Mitsui & KIT to work for producing carbon fibre composite
April 24, 2015 - Japan
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. has entered into a cooperation agreement and an equipment lease agreement with the Innovative Composite Materials Research and Development Center (ICC) of the Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT) to carry out experimental research concerning new production methods for the fabrication of automotive parts and other industrial products using carbon fibre composite materials.
Mitsui has discussed various collaborative schemes with the ICC and relevant end users under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Through this initiative, Mitsui will purchase experimental equipment, which will be made available to a business consortium—including end user companies—led by the ICC. The aim of this collaborative initiative is to jointly develop and implement new manufacturing methods for a wide range of components and products, including automotive parts, using carbon fibre composites, the company said in a statement.
The company and the ICC will continue to work under the coordination of METI to build a robust supply chain of carbon fibre composite materials in Japan through industry-government-academia collaboration.
The ICC is one of Japan’s biggest research centers in the field of composite materials. It was established by KIT in July 2013 to explore the potential for carbon fiber composite materials through the convergence of technologies from different industrial sectors and fields.
Mitsui is demonstrating its integrated strengths to drive business development centering on seven key strategic domains identified in its medium-term management plan. Activities relating to composite materials, including this initiative, are relevant to two of those key strategic domains: mineral resources and materials, and mobility. Mitsui will establish manufacturing methods and know-how that will bring dramatic reductions in processing costs, and build a supply chain for supplying automotive parts for use in mass-produced vehicles. Mitsui will also explore manufacturing automotive parts from lightweight materials. (GK)
Mitsui has discussed various collaborative schemes with the ICC and relevant end users under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Through this initiative, Mitsui will purchase experimental equipment, which will be made available to a business consortium—including end user companies—led by the ICC. The aim of this collaborative initiative is to jointly develop and implement new manufacturing methods for a wide range of components and products, including automotive parts, using carbon fibre composites, the company said in a statement.
The company and the ICC will continue to work under the coordination of METI to build a robust supply chain of carbon fibre composite materials in Japan through industry-government-academia collaboration.
The ICC is one of Japan’s biggest research centers in the field of composite materials. It was established by KIT in July 2013 to explore the potential for carbon fiber composite materials through the convergence of technologies from different industrial sectors and fields.
Mitsui is demonstrating its integrated strengths to drive business development centering on seven key strategic domains identified in its medium-term management plan. Activities relating to composite materials, including this initiative, are relevant to two of those key strategic domains: mineral resources and materials, and mobility. Mitsui will establish manufacturing methods and know-how that will bring dramatic reductions in processing costs, and build a supply chain for supplying automotive parts for use in mass-produced vehicles. Mitsui will also explore manufacturing automotive parts from lightweight materials. (GK)