Hexcel has opened an extension to its prepreg facility in Stade, Germany to increase plant capacity in order to support build rates for the Airbus A350 XWB and legacy programmes.
Hexcel manufactures the HexPly prepreg tape at the Stade facility using the HexTow carbon fibre. Over 50% of the Airbus A350 XWB structure is made from composites and Hexcel was awarded the contract to supply all of the prepregs for the A350 XWB primary structures, including the fuselage panels that are manufactured by the neighbouring Airbus Germany plant and Airbus subcontractors in Europe.
The Stade facility was first established as a manufacturing base in 2007 and the first prepreg line was commissioned in 2008. Further expansion is planned at the site including the installation of Web Industries slitting operation that is to be co-located in Hexcel’s Stade plant.
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