Hexcel opens its new carbon fibre production line in France

Those in attendance include: Muriel Pénicaud, French Labor Minister, Yannick Neuder, Vice-President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region for higher education, research, innovation and European funding, and Nick Stanage, Hexcel chairman, CEO and president, as well as local dignitaries, media representatives and Hexcel customers, partners and employees.

The new 37-acre plant is devoted to the manufacture of carbon fibre and PAN precursor. Four years after the project launch on 30^th September, 2014, the site is operational and increasing Hexcel’s global carbon fibre production capacity. Hexcel invested €200 million in the plant. It will generate 120 direct jobs and 250 indirect positions. Hexcel’s workforce in France has now risen to 1,200 people with more than 1,000 employees located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Based at the Osiris Chemicals Industry Platform, the location was chosen by Hexcel due to its proximity to other Hexcel sites, its quality infrastructure and operational excellence and the availability of competitively priced electricity in France.

Operating in synergy with Hexcel’s existing sites in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Les Avenières, said to be the biggest carbon fibre weaving plant in Europe, and Dagneux, manufacturer of prepreg fabrics and carbon fibres, the new plant will create a global ecosystem for the high-performance composite materials sector covering the entire production chain from carbon fibre to resin-impregnated fabrics called prepreg.

Since 2015, Hexcel has invested in all its locations worldwide, largely to support the growing demand for composites and the development of aerospace industry programs such as Airbus (A350 XWB) and Safran (CFM International LEAP engine).

Thierry Merlot, Hexcel president Europe/Asia-Pacific/Middle East/Africa, explained: “We have met the challenges of constructing and transferring PAN and carbon fibre manufacturing technology from our American sites to France, and we are able to respond to the needs of aerospace customers and their growing demand for carbon composite materials. The site has already received its first aerospace certifications.”

He added: “Today we are able to invest in production capacity thanks to both organic growth and the acquisition of complementary technologies. Recent acquisitions and partnerships have enabled us to diversify and acquire new technology solutions such as additive manufacturing, adhesives, pultrusion processes and thermoplastics. For this purpose, this year we signed a strategic partnership with Arkema to develop carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastics and set up a new joint research and development unit in France.”

www.hexcel.com