- Investing $250 million in precursor and carbonization lines
- Part of Hexcel’s ongoing investment to create a diversified global
supply chain for the aerospace industry
STAMFORD, Conn. -- (Business Wire)
Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL)(Paris:HXL) announced today that it will
expand its carbon fiber production capacity through the addition of new
precursor and carbon fiber lines in Roussillon, France. The $250 million
investment will also include the associated Quality Control laboratories
and offices.
The new facility is part of Hexcel’s ongoing worldwide investment to
create a diversified and robust global supply chain to support aerospace
customers’ growing demand for carbon fiber composites. In recent years
Hexcel has increased its precursor and carbon fiber capacities through
targeted expansions at existing facilities. Most notably, Hexcel is
investing in ongoing precursor and carbon fiber expansions at its U.S.
facilities and is currently installing its industry-leading resin mixing
and filming technology – first developed in Europe – in the U.S. The new
facility in France is the next step in support of European customers,
enhancing the supply chain by adding precursor and additional carbon
fiber capacity in Europe.
The new French plant will occupy a 37 acre site at the Osiris Chemicals
Industry Platform in Roussillon, which is close to Hexcel’s weaving and
prepreg manufacturing facilities near Lyon. Carbon fiber 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 mid-2015 and it is expected to employ 120 people when
fully operational in early 2018.
Hexcel’s Chairman, CEO and President, Nick Stanage, commented today: “I
am delighted to announce Hexcel’s investment in our first precursor
plant in Europe and our first carbon fiber capacity in France. The state
of the art manufacturing facilities that we will build demonstrate our
commitment to technology expansion around the world to provide an
efficient global supply chain in support of customer programs. The new
plant will further strengthen our customer relationships, provide
greater opportunities for aerospace industry growth and reinforce
Hexcel’s position as a global leader in carbon fiber composites.”
Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO welcomed the announcement,
commenting: “We applaud Hexcel’s decision to build a precursor and
carbon fiber plant in France, demonstrating a strong, ongoing commitment
to meet the growing demand for carbon fiber composites in the aerospace
industry. This decision supports Airbus requirements for A350 XWB
composite primary structures and underlines the strong partnership
between Airbus and Hexcel.”
Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced composites company. It
develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance
structural materials, including carbon fibers, reinforcements, prepregs,
honeycomb, matrix systems, adhesives and composite structures, used in
commercial aerospace, space and defense and industrial applications such
as wind turbine blades.
Contacts:
Hexcel Corporation
Michael Bacal, 203-352-6826
michael.bacal@hexcel.com
Source: Hexcel Corporation
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