Japanese carbon fibre and plastics specialist Teijin (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijin.com) has restructured its carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) business as part of plans to accelerate growth in automotive applications. The company said it is integrating the development and marketing of automotive-use CFRP by creating a new unit, the Automotive Business Development Group. The new unit, launched on 1 April 2015, is responsible for marketing thermoplastic CFRP and thermoset CFRP. Thermoplastic CFRP was previously handled by the Teijin Composites Innovation Center, while thermoset CFRP was previously handled by the company’s Toho Tenax (www.tohotenax.com/tenax/en) business.

“Integrating and reorganising these functions will enable Teijin accelerate its CFRP business, especially in the highly promising automotive field,” the company stated. “Teijin expects to become Japan's leading provider of CFRP composites for automotive applications.” Current efforts are focused on developing automotive CFRP products for global automakers in Japan and other countries. Toho Tenax, which spearheads Teijin's carbon fibres and composites business, is developing automotive-use products such as high-efficiency thermoset CFRP and rapid-curing carbon fibre sheet pre-impregnated with matrix resin.

The Teijin Composites Innovation Center will now focus on developing technologies for individual projects, the company said.