Latest news with #ThierryMerlot
Fibre2Fashion
11 hours ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Hexcel & Kongsberg ink long-term aerospace materials deal in Paris
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) and HEXCEL Corporation (HEXCEL) have signed a long- term partnership agreement at the Paris Air Show for the supply of HexWeb engineered honeycombs and HexPly prepregs for KONGSBERG's strategic production programs over a five-year period. HEXCEL is a leading global manufacturer of advanced composite materials and lightweighting solutions for the aerospace sector and offers a broad and evolving product portfolio, including materials designed for Defence and Space, commercial aerospace and industrial applications. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Hexcel Corporation have signed a five-year partnership at the Paris Air Show for the supply of HexWeb honeycombs and HexPly prepregs. The agreement supports Kongsberg's strategic defence programmes and reflects a long-standing collaboration and shared commitment to future aerospace innovation. 'This partnership agreement is a reflection of HEXCEL and KONGSBERG's strong relationship over many years and the company's joint commitment to partnering for the future. The agreement provides a solid base for Kongberg's production program for several years to come.' says Terje Bråthen, EVP Aerostructures & MRO at Kongsberg . Thierry Merlot, HEXCEL President, Europe Middle East Africa Asia Pacific , adds 'We are delighted that Kongsberg has placed their trust in Hexcel as their advanced composites solutions partner. This partnership agreement secures business on key programs in the defence market for years to come'. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
Fibre2Fashion
19 hours ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Hexcel showcases high-rate composite tech at Paris air show
Hexcel, Paris Air Show 2025, June 18 2025: Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composites technologies, is showcasing its next-generation HexPly M51 prepreg technology at the 2025 Paris Air Show. HexPly M51 is designed for automated and fast processing to meet future high-rate parts production. Hexcel will showcase at Paris Air Show innovative structural components with complex shapes that demonstrate the performance, automation compatibility, and production efficiencies made possible by the new rapid curing HexPly M51 system. These components include a press moulded Wingbox Rib developed with GKN Aerospace and a high-rate fuselage frame developed by the Duqueine Group. 'At Hexcel, we are committed to supporting the aerospace industry's transition toward faster and automated manufacturing processes,' said Thierry Merlot, Hexcel President Aerospace Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Industrial 'HexPly M51 is essential for customers seeking to achieve high production rates, with low energy and flexible process in addition to delivering superior part quality without compromise on mechanical performances.' At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Hexcel is showcasing its HexPly M51 prepreg technology, designed for rapid, automated aerospace part production. Featuring innovations like the GKN Wingbox Rib and Duqueine Fuselage Frame, HexPly M51 enables faster cure cycles, reduced tooling needs, and high mechanical performance, supporting next-gen, high-rate aircraft manufacturing. HexPly M51 is a rapid-curing prepreg system designed specifically for hot-in/hot-out press curing of primary structure composite parts. It delivers significantly shorter cure cycles and reduces the need for multiple sets of tooling, ancillary material consumption and manual labor. HexPly M51 is ideal for aerospace OEMs targeting high-rate production programs with flexible curing possibilities. Fully compatible with automated tape laying (ATL), automated fiber placement (AFP), and pick-and-place technologies, HexPly M51 supports streamlined manufacturing without compromising material performance. Two main standout components featuring HexPly M51 will be on display: GKN Aerospace Wingbox Rib – Developed as part of the ASCEND project, this thermoset, press-moulded rib exemplifies the scalability of HexPly M51 for large-volume aerospace components. Its rapid-cure capabilities and automation readiness support GKN Aerospace's strategy for next-generation aircraft production. Duqueine Fuselage Frame – Created within the CORAC program, this fuselage frame has demonstrated processing time reductions of over 50% using HexPly M51 carbon UD materials. It represents a major step-change in the ability to meet the demands of future high-rate commercial aircraft programs. By highlighting real-world components and partnerships, Hexcel reaffirms its leadership in advancing material systems that enable faster automated composite manufacturing. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
Fibre2Fashion
2 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Hexcel unveils breakthrough thermoplastic component at Paris air show
At Paris Air Show, Hexcel [NYSE: HXL] will spotlight its latest advancements in thermoplastic composite technology by showcasing a highly innovative PEKK/carbon thermoplastics component developed as part of the HELUES project. In 2018, Hexcel and Arkema have signed a strategic alliance to develop thermoplastic composite solutions for the aerospace sector combining the expertise of Hexcel in carbon fiber and that of Arkema in PEKK. At the Paris Air Show, the HELUES project perfectly illustrates thermoplastic solutions with a new demonstrator, a complex structural component for an overwing emergency exit door, and is the result of a multi-partner collaboration aimed at revolutionizing how aerospace components are manufactured for the next generation of high-rate aircraft production. Hexcel showcased a groundbreaking PEKK/carbon thermoplastics component at the Paris Air Show, developed under the HELUES project. This innovation enables high-rate, sustainable aerospace production by eliminating autoclaves and reducing assembly steps by up to 90 per cent. The one-step forming technology promises faster cycles, design flexibility, and recyclability for next-gen aircraft. 'The HELUES demonstrator is a milestone in aerospace thermoplastic composites,' said Thierry Merlot, Hexcel President Aerospace Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Industrial . 'By eliminating autoclaves and enabling functional integration in a single step, thermoplastics are opening the door to truly scalable aircraft production.' As global demand surges for more efficient and scalable aircraft manufacturing, particularly for single-aisle jets, Hexcel and its HELUES partners are helping OEMs address critical production challenges through new material and process innovations. The HELUES project, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs and supported by the German Aerospace Centre, brought together Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH, Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH, Siebenwurst GmbH & Co. KG, INCOE International Europe, ARKEMA and Hexcel to pioneer a new manufacturing process using high-temperature thermoplastics. At the core of the HELUES technology is a one-step forming and injection overmolding technology that utilizes HexPly unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber-reinforced Kepstan PEKK tapes in conjunction with Kepstan PEKK injection molding compounds. This integrated approach enables the rapid creation of a fully formed, structurally complex component, including reinforcing ribs and functional elements, in less than two minutes. Thermoplastics technology offers aerospace OEMs three key advantages: - Dramatically shortened cycle times - from hours to minutes - to meet production targets of up to 80-100 jets per month. - Greater design flexibility and weight savings, thanks to thermoplastics' ability to be reshaped and welded rather than fastened. - Enhanced sustainability and recyclability, as thermoplastics can be reprocessed and reused The HELUES demonstrator directly replaces a traditionally assembled door structure with a single, integrated part, reducing component count and assembly steps by up to 90%. Early-stage testing confirmed excellent material bonding between molded ribs and thermoformed laminates, even under complex process parameters, further supporting the part's viability in demanding aerospace environments. With the commercial aviation sector preparing for a future defined by high-rate production and more automated, sustainable assembly lines, thermoplastics are gaining momentum as a material of choice. By reducing reliance on energy-intensive autoclaves and enabling robotic manufacturing processes, solutions like the HELUES component demonstrate how composite innovation can unlock both performance and production scalability for the next generation of aircraft. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
