BMW SGL Carbon Fiber JV Moses Lake
BMW and SGL's joint venture in Moses Lake, WA, started operations in September 2011.
BMW SGL Carbon Fiber JV Moses Lake
Polyacrylonitrile, or PAN, precursor material to carbon fiber. It is separated and stretched before going into ovens.
BMW SGL Carbon Fiber JV Moses Lake
PAN oxidized in four ovens. During process it turns from white to shades of gold.
BMW SGL Carbon Fiber JV Moses Lake
At end of oxidation process PAN color goes from gold to black. Once PAN oxidized it can't melt and is non-flammable.
BMW SGL Carbon Fiber JV Moses Lake
After oxidation PAN carbonized, becoming carbon fiber.
BMW SGL Carbon Fiber JV Moses Lake
Some 1.7 miles of carbon fiber wrapped around single bobbin. Bobbins shipped to BMW-SGL JV plant in Wackersdorf, Germany.
BMW SGL Carbon Fiber JV Moses Lake
Building 1 housing lines 1 and 2 in foreground, building 2 with lines 3 and 4 in middle. Ground broken last week on building 3 for lines 5 and 6.