Hexcel's new $10 million Innovation Centre in Duxford, UK was officially opened today by Marcus Bryson, Chair of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) and Chair of Aerospace at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, together with Nick Stanage, Hexcel's Chairman, CEO and President.

The Duxford site is Hexcel's largest centre for research into resin systems and adhesives. Hexcel innovations in polymer chemistry and material science, together with advanced fibres from the USA, were instrumental in the company being selected to supply all of the carbon fibre prepregs for the Airbus A350 XWB primary structures. Duxford is also Hexcel's centre of excellence for process technology including product scale-up and research into new processes for making composite materials, including quality control methods.

Hexcel's new Innovation Centre will support the growing worldwide demand for composite materials for aerospace and industrial markets. The building houses Hexcel's chemistry and product development functions and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art formulation and analytical laboratories, mixer rooms, and microscopy and SEM laboratories.

At today's ceremony, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Paul Mackenzie commented: “I am grateful to Hexcel's leadership team for approving the expansion we see today. We had outgrown the current Technical Centre and welcome this new building and the facilities provided for the 21st century. Our scientists dedicated to Aerospace and Industrial matrix development have now moved into the Innovation Centre and the building is already resonating with activity.”