Toray to supply carbon fibre for Boeing 777X aircraft
November 17, 2015 - Japan
Japanese firm, Toray Industries, Inc., has signed a comprehensive long-term agreement with The Boeing Company to supply carbon fibre TORAYCA prepreg for the production of the new Boeing 777X aircraft, extending the existing supply agreement for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The new agreement extends the comprehensive agreement that was signed in November 2005. The total value of prepreg Toray Group will supply for both 787 and 777X programs for the contract period is expected to exceed 1.3 trillion yen ($11 billion). Together with the extension, Toray has made a decision to invest approximately 50 billion yen in new construction of an integrated production line for yarn (precursor), high-performance carbon fibre TORAYCA with an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons, and TORAYCA prepreg in the new commercial premises it acquired in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
It represents the first phase of a planned 100 billion yen investment, as Toray seeks to expand its composite materials business in the US. The new facility will also be Toray’s first integrated production line for yarn (precursor), carbon fibre TORAYCA and TORAYCA prepreg in the US. Toray will commence production of yarn (precursor) in phases starting in May 2017, and plans to begin supplying TORAYCA prepreg to Boeing in 2019, following certification, according to a press release.
The 777X aircraft is a large-sized, twin-engine passenger aircraft currently being developed by Boeing as a successor to the existing 777, with a plan to deliver the first plane in 2020. With the conclusion of the agreement, Toray’s TORAYCA prepreg has been officially selected for the main wings. (GK)
The new agreement extends the comprehensive agreement that was signed in November 2005. The total value of prepreg Toray Group will supply for both 787 and 777X programs for the contract period is expected to exceed 1.3 trillion yen ($11 billion). Together with the extension, Toray has made a decision to invest approximately 50 billion yen in new construction of an integrated production line for yarn (precursor), high-performance carbon fibre TORAYCA with an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons, and TORAYCA prepreg in the new commercial premises it acquired in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
It represents the first phase of a planned 100 billion yen investment, as Toray seeks to expand its composite materials business in the US. The new facility will also be Toray’s first integrated production line for yarn (precursor), carbon fibre TORAYCA and TORAYCA prepreg in the US. Toray will commence production of yarn (precursor) in phases starting in May 2017, and plans to begin supplying TORAYCA prepreg to Boeing in 2019, following certification, according to a press release.
The 777X aircraft is a large-sized, twin-engine passenger aircraft currently being developed by Boeing as a successor to the existing 777, with a plan to deliver the first plane in 2020. With the conclusion of the agreement, Toray’s TORAYCA prepreg has been officially selected for the main wings. (GK)