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2011: the consumption of carbon fiber restarts commento di Giampaolo Crepaldi
14/06/2010 – Finally, after two years of apparent immobility, we are receiving encouraging and distinct signals of a growing and renewed demand for carbon fiber from the world market. NTT records a significant increase in requests for KORE® Carbon Fiber from 240 GPa and 300 GPa, especially counts from 3K and 12K tow. We think that much is due to the new spirit of confidence of industries for the coming years; a tangible sign that we have glimpsed the end of this crisis tunnel, which began in late 2008. Obviously the leading sectors are the aeronautic and aerospace, with signs of revitalization for the automotive industry. Note also that new initiatives and projects, including the use of carbon fiber, are emerging. This is the best indicator of the prosperity that awaits the producers and manufacturers of carbon fiber. We want to make a special note on the development and strongly increasing use of carbon fiber for the production of parts and components in wind power industry and photovoltaics. These two sectors are restarting a considerable number of projects, which again will only increase the consumption of carbon fiber. We refer, for example, to the offshore wind power farm in the North Sea, sponsored by the British government. It is obvious that this sudden, exponential, higher consumption of carbon fiber, will again bring to lacking of raw materials from the market, thoroughly going from the current average lead time of about 4 weeks, to return INFO (INF) Signed Date Designation
Prepared Approved G Crepaldi G Crepaldi 14/06/2010 14/06/2010 NTT-INF01-ITA Rev.01/10
to pre‐economic and financial crisis timing, when the lack of carbon fiber resulted in an average lead time of 12‐14 weeks. The consequence of this lack of product will be the inevitable fiber price increase. It is easy to foresee a return, slowly but inexorably, to the price and trading conditions standard of 2008. This is why NTT is informing its customers of this possibility, inviting them to confirm the amount of KORE® Carbon Fiber for the full year 2011, not to remain without the needed material for the running projects and those ahead. And to prevent future major hitches, the NTT Group is considering new investments in production facilities for the KORE® tow and the KOREOx ® preoxidised product. We will do the first evaluation after the collection of orders in November this year for deliveries in 2011, in order to understand what capabilities we must set the new unit. As in the nature of NTT, we always try to be ready for any question or need is on the market without losing sight of the customer relationship, and always paying attention to the Institutions, when they want to develop initiatives and projects to continue expanding the use of KORE® Carbon Fiber. (G. Crepaldi – NTT Group) Contact – NTT Aerospace info@gontt.com Visit www.gontt.com Tags: NTT Group, NTT Aerospace, NTT Engineering, NTT International, KORE, Carbon Fiber
Issued W Van Gulijk 14/06/2010
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