Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Marine, together with Japan Composite, have co-developed a paintable material called High-Cycle SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) that is said to reduce molding cycle time – the total time required to fill a mold with material and remove the finished piece – by 20% compared with conventional materials, according to Yamaha Motor research conducted in March 2026.
Since 2025, the material has been used for the powerhead cowling of Yamaha outboard engines up to 40hp, manufactured by Yamaha Marine, contributing to improved production efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
The material’s main advantage is its lower thermal energy requirement during molding. Sheet molding compounds are a type of thermosetting resin that typically requires large amounts of thermal energy to mold, with the gas and electricity used to produce steam during the process contributing to Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions – emissions from a company’s own activities – from corporate operations.
The development project involved continuous verification and optimization of materials and manufacturing processes by Yamaha Motor, Yamaha Marine and Japan Composite. The 20% reduction in molding cycle time is projected to lower associated CO2 emissions by the same amount.
The material’s adoption supports the Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050, through which the company is working toward carbon neutrality – covering Scope 1 and 2 emissions plus Scope 3 emissions from its wider value chain – across its supply chains, including its business activities, by 2050.
Yamaha Motor Group has also accelerated its target for achieving carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions at its manufacturing sites, including group companies, to 2035, with the adoption of High-Cycle SMC forming part of that effort.
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