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Lenzing Joint Venture starts development of carbon fiber precursor

The project is supported by the initiative "Bayern FIT – Research, Innovation, Technology" with a total of EUR 6 mill. The project objective is to develop a carbon fiber precursor for high-performance applications in aviation, aerospace and defense. Precursors are the polymeric base material of carbon fiber production. Their quality is the decisive factor for carbon fiber quality and the derived carbon fiber compounds.

Peter Untersperger, member of the Lenzing management board in charge of finance: "One of our strategic approaches is to expand fiber capacity in the high-tech sector, based on the synthetic raw materials and cellulose. We see enormous growth potential in Europe, especially for carbon fibers, in this segment".

The rising cost of raw materials and energy requires the transport industry to reduce emissions conductive to global warming. This will lead to a rising demand for carbon fibers. Its low weight and high tensile strength make carbon fiber the ideal material for substituting traditional steel and aluminum.

European Precursor GmbH (EPG) in Kelheim (Danube) was founded at the end of 2006. Since then, the two partners have already invested about EUR 20 mill. into a plant for the production of a standard precursor based on special polyacryl nitrite fibers (PAN) for industrial applications – especially for the wind energy industry. Up to EUR 50 mill. are to be invested in the medium term.

The Lenzing Group plans to expand its production capacity for precursor materials in line with demand. The Group’s comprehensive fiber expertise will contribute to this attractive growth market.