Tokyo-based Teijin Ltd. has broken ground on a new carbon fiber production facility in Greenwood, S.C.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the plant, which will be part of the company's U.S. subsidiary Teijin Carbon Fibers, was June 1, said the Japanese materials supplier.
The move is part of Teijin's strategy to “evolve” its carbon fiber businesses under a long-term vision to reduce its environmental footprint amid tightening environmental regulations worldwide.
“We look forward to this new chapter of Teijin's expansion in the U.S.,” said TCF President Yukito Miyajima.
Miyajima said the company is strengthening its global upstream-to-downstream carbon fiber business, with particular focus on the aircraft and automotive fields.
“Throughout this process, we looked at multiple locations, but ultimately, with the support of Greenwood local and state government officials, we chose Greenwood as the ideal location for our new U.S. carbon fiber facility,” Miyajima said.
In 2016, TCF committed to a $600 million investment project in Greenwood, spanning 14 years and scheduled to run until 2030.
This, according to the company, is the largest initial capital investment that any company in Greenwood.