SGL-MRC Joint Venture: Successful Startup of Precursor Production in Japan   

MRC SGL Precursor Co. Ltd. (MSP) - the joint venture between Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. (MRC) and SGL Group - has successfully and on schedule started its production of precursor, the raw material for carbon fibers. The joint venture plant in Otake was not affected by the earthquake in Japan.
   The joint venture has successfully completed the commissioning phase and has assumed commercial production of precursor. MSP is based at the MRC production site in Otake and will deliver first commercial quantities of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based precursor to SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (SGL ACF) in the second quarter of 2011. SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers is an additional joint venture between SGL and the BMW Group.
   The precursor manufactured by MSP in Otake will be converted to carbon fibers at the SGL ACF plant in Moses Lake (WA/USA), where SGL ACF is currently building a new grass root carbon fiber plant with an annual capacity of approximately 3 000 tons. Start of production is scheduled for the third quarter 2011. These fibers will then be processed into lightweight carbon fiber fabrics at the second SGL ACF site in Wackersdorf (Germany). The carbon fiber composite parts (CFRP) will be made from these fabrics at the BMW Group plant in Landshut (Germany). The assembly of the Megacity Vehicle - which will be launched in 2013 as BMW i3 - will take place at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig (Germany).  
   The precursor is a critical success factor for the production of carbon fibers. Mitsubishi Rayon has already been a supplier of precursor to SGL Group for many years. The targeted 50k precursor has been tailored to meet the needs of the automotive industry, particularly in terms of quality and cost efficiency.