#Composites

2025-01-30

Hexcel highlights latest innovations for aerospace applications at Aero India 2025

Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL) a global leader in advanced composite technologies for aerospace applications, will exhibit at Aero India 2025, Bengaluru, India. As a trusted partner to the Indian aerospace industry for over 40 years, Hexcel will highlight its latest innovations in lightweight, high-performance materials designed to enhance efficiency and sustainability in aerospace applications.

Hexcel maintains a key position in the Indian aerospace composites value chain with mature composite materials, prepreg and honeycomb products being supplied to most Indian Civil, Military and Space programs for over 40 years. This includes Airbus C295 and H125 programs soon assembled in India. Hexcel continues to deploy a broad range of innovative composite solutions that are shaping the future of aviation, space, and defense. Recognizing the industry requirement to automate next generation aerospace structures, Hexcel technology can reduce cost and increase output with materials tailored for high-rate automated production.

HexTow® carbon fiber is preferred for the world’s most advanced aerospace composite applications. Hexcel is a key supplier for carbon fiber with a wide range of products including HexTow® HM63, a continuous, high strength, high performance, high modulus, PAN based carbon fiber available in 12K.

Hexcel recently launched HexTow® IM9 24K, providing a strong value proposition for manufacturers seeking to maximize efficiency in primary and secondary aerospace.

In response to customer demand for high-rate manufacturing, Hexcel also offers a portfolio of out-of-autoclave (OOA) technologies. HexPly® M51 is a rapid-curing prepreg developed for the high-rate production of structural composite parts using hot-in/hot-out press curing. HexPly® M56 (OOA) prepreg for aircraft secondary structures provides the same quality and performance from a simple oven cure under vacuum. This avoids capital investment in autoclave equipment and on-going processing costs. Both systems are fully compatible with automated tape laying (ATL), automated fiber placement (AFP) and pick-and-place processes. Hexcel also provides RTM and infusion resins along with optimized reinforcements for the latest in Liquid Compression Molding (LCM) processes.

Hexcel HiTape® is a high-performance carbon reinforcement developed for the OOA processing of aerospace primary structures. HiTape combines the benefits of automated processing, the cost-effectiveness of infusion technologies and delivers primary aircraft structure performance. Made from HexTow carbon fiber, it allows dry preforms to be manufactured in a fully automated lay-up process creating parts up to 30mm thick, with properties as high as those found in parts made with the latest generation primary structure prepregs.

“Hexcel’s vertical integration strategy allows it to develop tailored composite technologies that will meet the cost, maintenance, and sustainability targets of next-generation aerospace manufacturers working on higher rate production for helicopter, UAV and Air Mobility applications. At Aero India 2025, Hexcel will present a diverse range of material systems, processing methods, and technologies that will play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of aerospace innovation,” said Harvinder Gill, Hexcel Sales Director for Asia Pacific.

The Hexcel team will be available throughout the show at the GIFAS Pavillon, Hall B, Booth 2.3, with further sales and technical support also being available from the dedicated Composites India LLP office in Bengaluru.

Novel flame-retardant and recyclable fiber-reinforced composite

Airplanes and passenger trains must meet strict safety requirements, including fire safety standards. This calls for materials that are flame-retardant, lightweight, robust, and scalable. Empa researchers, in collaboration with their industry partner Elantas, have now succeeded for the first time in making such a material – a composite – fully recyclable.

WHILL selects Teijin’s tough, lightweight Carbon Fiber Composite for new last-mile mobility

Teijin Limited announced today that WHILL Inc., a global leader in inclusive mobility technology, has selected Sereebo® P CFP series, a carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) material, for key structural components of the upcoming WHILL Model C Lite. Sereebo® P CFP series provides high strength, light weight, design flexibility and system cost advantages to the Model C Lite, which is a battery powered, single-seat, last-mile device. This new model combines maneuverability with light weight and one-handed folding to ensure ease of handling and operation.

Fewer pores, greater impact tolerance: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2026 honours material research on fibre-reinforced composite components for aerospace industry

Microscopically small pores that form during manufacture, or barely visible impact damage, can severely impair the load-bearing capacity and service life of fibre-reinforced composite components. Two young researchers have presented groundbreaking work in this field and will both be awarded the 2026 Peter Dornier Foundation Prize: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Neitzel from the Technical University of Ilmenau for his doctoral thesis on pore minimisation in the RTM process, and Johanna Buschmann, M.Sc., for her master’s thesis, completed at the German Aerospace Centre, on the improved impact tolerance of 3D fabrics compared to 2D laminates.

ReHubs names Béatrice Moureaux CEO to advance textile recycling in Europe

ReHubs has appointed Béatrice Moureaux as Chief Executive Officer, marking a new chapter for the European alliance as it continues to strengthen its work to scale textile-to-textile recycling across Europe. Béatrice has served as Board Advisor to ReHubs since December 2025, working closely with its Board, team and members on the organisation’s strategy and projects. She brings more than 25 years of experience across technical textiles, advanced fibres, nonwovens and circular innovation.

YKK subsidiary Golden Hill Tower Limited marks 25 years of operations in Myanmar

Golden Hill Tower Limited, a subsidiary of YKK Corporation, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony in Myanmar on September 21, 2026. The event brought together approximately 230 guests, including senior executives from the YKK Group, to commemorate the company's development since the launch of its serviced apartment business in November 2000.

SHIMA SEIKI to showcase digital product creation at Apparel Sourcing Week

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Apparel Sourcing Week 2026 in Bengaluru, India next month. The exhibition provides a platform for the entire apparel value chain, bringing together manufacturers, brands, suppliers and solution providers in one location.

SNA GZ accelerates its on-demand production strategy with Kornit Digital

SNA GZ is leveraging the Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS to expand its music merchandise production, streamline e-commerce order fulfillment, and grow its print-on-demand business across Europe. This investment increases SNA GZ's textile production capacity by 150% (2.5×), enabling the company to meet growing demand and support its continued expansion.