With the construction of a sixth production line for carbon fibres in Lacq, France, the world’s largest manufacturer of carbon fibres, Toray (Tokyo; www.toray.com) wants to increase the capacity of the plant. Jean-Marc Guilhempey, CEO of subsidiary Toray Carbon Fibers Europe (Toray CFE), estimates the investment at EUR 85 mn to EUR 100 mn. The move is expected to increase production capacity by 1,000 t/y to 6,200 t/y. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2023, and the company plans to start operations at the site two years later.

The reason for the investment, which includes the construction of a 200 m-long and 30 m-wide hall, is Toray’s shift from its previously quasi-exclusive European focus on aerospace applications to other customer industries. Among other things, products for use in e-mobility and renewable energies are planned. The latter is likely to mean mainly rotors for wind turbines.

According to French media reports, it was not clear until the end whether the project – which will also create 50 new jobs – would be realised in France or at its subsidiary, Zoltek, in Hungary. The number of employees in Lacq will thus increase to 450. The decision will have benefited from the fact that Toray CFE also has a production facility for the PAN fibres used as a raw material near Arkema’s large site.

Toray is also currently working on a smaller expansion of carbon fibre production in the US in Decatur, Alabama (see Plasteurope.com of 20.10.2022).