Toho Tenax expects the deal to be worth US$10 million in annual sales and establishes Toho Tenax as the exclusive supplier of carbon fibre to Metal Mate, a leading pressure vessel manufacturer in Thailand.
TENAX carbon fibre will be used in the production of lightweight, high-capacity tanks of the Type 3 design, which are metal cylinders wrapped with fibre reinforced resin. Metal Mate is the first manufacturer in Thailand to produce Type 3 cylinders made with carbon fibre. The tanks are expected to help meet the growing demand for vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Carbon fibre applications
Toho Tenax intends to expand sales of its carbon fibre for pressure vessel applications in Asia (especially China and South East Asia), as well as Europe and the USA. TENAX carbon fibre sales for pressure vessel applications are expected to reach US$50 million per year by 2015.
Toho Tenax also plans to expand sales of TENAX carbon fibre for other industrial applications, including electronic devices, automotive parts and wind turbines, in the fast-growing markets of Asia.
Toho Tenax Co Ltd is the core company of the Teijin Group’s carbon fibre business. Based in Japan, Teijin is a global technology group operating in eight main fields, including carbon fibre, aramid fibre, polyester fibre, and plastics.
