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Hexcel plans new carbon fibre facility in France

23 May '15

2 min read

Hexcel Corporation said it will invest $250 million in the construction of a carbon fibre plant at its site in Roussillon, France.

Hexcel’s new carbon fibre facility will occupy a 37-acre site at the Osiris Chemicals Industry Platform in Roussillon and will be comprised of both polymerisation and carbonisation lines.

The plant is part of Hexcel’s ongoing worldwide investment to create a diversified and robust supply chain to support aerospace customers’ growing demand for carbon fibre composites.

Carbon fibre from the new plant will be supplied to Hexcel customers including Airbus for the A350 XWB and Safran for the CFM LEAP engine.

“Construction of the new plant will begin by September 2015 and is expected to employ 120 people when fully operational in early 2018,” Hexcel informed in a press release.

The Roussillon facility is located close to Hexcel’s weaving and prepreg manufacturing facilities near Lyon.

Hexcel also announced that it is also investing $22 million at these existing facilities to expand capacity at its Les Avenières carbon fibre weaving plant and add a resin impregnation line in Dagneux, Montluel.

Hexcel CEO Nick Stanage said, “Together with our capacity expansions in the US, this new facility in France will strengthen our global supply chain by adding precursor and additional carbon fibre capacity.”

“We are delighted by Hexcel's decision to build this new carbon fibre plant in Europe,” Didier Evrard, Airbus EVP and head of programs said.

“This significant investment will further secure the A350 XWB production ramp-up and demonstrates the high level of Hexcel’s commitment to the success of the A350 XWB program,” Evrard added.

Hexcel develops and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials, including carbon fibres, reinforcements, prepregs, honeycomb, matrix systems, adhesives and composite structures.

These are mainly used in commercial aerospace, space and defense and industrial applications such as wind turbine blades. (AR)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India