BMW teams SGL to triple carbon fibre production at Moses Lake plant

BMW Group and co-venture SGL Group has pumped in an additional investment of US$200 million (approx S$250 million) to triple the production volume at the Moses Lake carbon fibre plant.

With a medium-term capacity of 9,000 tonnes per year, the Moses Lake facility will also become the world's largest carbon fibre plant.

The announcement was made by the joint venture partners, BMW Group and SGL Group, at the groundbreaking ceremony of the site expansion, which is scheduled to be completed by 2015.

Part of the expansion plan will see a rise in headcount - from the current 80 to around 200 people.

This year, SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers will commission a third and fourth production line in Moses Lake, which are currently being built. The groundbreaking ceremony for a fifth and sixth production line is the first step to triple capacities to 9,000 tons annually in the medium term.

More notably, the energy needed for the carbon fibre production is fully generated from hydropower - further boasting the firm's belief in minimising carbon footprint for a better future.