MRC has developed ‘high-performance large tow’, a unique carbon fibre that supports high productivity in the moulding of large components whilst exhibiting the physical and quality properties equivalent to regular-tow carbon fibres. It has been cultivating applications in fields such as the aircraft industry and compressed gas tanks since the launch of operation in its Otake Production Center in July 2011.
Given the increasing demand for large tow especially for application in wind turbine blades, MRC has been strengthening its business operation in this area having founded a joint venture manufacturing and distributing carbon fibre composite laminates for window turbine blades in October last year. Furthermore, inquiries for various intermediary materials using high-performance large tow in light-weighted materials for automobiles is increasing. As a result, the utilization rate of MRC’s production facilities has remained high.
MRC decided to acquire SCF to increase its carbon fibre capacity in order to meet the growing demand for large tow. This addition will increase MRC’s carbon fibre production capacity by 1,000 tonnes. Combined with the expansion of capacity of regular-tow carbon fibre at MRCFAC’s plant in Sacramento in the US, commercial operation of which will commence shortly, and the expansion of production capacity at MRC’s Otake Production Center scheduled in 2017, MRC’s carbon fibre production capacity will increase from 10,100 tonnes per year to 14,300 tons within 2017.
Additionally, MRC will consider to add further carbon fibre and intermediate material production facilities on the current premises of SCF based on the requirements and growth of the carbon fibre market.
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