The starting up of a new carbon fiber prepreg factory at Ishikawa Plant was celebrated on July 10 with attendees praying for its safe operation. Following Ehime Plant, this is the second prepreg factory in Japan and the third production base globally including Toray Composites (America), Inc.

It was our honor to have many guests attend the ceremony, including Mr. Yoshiro Mori, former Prime Minister of Japan, as well as Mr. Masanori Tanimoto, governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, Mr. Teijirou Sakai, mayor of Nomi City, Mr. Toshio Mamiya, Director of Textile and Clothing Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ms. Nicole Piasecki, President of Boeing Japan, and representatives of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. From Toray, Mr. Sadayuki Sakakibara, President, CEO and COO, Mr. Osamu Nakatani, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Manufacturing Division, Mr. Moriyuki Onishi, Vice President, Mr. Yasunobu Nishimoto, Vice President and many other members who have been involved in this project participated.

The ceremony started with a Shinto ritual to pray the safe operations of the new factory. Afterwards, Mr. Sakakibara gave an opening speech talking about Toray's expectations for this new factory and its strategic position. With the many heart-warming congratulatory speeches from our guests, we realized that there are great expectations for our carbon fiber composite materials.

The Ishikawa Plant is ready for a further step as a combined plant with its basic businesses of nylon and Tetoron*, and its strategic business of carbon fiber.

(By Masaki Kano)

* indicates a trademark of Toray Industries, Inc., its subsidiaries, and/or affiliated companies