments and events are dependent on a number of factors; they include various risks and unanticipated circumstances and are based on assumptions that may not be correct. These risks and uncertainties include, for example, unforeseeable changes in political, economic and business conditions, particularly in the area of electric steel production, the competitive situation, interest rate and currency developments, technological developments and other risks and unanticipated circumstances. We see other risks in price developments, unexpected developments relating to acquired and consolidated companies and in the ongoing cost optimization programs. It is not intended to update these forward-looking statements.
Source: SGL Group
SpecialChem - Apr 22, 2010
SEATTLE -- SGL Group and BMW Group jointly announced at an event in Seattle that their joint venture, SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers LLC, will build a state-of-the-art carbon fiber manufacturing plant in Moses Lake, WA. During the initial phase, US$ 100 million will be invested and 80 local jobs will be created.
The new facility is an important element of both companies' strategy to commercialize viable manufacturing of ultra light weight carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) for use in future vehicle concepts. The fibers manufactured at Moses Lake will be used exclusively for BMW Group's upcoming Megacity Vehicle. In February of this year, BMW Group announced that this new vehicle for urban mobility - set to be launched before 2015 under a BMW sub-brand - will be assembled in Leipzig, Germany. Now, a key piece of the Megacity Vehicle has a base in the USA.
The decision to build the carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake was based primarily on the availability of renewable clean hydropower and competitive energy costs in the state of Washington. Favorable infrastructure conditions, existing utilities, a skilled labor force and ease of working with the local government were also contributing factors in selecting Moses Lake as the location.
"This new plant in Moses Lake will be the world's most cost efficient carbon fiber plant using state-of-the-art technologies," said Robert Koehler, CEO SGL Group. "This significant investment further underlines our commitment to the U.S., where we already operate carbon fiber and composite materials plants. Together with our partner BMW Group, we will ensure that carbon fibers play a revolutionary role in lightweight automotive construction."
"We consider carbon fiber a cutting-edge material. Our joint efforts will make sustainable mobility possible in urban environments. The energy demand for producing carbon fiber will come from environmentally friendly hydropower," said Friedrich Eichiner, Member of the Board of Management, Finance, BMW AG. "Lightweight construction is a core aspect for sustainable mobility improving both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, two key elements of our EfficientDynamics strategy. By combining the know how of SGL Group and our expertise in manufacturing CFRP components, we will be able to produce carbon fiber enhanced components in large volumes at competitive costs for the first time. This is particularly relevant for electric-powered vehicles such as the Megacity Vehicle".
The production of CFRP involves several work stages. The raw material needed to manufacture carbon fibers, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based precursor, will be produced by a joint venture between SGL Group and the Japanese company Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC) in Otake, Japan. In the next step, the facility in Moses Lake will convert the polyacrylic fibers into the actual carbon fibers. These fibers are then processed into light weight carbon fiber fabrics at a second joint venture site in Wackersdorf, Germany. The CFRP parts and components will then be made from these fabrics at the BMW Group Plant Landshut, Germany.
The joint venture operates through two companies, one based in the USA (SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers LLC) and the other in Germany (SGL Automotive Fibers GmbH & Co KG). SGL Group holds 51% of the shares and the BMW Group 49%.
Sustainability and Recycling
Along the entire supply chain, ecological, social and economic aspects will be aligned. For this reason, the manufacture as well as processing of the carbon fibers and carbon fiber composites will be achieved with careful consideration to environmental resources. The Moses Lake production site will use hydropower as its eco-friendly energy source and processes are being developed to recycle carbon fibers and downstream composite materials.
About SGL Group - The Carbon Company
SGL Group is a manufacturer of carbon-based products. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite products to carbon fibers and composites. SGL Group's core competencies are in high-temperature technology as well as its applications and engineering know-how gained over many years. SGL Group's carbon-based materials are used whenever other materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, plastics, wood etc. fail due to their limited properties. Products from SGL Group are used predominantly in the steel, aluminum, automotive, chemical and glass/ceramics industries. However, manufacturers in the semiconductor, battery, solar/wind energy, environmental protection, aerospace and defense industries as well as in the nuclear energy industry also figure among the Company's customers.
With 43 production sites in Europe (23), North America (12) and Asia (8) as well as a service network covering more than 100 countries, SGL Group is a company with a global presence. In 2009, the Company's workforce of around 6,000 generated sales of €1.2 billion. The Company's head office is located in Wiesbaden/Germany. The North American headquarters are located in Charlotte/North Carolina.
About The BMW Group
With its three brands -- BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce - the BMW Group is one of the world's most successful premium manufacturers of cars and motorcycles. It operates internationally with 24 production sites in 13 countries and a global sales network with representation in more than 140 countries. During the financial year 2009, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.29 million cars and more than 87,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2009 was euro 413 million, revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 96,000 employees.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements on future developments that are based on currently available information and that involve risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results deviating from these forward-looking statements. The statements on future developments are not to be understood as guarantees. The future developments and events are dependent on a number of factors; they include various risks and unanticipated circumstances and are based on assumptions that may not be correct. These risks and uncertainties include, for example, unforeseeable changes in political, economic and business conditions, particularly in the area of electric steel production, the competitive situation, interest rate and currency developments, technological developments and other risks and unanticipated circumstances. We see other risks in price developments, unexpected developments relating to acquired and consolidated companies and in the ongoing cost optimization programs. It is not intended to update these forward-looking statements.
Source: SGL Group
