Hexcel has established a site in Roussillon, France, where it plans to invest US$250 million in the construction of a carbon fiber plant.
‘Together with our capacity expansions in the U.S., this new facility in France will strengthen our global supply chain by adding precursor and additional carbon fiber capacity in Europe,’ said Nick Stanage, Hexcel chairman, CEO and president.
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 September 2015 and is expected to employ 120 people when fully operational in early 2018.
Further investments
The Roussillon facility is located close to Hexcel’s weaving and prepreg manufacturing facilities near Lyon.
Stanage also announced further investments totaling US$22 million to include capacity expansions at Hexcel’s carbon fiber weaving plant at Les Avenières, and an additional resin impregnation line in Dagneux, Montluel. These additional investments are expected to create 100 more jobs by 2018.
This story is reprinted from material from Hexcel, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.