European chemical fiber production companies will expand the scale of trading with automakers. Teijin has also announced that it will acquire German automotive interior materials companies for €125 million, and Asahi Kasei and other companies expand their synthetic fiber production capacity. With electric vehicles With the popularity of (EV), the demand for high-performance synthetic fiber materials is increasing. While increasing contact with automakers, chemical manufacturing companies have demonstrated their technological innovation capabilities that they are best at.
Teijin acquired a German company that manufactures automotive sound absorbing materials and seat materials. It has four plants in Europe and sales of 69 million euros in December 2017. It is expected that the entire equity will be obtained from German investment companies in August. Teijin’s top executive Sun Shinji stressed during the press conference that 'this will be the first direct action taken by European automakers'.
Another chemical synthetic fiber company, Asahi Kasei, is also discussing the construction of a new fuel-efficient tire factory for Europe. If the plan is planned, the investment will reach several million yen. Recently, the company’s synthetic fiber resin was revealed at the European exhibition. The plan to make an EV electric concept car.
In addition, Mitsui Chemicals has established a polypropylene (PP) resin that can lighten bumpers in the Netherlands. Toray will also set up a research and development laboratory for automotive parts in the suburbs of Munich, Germany.
Major companies will also increase the inventory of raw materials, to 'buy time' in the field of auto parts, and also to realize capital operation through M&A (enterprise mergers and acquisitions). In the field of automotive interior materials, Asahi Kasei recently pointed out a strong acquisition in European companies. The behavior of American manufacturers.
While European automakers are actively adopting new materials, they also maintain strong links with local raw material manufacturers. Japan’s chemical fiber companies have not done so. However, due to the environmental and fuel consumption restrictions, the car is light. The quantitative demand will be further improved, and high-performance synthetic fiber materials will certainly be in short supply.