Hexcel has been presented with an award for “Best Research & Technology Partner” by Aerolia SAS (Stelia Aerospace), acknowledging the strong collaboration between the companies in demonstrating the potential of HiTape® technology for next generation aircraft primary structures.

The award was presented to Hexcel's Thierry Merlot, VP and General Manager, by Alain Tropis, COO Development at Aerolia and Raphaël Duflos, Chief Procurement Officer at Aerolia.

Hexcel worked with Aerolia SAS to design and manufacture an aircraft fuselage panel demonstrator, with a self-stiffened skin made by vacuum infusion using Hexcel's innovative HiTape® reinforcements and HexFlow® RTM6 resin. Aerolia took responsibility for the part design and quality control testing. Hexcel performed the one-shot infusion of the out of autoclave part at its Application Lab in Les Avenières.

“I would like to thank Aerolia for this recognition”, said Thierry Merlot, Hexcel's VP and General Manager. “This Best R&T Award is the result of close cooperation between the technical teams and also an important milestone for this particular project, demonstrating a cost-effective solution to design and manufacture composite fuselage structures based on Hexcel's HiTape® and Infusion technology. Aerolia and Hexcel will continue to work closely together to further mature this new technology in order to be ready for future introduction on a new aircraft.” commented Thierry Merlot, Hexcel's VP and General Manager.