Toray Supplying Carbon Fiber Composite Materials to Boeing

Asian Textile Business, Jul 2004

Toray Industries, Inc. has agreed with Boeing Inc. of the U.S. for the supply of carbon fiber composite materials to be used in the primary structural elements of the "B7E7 Dreamliner", a next-generation medium-size aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2008. Based on this agreement, Toray is to supply carbon fiber composite materials to Boeing from 2004 through 2021, a total of 18 years.

During the period, Toray will provide Boeing with carbon fiber prepreg, a sheet made from epoxy resin pregnated with carbon fiber. The total value of the supply is estimated to reach approximately US$3 billion. This figure will increase still further if other composite materials get approval from Boeing.

Boeing has selected Toray as the sole supplier of carbon fiber reinforced plastics for the primary structures of the B7E7 aircraft. In 1982, Boeing adopted Toray's carbon fiber "Torayca" for the secondary structural elements of its B757 and B767, and since 1992 has been using "Torayca" prepreg for the primary structural elements of B777.