By Rhoda Miel, Plastics News Staff
Osaka, Japan -- Japan's Teijin Ltd will build a $7.9 million composites development centre in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan, as part of its push to create large-volume carbon fibre production for the auto industry.
The Michigan Economic Development Authority announced the company's plans on 20 March. Teijin Advanced Composites America Inc. expects to create up to 25 jobs initially.
Teijin, with corporate offices in Osaka and Tokyo, has said it developed a proprietary process to mould carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic within cycle times of one minute.
In December, it signed an agreement with Detroit-based General Motors Co. to bring the process to auto production, potentially widening the use of carbon fibre beyond speciality cars.
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