Air and ground met at the horizon since day one, but now the two
are gathering over over something else — carbon fiber. BMW and
airplane manufacturer Boeing announced a plan today to
collaborate on carbon fiber recycling, manufacturing and
automation. The two transportation giants will share information
with one another in the hope of gaining new ground with the
increasingly implemented material. Carbon fiber is favored for
its light weight and strength, but the manufacturing process is
significantly slower than shaping steel and aluminum. It’s also
50 percent and 30 percent lighter than the two materials
respectively. The extra man hours required for production make
parts more expensive, which is why automakers most frequently
reserve the material for high-end products where consumers are
accustomed to paying high premiums. Last year, BMW muscled in on
carbon fiber manufacturer SGL Carbon after Volkswagen bought a
stake in the company. In the past, Volkswagen has also worked
with Boeing to develop carbon fib