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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

China-Based Toray Industries Plans Spartanburg, South Carolina, Manufacturing Center

11/12/2015
Toray Industries, Inc. signed a comprehensive long-term agreement with The Boeing Company to supply carbon fiber TORAYCA prepreg for the production of the new Boeing 777X aircraft. As a result of the agreement, Toray will expand its production facilities in Tacoma, Washington and build a new manufacturing center in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

According to company officials, Toray has already been working to expand TORAYCA prepreg production facilities at its U.S. subsidiary, Toray Composites (America), Inc., in Tacoma, Washington, and the new facilities there are expected to start operation in January 2016.

As a result of the extension, Toray has made a decision to invest approximately 50 billion yen or $7. 85 billion U.S. in new construction of an integrated production line for yarn (precursor), high-performance carbon fiber TORAYCA with an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons, and TORAYCA prepreg in the new commercial premises it acquired in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

It represents the first phase of a planned 100 billion yen or $15 billion U.S. investment, as Toray seeks to expand its composite materials business in the U.S. The new Spartanburg facility will also be Toray’s first integrated production line for yarn (precursor), carbon fiber TORAYCA and TORAYCA prepreg in the U.S. Toray will begin production of yarn (precursor) in phases starting in May 2017, and plans to begin supplying TORAYCA prepreg to Boeing in 2019, following certification.

The integrated production line to be constructed in Spartanburg County, South Carolina is intended to meet growing demand generated by Boeing’s plan to increase production of 787 aircraft to 14 per month as well as the 777X program. The new facility will confidently position Toray to provide Boeing with a stable supply of products. Toray plans to expand the production facilities in Spartanburg County, South Carolina in phases, as shipments for the 787 and 777X aircraft grow.

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