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Plasan and Toray partner on carbon fiber reinforced composites for automotive markets; Toray acquires 20% interest in Plasan

Plasan Carbon Composites (PCC), a supplier of carbon fiber solutions to the automotive industry and a subsidiary of composites solutions pioneer Plasan Sasa, Inc, has partnered with Toray Industries to bring additional material and technology capabilities and solutions to its automotive and commercial customers. Toray, a global leader in organic synthetic chemistry, polymer chemistry and biotechnology, has acquired a 20% ownership in PCC as part of its commitment to the global automotive market.

Established in 2006, PCC began production of automotive carbon fiber composites, beginning with the Corvette Z06 fenders and followed by Corvette ZR1 exterior components, as well as Viper ACR exterior components and a limited edition Ford Shelby Mustang hood. In 2010, PCC announced the establishment of a new Customer Development Center in Wixom, Michigan, introducing the commercialization of a proprietary high speed pressure press process for CFRP Class A body panels.

As we look to expand the market for CFRP automotive applications for both Class A and structural applications, we see the need for synergistic relationships and are excited about our new partnership with Toray. With Toray being a leader in carbon fiber technology and materials-as well as our major supplier-we believe the combination of PCC's capabilities along with Toray’s material and processing technologies will greatly assist in that expansion. At the same time, with the industry and technologies so dynamic, we will continue to seek out the most cost effective carbon fiber technologies, as we do through the Oak Ridge Lab Consortium, to support that future growth.

—PCC President and CEO Jim Staargaard

Earlier this year, PCC announced that it will be supplying all the 2014 Corvette Stingray hoods and two versions of removable roofs with a proprietary high speed pressure press process from a new manufacturing facility in Walker, Michigan. Both the Wixom and Walker facilities were developed with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. PCC was also chosen to supply three major exterior Class A Panels on the 2013 SRT Viper, which are manufactured in its Bennington Vermont facility. PCC is a charter member of the Oak Ridge National Laboratories Carbon Fiber Consortium.

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