Some of the world’s leading carbon fiber manufacturers have been successful through continuous innovation, quality production, and strategic partnerships with industries such as aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy. Toray Industries, Inc. of Japan is one of the largest and most famous carbon fiber manufacturers in the world. Boasting a market share of over 30%, Toray supplies its carbon fiber to various industries like aerospace, automotive, and sporting goods. For example, carbon fiber provided by Toray is utilized by Boeing in building the 787 Dreamliner where 50% of the jet consists of composite material contributing toward making this jet efficient with fuel and light.
Another major player is Hexcel Corporation, an American company specializing in advanced composites. Hexcel supplies the industries of aerospace, defense, and wind energy with their carbon fiber. In the year 2020, Hexcel reported more than $2.5 billion in annual sales, and a good amount of that revenue actually came from the production of carbon fiber. Its high-performance products are taken up by global aerospace majors like Airbus and Lockheed Martin, especially for those applications with high levels of stress or requiring lightweight, strong materials.
By contrast, in Europe, SGL Carbon is one of the largest companies in the manufacturing of carbon fibers. Being famous for high-modulus carbon fibers for automotive applications, SGL Carbon composite materials are present in several luxury car models like BMW and Audi. This also includes its collaboration with BMW for the introduction of the world’s first mass-produced carbon fiber chassis in the BMW i3, which was used for reducing the overall weight by some 30% to significantly improve both performance and energy efficiency.
Besides, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation also is one of the leading companies in carbon fiber, especially in producing PAN-based carbon fiber. In 2021, Mitsubishi Chemical has secured a massive share in the global carbon fiber market by supplying materials used in various industries, from sportive tools to aerospace and automobile industries. Advanced carbon fiber products produced by the company include high strength and versatility, and thus, are suitable for both high-performance applications and general industrial purposes.
In the developing renewable energy sector, companies like Zhongtai International-a leading Chinese carbon fiber manufacturer-are making great strides by manufacturing cost-effective composites for wind turbine blades. Manufacturers of wind turbines are using more carbon fiber in blade production to have lighter structures that are more durable and can withstand higher stress loads. Companies like Zhongtai have joined in to meet the high demand for carbon fiber in green energy technologies, with China being one of the big players in the global renewable energy market.
According to Dr. Robert Lee of the Carbon Fiber Technology Institute, “The best carbon fiber manufacturers are those who can adapt to evolving market needs while maintaining the high-performance standards required by industries like aerospace and automotive.” This ability, along with consistent quality, keeps companies such as Toray, Hexcel, and SGL Carbon at the front line in the global carbon fiber market. To learn more about leading carbon fiber manufacturers, follow this link: Carbon Fiber Manufacturer.