Hexcel Corporation and Web Industries have announced the signing of a long-term Supply Agreement.
The signing of the new agreement means Web Industries will convert Hexcel’s HexPly carbon fibre prepreg into slit tape for Aerospace programs including the Airbus A350 XWB. As part of this agreement Web will establish and operate a dedicated slitting operation within Hexcel’s newly expanded prepreg facility in Stade, Germany.
Using their proprietary carbon fibre slit tape technology and processes, Web Industries will convert the carbon fiber prepreg into various formats of precision slit tape. This slit tape is used on Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) manufacturing lines to make many of the composite structures found on the latest aircraft programs. These prepregs require strict operational and environmental conditions and co-locating the slit tape operation within Hexcel’s Stade plant will provide the environmental control and quality assurances.
Commenting on the Agreement, Hexcel’s President, Nick Stanage, said:
We are delighted to welcome Web Industries to our Stade, Germany site. This agreement represents a significant partnership for our two companies and the combination of Hexcel’s advanced carbon fibre materials and Web’s precision composites converting will provide a unique service to our customers in Europe, Russia and the Middle East who will benefit from even greater levels of quality and responsiveness, significantly reduced freight costs, less inventory and shorter lead times.
Construction on the Web Industries’ facility should be completed by May 2012, and commercial-scale production is expected to ramp up by December. The operation will eventually employ up to 70 people.
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