#Composites

2025-06-26

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.

Flying Whales and Hexcel are celebrating the collaboration © 2025 Hexcel

The team is proud to collaborate with Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composite materials for aerospace applications. Hexcel’s extensive experience and innovation in carbon fiber technology have established the company as a trusted partner in the industry.

For the airship project, a wide range of Hexcel’s products has been selected, with particular emphasis on HexTow® IMA Carbon Fiber. This material has been chosen for the pultruded tubes that form the skeleton of the airship.

HexTow® IMA offers an exceptional balance between cost-efficiency and high mechanical performance, including superior tensile strength and modulus—making it ideally suited to the demands of the airship’s innovative structure. Hexcel’s ongoing commitment to advancing composite technologies supports the project's goals of achieving outstanding performance and reliability.

"Together with Flying Whales, we are thrilled to be part of the visionary LCA60T airship project — a bold step forward that perfectly aligns with Hexcel’s purpose: “We propel the future of flight and transportation through excellence in advanced material solutions that create a better world for us all.

Over the past two years, Flying Whales and Hexcel have made significant progress together to develop a comprehensive range of cutting-edge composite materials. To meet Flying Whales' requirements and technical constraints, Hexcel has developed materials such as prepregs, carbon fibers, fabrics, adhesives... Our composites are lighter and stronger than any other comparable material, enabling cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable air mobility. We are very proud to be working with Flying Whales to achieve excellence and customer satisfaction", says Thierry Merlot, President, Europe Middle East Africa Asia Pacific, HEXCEL.

Vincent Guibout, CEO, FLYING WHALES, says: "Working with HEXCEL Composites has been a great journey. Their expertise in composite raw materials, their ability to develop and qualify aerospace products and to provide the most adapted solution have been crucial in bringing the LCA60T airship to life. This airship represents a significant leap forward in developing sustainable cargo transport, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on improving logistics in remote areas. By leveraging strong and light-weight composite materials, we are committed to creating an airship with minimal environmental impact."

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.

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.

JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 highlights Taiwan as a strategic hub for the global composites industry

The third edition of JEC Forum organized in Southeast Asia brought together 350+ participants from 22 countries for three active days of high-level Business Meetings, conferences, and networking, emphasizing Southeast Asia’s growing role in the global composites market. Held for the first time in Taipei from 23 to 24 June 2026, following the successful first editions in Bangkok, JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 confirmed its position as the region’s leading business platform dedicated to the composites industry.

MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

MEL Composites is supplying advanced composite materials and process consumables to ELA Aviation for the production of its next-generation gyroplanes. The collaboration underlines MEL Composites’ growing role in advanced aerospace mobility, providing lightweight materials designed to improve aircraft performance, manufacturing efficiency and structural reliability.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.