News

April 2010

JEC Paris

Grafil will once again be exhibiting at the JEC Exhibition in Paris.  The show takes place from April 13 -15.  Please visit us at our stand number Q25. 

We look forward to meeting with you at JEC in April.

March 2010

Mitsubishi Chemicals Holding Corporation and Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Confirm Management Integration

In November 2009 Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC) and Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd (MRC) announced that they had reached agreement to integrate management. In reaching this agreement MCHC were to acquire, by Tender Offer, all outstanding shares in MRC and the process to achieve this was due to start in early February 2010 and be completed by the end of March 2010.

MCHC commenced the Tender Offer for common shares of MRC on February 2010 and this was completed on March 19th 2010.

As a result of this Tender Offer the minimum number of shares acquired was exceeded with the result that MCHC’s holding ratio of voting rights in MRC will exceed 50% as of March 30th 2010, the settlement date.

As a result of the success of the Tender Offer MCHC and MRC are please to confirm that the planned management integration will become effective on 31st March 2010 and as a result MRC will become a consolidated subsidiary of MCHC also effective as 31st March 2010.

As the management integration process takes place, further press releases and updates on our web site (www.mrc.co.jp) will be made as appropriate.

Full details of the Tender Offer can be found at: MCHC/MRC Management Integration

January 2010

Grafil Organizational Change Announcement

Grafil Inc. welcomes new Sales Manager, Masayoshi “Mark” Okuno. Mark joins us from Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (“MRC”), Grafil’s parent company.

Mark has more than 20 years of experience in the composites industry working with MRC, including spending three years at Grafil (1998-2001) working as a member of the sales team. After his return to MRC, Mark worked as a manager for global sales and marketing activities.

November 2009

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (“MCHC”) and Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (“MRC”) have Reached an Agreement to Integrate Management by April 2010

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation and Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. have reached an agreement to integrate management (hereinafter referred to as “Management Integration”) in accordance with resolutions passed at both companies’ meetings of the Board of Directors convened on November 19, 2009. Under the agreement, MRC will become a subsidiary of MCHC. The two companies have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter referred to as “Memorandum of Understanding”) today.  For further details, see MRC’s news release: MCHC/MRC Management Integration

October 2009

''Carbon Fiber JV'' between BMW Group/SGL and MRC/SGL

MRC, SGL and BMW have formed a business alliance for precursor supply for new carbon fibers to be used on the BMW Megacity Vehicle series production beginning approximately 2015.

“Carbon Fiber JV” between BMW Group/SGL and MRC/SGL.  Both groups have recognized the need to further expand the scope of collaboration, specifically to supply the precursor securely for this Joint Venture. To this end, the two companies will establish a Joint Venture to produce precursor and to provide it securely over the long term.  In this Joint Venture, two-thirds of the shares will be held by MRC and one-third by SGL.  Precursor will be produced at MRC’s Otake production site.  For further details, see MRC’s news release: MRC/SGL/BMW Business Alliance

October 2009

Grafil UK Logistics Moved to State of the Art Facility

To make better use of our own in house inventory system, which is based around 2D bar coding, we are pleased to announce that at the end of October, we moved our logistic operation from Hellmann Worldwide Logistics to Nippon Express Ltd.  The change will enable us to streamline our inventory selection process, which in turn will lead to better service for our customers.

September 2009

Cytec and Mitsubishi Rayon Announce Strategic Business Collaboration

Cytec Industries Inc. (NYSE: CYT) and Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (“MRC”) announced they have entered into a strategic business collaboration to advance carbon fiber reinforced composite materials technology. Both CEM and MRC will have the opportunity to supply the developed materials for use in primary structures for commercial transports.  For further details, see MRC’s news release: MRC/CEM Collaboration

August 2009

ISO 9001:2008 Transition

We are pleased to announce that the ISO Quality Management System in both the US and UK successfully made the transition to ISO 9001:2008.

April 2009

Start of Operations Postponed at new Carbon Fiber Production Facilities in Otake, Japan

Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (“MRC”) has postponed the start of production at our new carbon fiber plant in the Otake Production Center. The decision was made due to a delay in the market demand for carbon fiber. Construction work currently underway will be halted for approximately one year in line with this decision.
 
When the market demand for carbon fiber recovers, MRC is poised to resume construction of our new carbon fiber line and estimates it will require approximately six months from the restart date to fully commission the new carbon fiber line.
 
The new TRH50 60K product, which will ultimately be produced on our new carbon fiber line in Otake, has better processability compared with other carbon fibers of similar tow size, with the additional benefit of higher strength and higher modulus. TRH50 60K is currently being produced at Grafil, Inc., MRC’s wholly owned subsidiary located in Sacramento, CA. The production output of TRH50 60K at Grafil will be steadily increased throughout 2009 consistent with the increased demand for this product.

June 2008

Grafil Organizational Change Announcement

Sacramento, California – June 30, 2008: Grafil Inc. welcomes new President, Hiroyuki “Roy” Kinoshita. Mr. Kinoshita joins us from Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (“MRC”), Grafil’s parent company. He brings 26-years of experience in MRC’s international and composite materials divisions. His varied experience includes international contracting and joint ventures, technical export control, and sales of carbon fiber, prepreg, and golf shafts.
 
While working for MRC, Mr. Kinoshita traveled widely throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. He is well-positioned to understand the global nature of the carbon fiber business and the importance of the Mitsubishi Rayon Group's vertical integration.
 
Mr. Kinoshita understands the challenges of the current carbon fiber market and is very excited to join Grafil at this time to contribute to the continued development and success of Grafil's carbon fiber business.

November 2007

Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (MRC) Announces the Introduction of the new PAN-based Carbon Fiber Pyrofil P330 Series

Tokyo, Japan – November 28, 2007: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. announced the introduction of its P330 series of high strength carbon fibers.  The P330 has the same properties as the TRH50 fiber, one of MRC’s high strength carbon fibers, but will have an increased filament count (50-60K).  The P330 series will have better processability compared with other carbon fibers of similar tow size, with the additional benefit of higher strength and higher modulus.  For further details on this new product, see MRC’s news release: Pyrofil P330

August 2007

Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (MRC) to Increase Carbon Fiber Production Capacity

Otake, Japan – August 2, 2007: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. announced plans to increase the production capacity of its facilities through the construction of an additional carbonization line with an annual capacity of 2,700 tons.  For additional details on this capacity increase, see MRC’s news release: Capacity Increase