Belgium-headquartered chemicals giant Solvay SA has announced that has launched a new carbon fiber production line at its U.S, site in South Carolina.
The company says that the new line doubles its production capacity of a key raw material to make carbon fiber reinforced composite materials. Solvay states that the new line has been introduced to meet increasing demand for light-weighting composite materials in the aerospace industry, it has not disclosed a financial figure for the investment.
"Through this strategic capacity expansion we offer our customers greater supply capabilities and contribute to their increased needs for reinforced composite materials to reduce weight and fuel consumption and to reduce assembly costs by integrated part design. For Solvay this production expansion results in greater flexibility to strengthen our growth in innovative composite materials and our leading position in the industry," said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay.
Solvay highlights that the new production line has won qualification by the Boeing Company to manufacture secondary structures such as wing movable flaps, engine nacelles and interior applications.