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| For the BMW i3, the CFRP body is still being built in small series. BASF and SGL Carbon are now developing a new material system for high volume production of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. (BMW) |
The leap in technology promises a cost-effective production of thermoplastic carbon fiber composite materials, which can both in the so-called injection method, "thermoplastic resin transfer molding" (T-RTM) and the reactive injection molding are used and allow significantly shorter processing cycles than the conventional "thermoset RTM". Plants with the procedure, according to Fraunhofer researchers produce up to 100,000 components and thus operate a large-scale production in the automotive industry.
Therefore, the outlook is rosy as predicted by Robert J. Koehler, CEO of SGL Carbon. "In ten years our total revenue could rise with carbon fiber from the current 300 million euros per year for up to three billion euros."
BMW's high-tech partner SGL - originating from the chemical giant Hoechst - is a leading manufacturer of carbon fibers in the world and currently the only one in Europe. Since 2009 run SGL (51 percent) and BMW (49 percent), the joint venture, SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers for the production of carbon fibers and their processing into fabric structures for the automotive industry. The advanced plant for the production of carbon fibers in Moses Lake (Washington / USA) for three years in operation, the. For finishing this year in Wackersdorf The local SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers GmbH & Co.KG manufactures carbon fiber fabrics for the production of CFRP components of the BMW i 3 in the near Landshut.
Behind this is a strong woman
The aim of BMW, is to shape the future of mobility as a pioneer and trendsetter. The group wants the 2013 show with the assembled in Leipzig BMW i 3 and the following BMW i 8th Behind the strategy, and that the Group today launches hedged for good technological position, puts a woman at the Alliance of SGL and BMW pulled the strings, Susanne Klatten (50) sitting in 1997 at BMW's supervisory board and major shareholder in both corporations is.
Klatten holds via its subsidiary SKion currently 26.87 percent stake in SGL Carbon and probably also includes a driving force behind BMW to increase the share of SGL-Munich from 5.17 percent in December 2011 to 15.72 percent. In common industrial strategy can Klatten and BMW, which have a combined 42.59 percent of the voting shares, a bid to fend off the remaining shareholders of SGL Carbon - eg Volkswagen, which told in February 2011, to dispose of any share purchase a stake in SGL of 8.18 percent.
Susanne Klatten holds 12.6 percent of the voting capital of BMW, which comes from the wealth of her father Herbert Quandt, who died in 1982. Together with mother Joan and brother Stefan Quandt, belong to the heirs together 46.7 percent of BMW AG.
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