Hexcel is attending the Paris Airshow - Stand E48, Hall 2B; Chalet No 321 - to promote its range of composite materials and new technologies for commercial and defence aircraft, helicopters, aero engines and space applications.

Last year Hexcel was awarded the biggest contract in its 61 year history to supply primary structure prepreg for the Airbus A350 XWB. As part of the contract Hexcel made prepreg deliveries to Airbus Nantes last month for the first A350 series production Wing Box. In Paris Hexcel is displaying an Airbus A350 XWB Wing Spar demonstrator, manufactured by Airbus UK, using HexPly® epoxy prepreg with HexTow® carbon fibre. The A350 primary structures prepreg contract is expected to generate revenues for Hexcel of over $4 billion through to 2025.

Hexcel will also showcase the Alenia Aermacchi Double Degree of Freedom (2DOF) Zero-Splice Acoustic Panel that is manufactured with HexWeb® AcoustiCap® honeycomb and HexPly® carbon fibre prepreg. The sound-absorption obtained from the 2DOF panel design using AcoustiCap® is enhanced by the "zero splice" configuration that prevents the generation of scattering modes while offering a wider sound-reducing area and a low weight solution. This configuration is now offered by AleniaAermacchi for all current and future acoustic inlet designs.

Hexcel is also promoting its HexTOOL® machinable composite tooling material, having added the HexTOOL® M81 epoxy version to the highly successful BMI product, HexTOOL® M61. HexTOOL® M81 cures in 6 hours at 125° C, followed by a post cure of 2 hours at 205°C and is designed for the manufacture of 120°C curing parts. Unlike other composite tooling materials and Invar, HexTOOL® can be machined without distortion, allowing complex tools to be manufactured to tight tolerances.  With a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that matches carbon/epoxy composites, HexTOOL® is lighter than metal tooling, allowing easier handling and reduced infrastructure investment.  HexTOOL® provides fast heat-up and cool down rates relative to metal tools, leading to reduced production costs.  It can be repaired and modified to accommodate design changes.

Hexcel joins NASA in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon that occurred on 20th July 1969. The historic event was an important day for Hexcel as our aluminium honeycomb materials were used to absorb impact and cushion landing in the primary struts and footpads of the Apollo 11 lunar landing module. Hexcel's honeycomb was also used in the Surveyor and the Apollo Command module.

Hexcel's honeycomb promotion in Paris this year focuses on the HexWeb® Engineered Core capabilities which allow Hexcel to supply customers with core that has been formed, shaped, machined and bonded to achieve precise, complex shapes that meet customers' requirements.  Hexcel has invested to meet the growing requirement for 5 Axis NC machining to support the base business, to prepare for build-rate increases and emerging aircraft platforms. Hexcel's 5-Axis NC machines range in size to support a broad range of products from parts less than 0.6m in length such as tail rotors to larger parts such as slats and rotor blades that can exceed 9m.  Hexcel also keeps pace with latest CATIA V5 CAD/CAM software and uses VERICUT software for machine simulation and NC programme optimisation.