Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) has announced that it will launch its European carbon fiber sheet molding compound (SMC) production line in Italy.

The new plant, scheduled to begin operations in September 2020, will be located near CPC S.r.l. 's facility. CPC S.r.l is an Italian company in which MCC holds a 44 percent stake and uses its molding technology.

The SMC, developed by MCC, is an intermediate material for carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP), which is a sheet-like material cut into short strands of carbon fibre several centimetres long and dispersed in resin.

Mitsubishi Chemical produces carbon fiber plastic

SMC that can be machined into components in a short period of time (approximately 2 to 5 minutes) by pressing. SMC has high formability compared to prepreg intermediate materials (uncut carbon fiber fabric impregnated with resin) and can be used to mold complex shaped parts.

In Japan, MCC manufactures SMC at its Aichi plant in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture. Automobile manufacturers in Japan have adopted SMCS for car doors, trunk panels, and rear door structural components.

By incorporating CPC's molding technology, MCC uses carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRP) as its primary structural material and has developed its automotive operations in Europe.

Mitsubishi Chemical Carbon fiber plastics used in automotive parts

With the development of SMC, the business grew and was favored by several major European luxury automakers in automotive applications, with a wider range of applications expected in the future.

To meet the strong market demand, MCC will open a new SMC production line in Modena, Italy, to increase production capacity.

Modena has an advanced engineering tradition, is able to provide convenient access to MCC's customer network in the automotive market, and has a skilled workforce.

In addition to MCC's current plant in Aichi Prefecture, the new production line will further strengthen SMC's production and help further expand MCC's global sales.

MCC will be expanded by combining carbon fiber production sites in Japan, the United States and Europe, CPC's molding technology and the marketing capabilities of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials AG (MCAM). The company has a strong marketing capability and sales network in Europe and the United States in particular.

* MCAM changed its name from Quadrant AG to MCAM on April 1, 2019. The company operates globally in the following businesses: a wide range of super-engineered plastic mix fillers, and thermoplastic resins that combine carbon fiber, glass fiber and polypropylene fiber.

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