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#Composites

Hexcel and Arkema to open a joint research and development laboratory in Les Avenières, France

Hexcel and Arkema have announced that they will open a joint research and development laboratory in Les Avenières (Isère), France in April.

This follows the companies’ previous announcement in March 2018 that they were forming a strategicalliance to develop thermoplastic composite solutions for the aerospace sector, combining theexpertise of Hexcel in carbon fiber and Arkema in PEKK.

The companies’ objective at this new lab is to develop carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepregtapes to enable lightweight parts to be produced for future generations of aircraft. These solutions willprovide lightweight and cost effective technologies including faster production cycles for customers inthe aerospace and the space and defense sectors.

Thanks to Hexcel and Arkema’s close collaboration, an initial industrial pilot line will be installed in thenew lab in the coming weeks. The companies expect to start supplying carbon/thermoplastic UDtapes from this pilot line to customers for evaluation beginning in Q3 2019.

More News from Hexcel Corporation

#Composites

FLYING WHALES selects HEXCEL for the supply of composites materials for its LCA60T AIRSHIP

In order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, FLYING WHALES (FLWH) and HEXCEL are collaborating on an exciting project to develop the most adapted solutions for airship structures.

#Composites

KONGSBERG and HEXCEL sign a long-term partnership agreement

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.

#Composites

Hexcel and FIDAMC join forces to shape the future of composite materials

FIDAMC a leading research and technology centre in composite manufacturing, and Hexcel, a global leader in composite materials production, have announced a strategic partnership to drive innovation, research, and future development of advanced composite materials.

#Composites

Hexcel to celebrate JEC World 60th anniversary with new aerospace and automotive innovations

Hexcel will demonstrate its latest developments for the Aerospace and Automotive markets at JEC World 2025, the prestigious 60th Anniversary edition of the leading composites fair.

More News on Composites

#Research & Development

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.

#Composites

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.

#Composites

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.

#Composites

Carbon Revolution wins Composites Australia Engineering Team Excellence Award

Carbon Revolution has won the Engineering Team Excellence Award at the 2026 Composites Australia Annual Industry Awards.

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#Spinning

Barmag’s automated maintenance processes for quality, safety, and efficiency in spinning plants

Maintenance and service processes in chemical fiber spinning plants have a significant impact on product quality, equipment availability, and workplace safety. With three new retrofittable solutions, Barmag helps Producers make manual work processes more efficient, safer, and more reproducible.

#Digital Printing

Leading UK garment decorator expands short-run apparel production and print-on-demand fulfillment with Kornit Digital

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, announced that leading UK garment decorator Fifth Column has expanded its apparel decoration capabilities with the installation of a Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS system. Based in the United Kingdom, Fifth Column specializes in garment decoration, including screen printing, embroidery, digital printing, garment finishing, and print-on-demand production. Its customer base spans breweries, music merchandise companies, workwear providers, designer brands, and retail businesses.

#Heimtextil 2027

Therapeutic patterns and mythology as design inspiration: New Talent Area curated by Trendease at Heimtextil grows

Even more young design talent and creative ideas: at the upcoming Heimtextil, the New Talent Area returns for its second edition with stronger presence. From 12 to 15 January 2027, the curated area welcomes more than 30 participants, many of whom are presenting on the international stage for the first time. In Frankfurt, they showcase exciting textile designs, surprising materials and market-ready products.

#Associations

ITMF names five winners of the Start-up Award 2026

Five start-ups from Switzerland, Brazil, the United States and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Start-up Award 2026. Their concepts range from new polymer chemistry and natural-fiber biocomposites to zero-waste design, 3D weaving and enzymatic PET recycling.

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