As one of the leading carbon fibre manufacturers world-wide, Toho Tenax is developing a range of carbon fibre based forward-integrated products. These carbon fibre based semi-finished products will be integrated into the Tenax® product range.

The presently most advanced and successful of these products are Tenax® based ThermoPlastics.

A new production line for Tenax® TPUD prepreg (ThermoPastic UniDirectional) is currently being installed at its German production site in Oberbruch. This new advanced line builds the twenty year experience already held within the Toho Tenax group for thermoplastic prepreg production. It will be the first commercial TPUD line installed in Europe. The first production is planned for summer 2011. Tenax® TPUD is reinforced with a specialised carbon fibre with tailored sizing for high temperature thermoplastic applications. The carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic tape will be available in a wide range of widths (6.35 to 304.8 mm).

Toho Tenax has also developed a new range of ThermoPlastic Consolidated Laminate materials (Tenax® TPCL) in partnership with the company PORCHER INDUSTRIES, France. The laminates are formed by consolidating several layers of woven carbon fibre coated with a thermoplastic polymer. These carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic laminates can be used in a subsequent transformation process to create press formed components.

These new Tenax® ThermoPlastic materials have already been selected for a variety of aerospace development and commercial programmes.