TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings will acquire a carbon fiber plant in the U.S. run by Germany's SGL Group by April, adding 1,000 tons of annual output capacity in hopes of capturing fast-growing demand related to wind turbines and cars.
The Japanese company will make the purchase, estimated at several tens of millions of dollars, through subsidiary Mitsubishi Rayon's U.S. unit. About 50 people work at the plant in Wyoming. Production initially is planned at 1,000 tons of carbon fiber a year using SGL's equipment, and Mitsubishi Chemical will consider upgrading the facility to quadruple output.
