Plasan Carbon Composites Partners With Toray Industries To Strengthen Material and Technology Capabilities

Toray Acquires 20 Percent Interest in PCC

WIXON, MI--July 24, 2013: Plasan Carbon Composites (PCC), the leading supplier of carbon fiber solutions to the automotive industry and a subsidiary of composites solutions pioneer Plasan Sasa, Inc, today announced that it has partnered with Toray Industries to bring additional material and technology capabilities and solutions to its automotive and commercial customers. Toray, a global leader in organic synthetic chemistry, polymer chemistry and biotechnology, has acquired a 20 percent ownership in PCC as part of its commitment to the global automotive market. As the premiere Tier One Supplier of Automotive Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites (CFRC), the partnership will help PCC expand its capabilities in addressing the automotive industry's drive for weight reduction in its vehicles.

Established in 2006, PCC has pioneered the North American Automotive Carbon Fiber Composite industry, beginning with the Corvette Z06 fenders and followed by Corvette ZR1 exterior components, as well as Viper ACR exterior components and a limited edition Ford Shelby Mustang hood. In 2010, PCC announced the establishment of a new Customer Development Center in Wixom, Michigan, introducing the commercialization of a proprietary high speed Pressure Press process for CFRP Class A Body Panels.

"As we look to expand the market for CFRP automotive applications for both Class A and structural applications, we see the need for synergistic relationships and are excited about our new partnership with Toray," said PCC President and CEO Jim Staargaard. "With Toray being a leader in carbon fiber technology and materials-as well as our major supplier-we believe the combination of PCC's capabilities along with Toray's material and processing technologies will greatly assist in that expansion. At the same time, with the industry and technologies so dynamic, we will continue to seek out the most cost effective carbon fiber technologies, as we do through the Oak Ridge Lab Consortium, to support that future growth."

Earlier this year, PCC announced that it will be supplying all the 2014 Corvette Stingray hoods and two versions of removable roofs with a proprietary high speed Pressure Press process from a new manufacturing facility in Walker, Michigan. Both the Wixom and Walker facilities were developed with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. PCC was also chosen to supply three major exterior Class A Panels on the 2013 SRT Viper, which are manufactured in its Bennington Vermont facility. PCC is a charter member of the Oak Ridge National Laboratories Carbon Fiber Consortium.

About Plasan Carbon Composites. Dedicated to automotive carbon fiber, Plasan Carbon Composites is the leading Tier 1 supplier of carbon fiber parts and assemblies in the United States. PCC specializes in the production of Class A and structural parts for mid-volume production cars. As a Tier 1 supplier, Plasan will work with all OEM clients to analyze, design and implement mass reduction challenges. We can help in the material selection process identifying the best method to take optimal advantage of carbon fiber's range of superior material properties beyond just weight reduction.