BMW carbon fiber plant coming to North America

Jason · 03-20-2010, 10:29 AM

BMW to Build Carbon Fiber Plant in North American

Per bimmerfile:

According to a local Washington State TV station BMW and partner SGL are looking at several locations in North America to build a plant specifically for producing carbon fiber material likely for the upcoming iSetta range of cars. According to sources BMW is looking at a location near Moses Lake Washington (US) and an unnamed Canadian city. The project is so secret that those inside the Washington county where Moses Lake resides are only calling it “Project Chinook”.

With labor and material cheaper in North America than Europe, BMW is looking to make a strategic decision to shift some production of components outside of Europe and closer to what is currently BMW’s largest market and closer to what could eventually eclipse it, China.

BMW and SGL are expected to make a decision and a formal announcement in the coming weeks.

JoosyJoos · 03-20-2010, 04:23 PM

Does that make any sense with the plant in Spartanburg...? Guess it depends on where they would be building the isetta.

bdardashti · 03-21-2010, 11:10 PM

It doesn't really make sense to build the isetta in North America, because I'm going to guess it will be one of the smaller markets (by continent). Europeans currently demand compact cars much more than Americans.

Remonster · 03-22-2010, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdardashti

It doesn't really make sense to build the isetta in North America, because I'm going to guess it will be one of the smaller markets (by continent). Europeans currently demand compact cars much more than Americans.

Labor is a lot more expensive in Europe, I bet it's still cheaper to produce the parts here and ship them over.

smack · 03-22-2010, 01:42 AM

Hopefully if they start production of carbon fiber parts here in the U.S. the prices will come down on the Performance accesseries!

vladberca · 03-22-2010, 04:24 AM

OK BMW, find faster that location and go to work!

ebeem · 03-22-2010, 07:03 AM

oh wow...great...

that`s because all those old farts in Germany/Europe prefer to keep things stock an like wood,leather and luxury metals over those fancy and "childish" carbon fiber mods ...

mods are generally more accepted and famous in NA than in Germany.

Oulixes · 03-22-2010, 08:41 AM

Plastic-carbon fiber panels are not difficult to make and will likely be used to decrease weight on most, not only BMW cars. Once it happens, the cost of carbon fiber parts will go down. It is likely that the plant will be just the first of several more to come.

FrenchBoy · 03-22-2010, 09:11 AM

If the location is indeed is indeed in WA state, I am doing a factory tour!

It's not that surprising, WA is getting a lot of experience in CF of late. Thanks to the Boeing Dreamliner being built here.

AJ@ECSMotorsports · 03-22-2010, 10:17 AM

^^ A very close friend of mine whom I graduated with interned there and was offered a job.. last I talked to him on FB, he's working on the dreamliner project up there!

He's in the financial dept.. not sure exactly what he does, but I'm so proud of him!

teleopti · 03-22-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebeem

oh wow...great...

that`s because all those old farts in Germany/Europe prefer to keep things stock an like wood,leather and luxury metals over those fancy and "childish" carbon fiber mods ...

mods are generally more accepted and famous in NA than in Germany.

exactly. the American dream values modded high end cars. It's what we do lol

Reznick · 03-22-2010, 01:06 PM

My brother is an engineer currently working on a very large extruder to produce an impregnated carbon fiber weave ,here in the states. He can't say who he's working for but he is working on at the moment.Whether or not this would be part of BMW's remains to be seen.

CarbonFiberCreations · 03-29-2010, 04:00 PM

maybe he's working on military stuff if he can't say. sometimes security clearances forbid talking about stuff.

I would love to work at this bimmer cf plant... i've been laying up carbon fiber parts for years. keep me posted!!

CarbonFiberCreations · 03-29-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenchBoy

If the location is indeed is indeed in WA state, I am doing a factory tour!

It's not that surprising, WA is getting a lot of experience in CF of late. Thanks to the Boeing Dreamliner being built here.

My friend's shop builds the tail sections and wing sections for Boeing

He's in southern Cal. Boeing is a great company to work for from what i hear, but you always, ALWAYS know the ax will come down within a couple years of being hired. They turn over labor like mad. I personally wouldn't mind because i can always return to my own carbon business. maybe i should move to cali or seatle.

Boeing or BMW... call me

[

well if BMW is looking to keep costs down Seatle area would be good for the reason that Torray makes cf cloth in Washington i believe. BFG factory also makes carbon fiber... and Saertex has a warehouse in Florida i believe. all of which could potentially cut costs of trucking in carbon fiber... especially pre-preg that has to be shipped frozen.
Arizona would be a nice prime location also.... cheap labor skilled labor, city tax grants, cheap warehouse buildings... so many are vacant right now. Close proximity to airports in Mesa, Scottsdale, and Phoenix locations. Dry climate so heating buildings is not expensive.

03-20-2010, 10:29 AM	#1
Jason Administrator Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: IoT Posts: 13,977 iTrader: (0)	BMW carbon fiber plant coming to North America BMW to Build Carbon Fiber Plant in North American Per bimmerfile: According to a local Washington State TV station BMW and partner SGL are looking at several locations in North America to build a plant specifically for producing carbon fiber material likely for the upcoming iSetta range of cars. According to sources BMW is looking at a location near Moses Lake Washington (US) and an unnamed Canadian city. The project is so secret that those inside the Washington county where Moses Lake resides are only calling it “Project Chinook”. With labor and material cheaper in North America than Europe, BMW is looking to make a strategic decision to shift some production of components outside of Europe and closer to what is currently BMW’s largest market and closer to what could eventually eclipse it, China. BMW and SGL are expected to make a decision and a formal announcement in the coming weeks. __________________ Check on the Latest BMW News Become a fan of Bimmerpost Facebook Follow us on Bimmerpost Twitter Subscribe to Bimmerpost Youtube Channel
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03-20-2010, 04:23 PM	#2
JoosyJoos Major Drives: 2008 335i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 1,271 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	Does that make any sense with the plant in Spartanburg...? Guess it depends on where they would be building the isetta. __________________ Active Autowerkes Tuned 335i 1995 M3 - Work in progress track toy

03-22-2010, 09:11 AM	#9
FrenchBoy onehotlap.com contributor Drives: '09 E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,323 iTrader: (0)	If the location is indeed is indeed in WA state, I am doing a factory tour! It's not that surprising, WA is getting a lot of experience in CF of late. Thanks to the Boeing Dreamliner being built here. __________________ 2009 E90 M3 \| SG \| FR \| 6Speed \| Akrapovic Evo \| JRZ RS1 \| StopTech Trophy \| Cantrell Brake Ducts

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03-21-2010, 11:10 PM	#3
bdardashti Captain Drives: '11 E90 328i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 977 iTrader: (2)	It doesn't really make sense to build the isetta in North America, because I'm going to guess it will be one of the smaller markets (by continent). Europeans currently demand compact cars much more than Americans.

03-22-2010, 01:42 AM	#5
smack Lieutenant Colonel Drives: BMW's/Flex 3401 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Las Vegas/Nellis AFB Posts: 1,507 iTrader: (0)	Hopefully if they start production of carbon fiber parts here in the U.S. the prices will come down on the Performance accesseries!

03-22-2010, 04:24 AM	#6
vladberca Colonel Drives: '09 jetta tsi 6mt Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Craiova Posts: 2,824 iTrader: (0)	OK BMW, find faster that location and go to work!

03-22-2010, 07:03 AM	#7
ebeem First Lieutenant Drives: E93 335i M - Paket Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Munich,Germany Posts: 325 iTrader: (0)	oh wow...great... that`s because all those old farts in Germany/Europe prefer to keep things stock an like wood,leather and luxury metals over those fancy and "childish" carbon fiber mods ... mods are generally more accepted and famous in NA than in Germany.

03-22-2010, 08:41 AM	#8
Oulixes Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 330xi, 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Terra Borealis Posts: 1,942 iTrader: (0)	Plastic-carbon fiber panels are not difficult to make and will likely be used to decrease weight on most, not only BMW cars. Once it happens, the cost of carbon fiber parts will go down. It is likely that the plant will be just the first of several more to come.

03-22-2010, 10:17 AM	#10
AJ@ECSMotorsports First Lieutenant Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 354 iTrader: (13)	^^ A very close friend of mine whom I graduated with interned there and was offered a job.. last I talked to him on FB, he's working on the dreamliner project up there! He's in the financial dept.. not sure exactly what he does, but I'm so proud of him!

03-22-2010, 01:06 PM	#12
Reznick First Lieutenant Drives: 2008 M3 ,2000 330 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Syracuse NY Posts: 349 iTrader: (0)	My brother is an engineer currently working on a very large extruder to produce an impregnated carbon fiber weave ,here in the states. He can't say who he's working for but he is working on at the moment.Whether or not this would be part of BMW's remains to be seen.

03-29-2010, 04:00 PM	#13
CarbonFiberCreations New Member Drives: 3-series Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	maybe he's working on military stuff if he can't say. sometimes security clearances forbid talking about stuff. I would love to work at this bimmer cf plant... i've been laying up carbon fiber parts for years. keep me posted!!