washington business
“There is no other material like carbon
fiber in terms of performance. Now that
advancements in the use of the material are
moving quickly, the market for carbon fiber
products is growing exponentially. It’s an
exciting industry to be part of right now.”
As early as 1879, Thomas Edison was experimenting with
carbon fibers made from cotton threads and bamboo slivers.
In fact, the first incandescent light bulb heated by electricity
contained carbon fibers until the 1960s when tungsten wire
replaced carbon.
More than a century later, carbon fiber threads remain on
the forefront of progress, driving a manufacturing revolution
in Washington state and forming the basis for an entirely new
— Junus Khan, founder and CEO of Kennewick-based Carbitex
industry.
Gov. Jay Inslee hailed SGL Automotive Carbon Fiber’s plant
expansion in Moses Lake last year as “the beginning of a structural revolution in a growing market.”
SGL now supplies one-fifth of the world’s carbon fiber and Toray, based near Tacoma, is the world’s largest producer of carbon
fiber.
“The overall growth today is robust,” said Geoff Wood, president of Profiles Composites, Inc. and former consultant to the state
on composites manufacturing energy reduction and recycling efforts partnering with the federal Department of Energy’s (DOE)
Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation.
In fact, the material is now heavily-produced here and used to manufacture
everything from luxury car parts and elite racing shells to manned submersibles and
high-end handbags. Yes, even handbags.
at a glance
With more than 80 carbon fiber composites companies in the state that contribute
$3.3 billion in revenue, the growth of this sector is likely, in part, a result of a
The global composites market is expected
combination of Washington’s robust and diverse tech sector and cutting-edge new
to reach $27.4 billion by 2016, according
materials and engineering expertise, according to the state Department of Commerce
to a 2011 U.S. Census Bureau report.
website.
Couple those desirable attributes with low-cost hydropower, high-tech training
Carbon fiber composites are growing in use
programs and expertise at the state’s four-year and community and technical colleges
and more innovations are allowing for use as a
and it’s easy to see why Washington is quickly becoming an attractive place to locate
replacement for aluminum and other materials.
energy-intensive, new-age manufacturing facilities.
Boeing is investing more than $1 billion
in the Everett-based 777X Composite Wing
Center, which will employ approximately
10 percent more factory workers than
today’s 777 upon completion in 2016.
Washington is home to the world’s largest
producer of carbon fiber thread, Toray,
which supplies companies in Washington
state and around the world.
There are more than 80 carbon fiber
composites companies in the state, according
to the state Department of Commerce.
The top use for carbon fiber composites
in Washington is aerospace, followed
by defense and automotive.
Key innovations in recycling
byproducts and other materials from the
carbon fiber manufacturing process are
taking place in Washington state.
30 association of washington business
carbon fiber composites are not just for aerospace
Legislative action in 2013 encouraged Boeing to site the first-of-its-kind 777X carbon
fiber wing manufacturing facility in Everett.