Toray Industries, Inc. (Tokyo) announced that its subsidiaries Toray Textiles Central Europe s.r.o. (TTCE) and Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc. (TAK) have set up new facilities in the Czech Republic to expand the Airlite automotive interior sound acoustic insulation business in Europe. This material enhances passenger comfort by suppressing noise from driving, vibrations, and from outside vehicles. This new facility at TTCE’s facility in the Czech Republic will go on line in October this year, with an annual production capacity of 1,200 metric tons.
Airlite is a melt-blown non-woven sound-absorbing material made of lightweight polypropylene and polyester. Melt-blowing extrudes melted polymers through nozzles and sprays them to form a nonwoven fleece. Airlite delivers exceptional sound absorption across a broad frequency range. It is lighter than conventional counterparts, thereby reducing energy consumption from driving. The new Airlite facilities will complement TTCE’s airbag fabric operations, helping it to expand its automotive materials business. TAK looks to leverage the new facilities to bolster its automotive interior sound-absorbing materials business in Europe and step up efforts to serve automakers and leading parts manufacturers as Europe’s electric vehicle market grows. Toray will develop products incorporating recycled materials and other eco-friendly offerings to add value and match customer needs. It will collaborate with customers in its drive to reduce environmental impact and materialize a sustainable economy, transforming societies in keeping with its commitment to innovating ideas, technologies, and products that deliver new value.