Hexcel Opens New Carbon Fiber Production Line in France

Hexcel has officially opened its new carbon fiber facility at the Les Roches-Roussillon Chemical Industry Platform in Isère, France. The opening was attended by French Minister of Labor Muriel Pénicaud, Deputy President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region responsible for higher education, research, innovation and European funds Yannick Neuder, Hexcel Board Chairman/CEO and President Nick Stanage, local officials, media representatives and Hexcel customers, partners and employees. The new facility, covering approximately 150,000 square meters, is dedicated to carbon fiber and PAN precursor production. Four years after the project launch on 30 September 2014, the facility has become operational and has increased Hexcel's global carbon fiber production capacity. Hexcel has invested EUR 200 million in the facility. The facility will create 120 direct and 250 indirect jobs. Hexcel's workforce in France in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has risen to 1,200 people from over 1,000 employees already based there.

Regional Coverage

The facility located at the Osiris Chemical Industry Platform was chosen due to its proximity to Hexcel's other facilities, quality infrastructure, operational excellence and competitive electricity pricing in France. Hexcel's other facilities in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Europe's largest carbon fiber weaving facility Les Avenières and the pre-impregnated fabric and carbon fiber producer Dagneux, working in collaboration with this new facility, will create a global ecosystem for high-performance composite materials spanning the entire production chain from carbon fiber to resin-impregnated fabrics.

Supporting Growth

Since 2015, Hexcel has made investments across all its sites worldwide to support rising demand for composites and the development of the aerospace industry such as Airbus (A350XWB) and Safran (CFM International Aircraft Engine).