Toray Announces Consolidation of its North American Composite Materials Businesses

Toray Industries, Inc. (headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihiro Nikkaku) announces the consolidation of its North American Carbon Fiber Composite Materials Businesses. Toray Composites (America), Inc. [TCA], located in Tacoma, Washington, and Toray Carbon Fibers America, Inc.[CFA], located in Decatur, Alabama have been consolidated into a single business entity – Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. [CMA].

“This consolidation enables us to better integrate, better innovate, and better meet the demands of our customers,” said Moriyuki Onishi, President and CEO of the newly formed CMA. “Our partners in the Aerospace, Automotive and Industrial markets demand ever increasing efficiency and a simplified relationship,” said Onishi.

This consolidation will also include creation of Commercial Business Sectors – with Aerospace led by Tim Kirk, Vice President of Aerospace Sales and the Industrial Market led by Buster Tipton, Vice President of Industrial Sales. These commercial business sectors will align Toray capability across product lines to increase customer value, shorten time to market, and strengthen critical relationships.

CMA’s Tacoma plant was first established in 1992 as TCA – incorporating in Pierce County and adjacent to Boeing’s Composite Manufacturing Center [CMC] – to enable an efficient supply stream of Toray’s Carbon Fiber Composite Materials. First used on the Boeing 777, Toray’s Carbon Fiber Composite Materials are now incorporated into the 777 and 787 primary structure and will be used on the new 777X wing. CMA’s Tacoma plant supplies a diverse customer base both domestically and internationally and is a major exporter from Washington State.

CMA’s Decatur plant was first established in 1997 as CFA – incorporating in Morgan County. The Decatur area has been known for its history in the chemical industries and offers attractive conditions for carbon fiber production. CMA Decatur operates lines from precursor to carbon fiber and has a diverse base of customers in aerospace, industrial, and automotive. It manufactures Standard Modulus [SM], Intermediate Modulus [IM] and Intermediate Modulus (+) [IM+] fibers for a global customer base.

CMA’s Spartanburg plant, will be an integrated facility to produce precursor, carbon fiber and prepreg in a single manufacturing facility. This plant is a cornerstone of Toray’s growth in North America and provides critical supply chain redundancy and diversification.