MRC SGL Precursor, the joint venture between the SGL Group (Wiesbaden / Germany; www.sglcarbon.com) and Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC, Tokyo / Japan; www.mrc.co.jp) established in 2010 – see Plasteurope.com of 07.05.2010 – has started producing polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based precursor fibres, the raw material for carbon fibres. The jv plant in Otake was not affected by the earthquake in Japan and was successfully started up on schedule. SGL said the plant will supply SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (SGL ACF), its jv with BMW, with precursor for use in carbon fibres and fabrics that go into the new BMW i3.

The jv has successfully completed the commissioning phase and begun commercial production of precursor. The first commercial quantities of precursor will be delivered to SGL ACF in the second quarter of 2011. The precursor manufactured by MSP in Otake will be converted to carbon fibres at the SGL ACF plant in Moses Lake, Washington / USA, where the company is presently building a carbon fibre plant with a capacity of approximately 3,000 t/y. Production at this facility is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2011. These fibres will then be processed into lightweight carbon fibre fabrics at the second SGL ACF site in Wackersdorf / Germany. The carbon fibre composite parts will be made from these fabrics at the BMW plant in Landshut / Germany. The assembly of the “Megacity” vehicle – which will be launched in 2013 as BMW i3 – will take place at BMW's plant in Leipzig / Germany.