Jul 13 2007
The SGL Group – The Carbon Company – and Benteler Automobiltechnik, Paderborn, intend to set up a joint venture for the development, manufacturing, and marketing of components using carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRPs) for the automotive industry. The two companies want to participate with 50% each and will contribute their specific expertise with regard to the product, its manufacturing, and marketing. Today a respective and already detailed letter of intend was signed.
In a first step the joint venture named Benteler-SGL-Automotive Composite GmbH, and will be based in Paderborn, will focus on developing structural and other components using CFRPs – such as B-columns, crash boxes, bumpers, and axles. In a second step, the joint venture medium term wants to start up series production of these products for the automotive industry.
The SGL Group brings its experience in developing and manufacturing carbon fibers and will supply carbon fiber composites exclusively to the joint venture. Benteler Automobiltechnik inserts its product development and process skills in series production as well as its experience on the automotive market. The joint venture can therefore provide automobile manufacturers with unique carbon fiber composites and lightweight solutions based on carbon fibers and metal hybrids. This will assist the car producers in implementing the increasing number of requirements related to reducing CO2 emissions and leads to more savety and less fuel consumption.