- Hexcel invested 200 million Euros in the new plant, generating 370 jobs.
- The plant supports aerospace programs like Airbus A350 XWB and Safran LEAP engine.
- A 3,500m2 R&D center at Les Avenières will open in Q1 2019.
- Hexcel signed a strategic partnership with Arkema for carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics.
New Plant in Isère, France
Hexcel has opened a new plant at the Les Roches-Roussillon Chemicals Industry Platform in Isère, France. The 37-acre facility is the company's first combined precursor and carbon fiber plant outside the United States. The site, operational four years after the project launch, increases Hexcel’s global carbon fiber production capacity. The 200 million Euro investment will generate 120 direct and 250 indirect jobs, raising Hexcel’s workforce in France to 1,200 people.
Supporting Aerospace Growth
The new facility is part of Hexcel’s global investment strategy to support the growing demand for carbon fiber composites in the aerospace industry. Since 2015, Hexcel has invested in various locations worldwide to support aerospace programs such as Airbus A350 XWB and Safran's CFM International LEAP engine. The site has already received its first aerospace certifications.
Strategic Location and Synergy
Located at the Osiris Chemicals Industry Platform, the plant benefits from proximity to Hexcel customers, other Hexcel sites, quality infrastructure, and competitively priced electricity in France. It operates in synergy with Hexcel’s existing sites in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, including Les Avenières and Dagneux, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for high-performance composite materials.
Employment and Training Initiatives
In 2014, Hexcel signed a regional master agreement with Pôle emploi, the French national employment agency, to support its development and hire over 200 employees in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. New employees have received customized training, including onsite training at Hexcel facilities in the United States and Spain.
Increased R&D Investment
Hexcel is investing in production capacity through organic growth and acquisitions of complementary technologies. A strategic partnership with Arkema aims to develop carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. A 3,500m2 R&D center at Les Avenières will open in the first quarter of 2019, focusing on new processes and out-of-autoclave technologies to innovate high-performance composites for aerostructure applications.
