For the automotive industry to really buy in to carbon fibre composites, it would take the establishment of ten carbon fibre plants each with an annual capacity of 10,000 tons or more, according to Rob Klawonn, who has just assumed the position of CEO at 4M Carbon Fiber Corporation, based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

As the former president of Teijin Carbon America, Klawonn describes the carbon fibre industry as still in its infancy, but he sees exciting times ahead.

He will now lead 4M’s move from making ovens that others use to produce carbon fibre, to a company actually manufacturing the carbon fibre. To do so, 4M will employ a technology co-developed by RMX Technologies and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Read the full article on our Inside Composites website