OREANDA-NEWS.  June 20, 2013. ThyssenKrupp is concentrating its activities in carbon fiber reinforced plastics at Kesselsdorf near Dresden. Today Stanislaw Tillich, Premier of the Free State of Saxony, and Dr. Heinrich Hiesinger, Executive Board Chairman of ThyssenKrupp AG, officially inaugurated the Tech Center Carbon Composites and the ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components GmbH production plant. While the TechCenter's task is to support carbon composite projects throughout the Group, ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components will focus on the development and production of vehicle components such as lightweight carbon wheels.

"Our TechCenter stands for increased research and development, investment in future technologies and greater cooperation with leading universities and institutions. ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components, for example, is a joint venture with a spin-off of Dresden University," says Dr. Heinrich Hiesinger. "We see the technological advantages and growing market potential of fiber reinforced plastics. As a technology group with strong materials expertise, ThyssenKrupp has a lot to offer in this field."

State Premier Stanislaw Tillich sees above all opportunities for Dresden as a business location: "Our research funding is having an effect. ThyssenKrupp setting up shop in Dresden is proof that by focusing support on science and research the Free State of Saxony is creating attractive conditions for businesses."

Lightweight design is a central issue today. In areas such as aircraft construction, shipbuilding, general industry and wind turbines, the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics is playing an increasingly important role. In the auto sector this trend is reinforced by emissions and fuel economy standards. For ThyssenKrupp numerous promising applications are opening up, e.g. multi-material designs in combination with innovative steel solutions, automation and tool technology, and lightweight vehicle components. With carbon wheels alone, weight savings of 30 to 50 percent are possible compared with conventional light alloy wheels.