More Sustainable Aircraft Manufacturing Technologies

Hexcel Joins Collaborative Innovations at Spirit Aero Systems Aerospace and Space Innovation Center. Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Spirit Aero Systems Europe at the Aerospace Innovation Center (AIC) to develop more sustainable aircraft production technologies for future aircraft manufacturing. Spirit Aero Systems Europe opened the new 90,000 square-meter innovation center in Prestwick, Scotland in September 2021. The AIC was established as a center of excellence for researching and developing advanced materials, digital manufacturing technologies and processes where Spirit is located. Europe will collaborate with academic and industry partners, including Hexcel, to innovate, train and develop skills for today and tomorrow. Spirit, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, has manufacturing facilities in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Malaysia and Morocco. Some of the collaborative activities between Hexcel and Spirit Europe at the AIC include continuous development of resin transfer molding (RTM) manufacturing applications that will showcase future opportunities for liquid composite molding (LCM) solutions. HexcelHiTape® high-performance dry unidirectional reinforcement optimized for fully automated placement and HiMax® multi-axial fabrics, used with HiFlow® infusion resins, enable RTM manufacturing of primary aircraft structure components. Hexcel is honored to support Spirit Europe and the innovation center, and the two companies will continue working together to develop more reliable and sustainable advanced lightweight composite materials that help reduce emissions and create more efficient aircraft for today and the years to come. Source