SGL Looks for Customers for Its Carbon-Fiber Plastic

SGL Group, the German maker of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic vehicle parts, tells Wirtschaftswoche it is shopping its capabilities to at least four carmakers.

SGL currently supplies plastic body and chassis parts for BMW AG's i3 electric hatchback and i8 plug-in hybrid supercar through SGL Carbon SE, which is owned 16% by BMW, 10% by Volkswagen and 22% by SKion GmbH, which is controlled by BMW heiress Susanne Klatten.

CEO Jurgen Kohler says SGL is in talks with "many" manufacturers and cites interest in ultra-light-weight carbon-fiber parts at Audi, General Motors, Lamborghini and Porsche.

Sales by SGL's carbon fibers and materials unit jumped 17% to €214 million in the first three quarters of 2014. But earnings before interest and taxes in January-September were a negative €18 million.

SGL makes graphite, carbon fiber and carbon fiber composite products used in dozens of industries. The company has just completed a restructuring to offset sliding revenue caused by shrinking demand for graphite electrodes used in steel production.