SGL Carbon Fibers to boost 50K fiber capacity at Moses Lake to 9,000 tons

摘要

SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (SGL ACF), a joint venture of carbon fiber manufacturer SGL Group (Wiesbaden, Germany) and automaker BMW Group (Munich, Germany), hosted corporate and government dignitaries on May 9 at its carbon fiber facility in Moses Lake, Wash., to announce a second expansion of the plant. The move will increase capacity at the site to 9,000 tons per annum by the end of 2015. HPC was at the event. The facility opened in 2011, with two 1,500-ton 50K carbon fiber lines, to supply fiber for the Life Modules (passenger cells) in BMW's B all-electric commuter car and i8 hybrid-electric sports car. An expansion, begun in 2013, will increase capacity this summer to 6,000 tons. A third building, for which officials broke ground on May 9, will add 3,000 tons of capacity. SGL ACF officials say that will make the Moses Lake plant the world's largest single carbon fiber production facility.