Tokyo, Japan/Samutprakarn, Thailand —January 11, 2011 — Toho Tenax Co. Ltd., the core company of
the Teijin Group’s carbon fibers business, announced today that it will supply TENAX carbon fiber
for compressed natural gas tanks developed and manufactured by Metal Mate Co. Ltd., a leading
pressure-vessel manufacturer in Thailand. Toho Tenax envisions sales of $10 million per year under
the agreement, which establishes Toho Tenax as the exclusive supplier of carbon fiber to Metal
Mate.
Tenax carbon fiber will be used in the production of lightweight, high-capacity tanks of the
Type 3 design, which are metal cylinders fully wrapped with fiber-reinforced resin. Metal Mate is
the first manufacturer in Thailand to produce Type 3 cylinders made with carbon fiber. The tanks
are expected to help meet the growing demand for vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, which
are gaining popularity due to their reduced environmental impact.
Toho Tenax markets its high-quality carbon fiber for applications including pressure vessels,
aircraft, vehicles and wind-power generators. Going forward, the company intends to expand sales
for pressure vessel applications in Asia, especially China and Southeast Asia, as well as Europe
and the United States. Annual Tenax carbon fiber sales for pressure vessel applications are
expected to reach $50 million by 2015.
Toho Tenax also plans to expand sales of Tenax carbon fiber for other industrial
applications, including electronic devices, automotive parts and wind-power generators, in the
fast-growing markets of Asia.
Posted on January 21, 2011
SOURCE: Teijin Group