Lightweighting in the future
02. September 2025 | Blog
Teijin Carbon Europe supplies high-tech fibers for aviation, sports, and industry—lightweight, strong, and increasingly sustainable.
Carbon fibers have many advantages. One of them is their low weight. A great deal of expertise goes into the development of this high-tech material. In Germany, this expertise is only available at Teijin Carbon Europe GmbH, based in Wuppertal and Heinsberg. The company is one of the most important players in the development and manufacture of carbon fibers in Europe. It supplies a wide range of industries, from aviation to sporting goods, with customized solutions.
The company's roots date back to the 1980s. At that time, it was still producing synthetic fibers such as rayon for clothing in Heinsberg. Today, both locations belong to the Japanese Teijin Group, which is over 100 years old and has used its existing knowledge to produce carbon fibers here. The plant in Heinsberg has an annual capacity of 5,000 tons of carbon fibers. The high-tech material is used for aircraft, sports equipment, and industrial applications. Teijin Carbon is an integral part of the supply chain in civil aviation, reports Hinrich Hampe, Head of Governmental Affairs. He emphasizes: “In 35 years, we have not had a single quality incident that could be attributed to our materials.” Teijin Carbon is the only manufacturer that produces carbon fibers in Germany.
Solutions for a wide range of applications
A key feature of carbon fibers is the combination of lightweight and strength properties. “We differentiate based on the number of filaments in the yarn – from 1,000 to 50,000 individual fibers”, explains Hinrich Hampe. This diversity makes it possible to design carbon fibers to be thinner, thicker, or more flexible, depending on the application. While maximum strength with minimum weight is particularly important in aviation, comfort, cushioning, and visual aspects are also important in bicycle manufacturing, depending on the model.
“Not all carbon is the same. We develop solutions that are precisely tailored to the respective requirements”, says the authorized signatory. Sustainability is also playing an increasingly important role.
At the JEC trade fair in Paris, the company presented the first CO 2-reduced carbon fiber. “The road to fully sustainable fiber is long, but we have embarked on it,” explains Hinrich Hampe. Production is energy-intensive, but the company is working on using alternative energy sources and establishing recycling processes. Teijin Carbon develops not only yarn, but also prepregs, i.e., pre-impregnated materials.
In the sports industry, especially for bicycle frames and rims, Teijin Carbon seeks direct contact with European brands, for example, by participating in the Eurobike trade fair. Technically, this is not only about lightweight construction, but also about specific material properties. “A downhill bike needs different properties than a racing bike or a city bike”, the authorized signatory makes clear.
The market for carbon fibers is growing, especially in the aviation and defense sectors. At the same time, the requirements for recyclability and CO2 balance are increasing.
For Teijin Carbon, this means: “We support our customers technically and ecologically on their way to the next generation.”