Mitsui partners with Germany's Forward Engineering for composite applications

Mitsui is expanding its global business relating to carbon fibre materials. For example, in April 2015, it entered into a cooperation agreement concerning composite materials and an equipment lease agreement with the Innovative Composite Center of the Kanazawa Institute of Technology. Under those agreements, Mitsui has commenced joint development of new manufacturing methods for automotive parts and other products using carbon fibre composite materials. In March 2016, Mitsui acquired a stake in Hexagon Composites ASA, a Norwegian manufacturer of carbon fibre reinforced high-pressure cylinders, and Hankuk Carbon Co Ltd, a South Korean carbon fibre composite product manufacturer.

“Mitsui and Forward Engineering, through this equity partnership, will respond to the need for vehicle light weighting by globally expanding design and engineering services for autobody and parts made from carbon fibre and other composite materials. Both companies will also help to accelerate the expansion of the automotive carbon fibre market, and to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector,” said Mitsui in a press release.

Composite materials, which are made from two or more individual materials, consist of reinforcing materials supported by a matrix. Composites reinforced with carbon fibres are known as carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRPs).