Hexcel collaborates with Spirit on new sustainable aircraft materials

Hexcel has joined with Spirit AeroSystems Europe in a strategic collaboration at its Aerospace Innovation Centre (AIC) to develop more sustainable aircraft manufacturing technologies for future aircraft production.

Spirit AeroSystems Europe opened the new 90,000ft² innovation centre at its Prestwick, Scotland site in September 2021.

The AIC has been established as a centre of excellence for the research and development of advanced materials, digital manufacturing technologies and processes, where Spirit Europe will collaborate with academic and industry partners including Hexcel to innovate, train and develop skills for today and tomorrow.

Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has production facilities in the US, UK, France, Malaysia, and Morocco.

Some of the collaborative activities at the AIC between Hexcel and Spirit Europe include the continued development of resin transfer moulding (RTM) production applications that will showcase future opportunities for liquid composite moulding (LCM) solutions. Hexcel HiTape, a high-performance dry unidirectional reinforcement optimised for fully automated lay-up, and HiMax multiaxial fabrics enable RTM manufacture of primary aerostructure components using HiFlow infusion resins.

www.hexcel.com