Hexcel Corporation Company Profile

Sr. No.

Item

Description

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Company Name

Hexcel Corporation

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Website

www.hexcel.com

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Established Date

1948

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Headquartered

United States

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Market Position/ History

Hexcel, founded in 1948 in the San Francisco Bay area as California Reinforced Plastics, has been a trailblazer in advanced composite solutions, originating from Roger Steele’s basement laboratory. The company quickly established itself as a leader in the aerospace and defense sectors, contributing innovations such as the honeycomb structure for lightweight materials used in military and commercial aircraft. As the company grew, it expanded internationally, acquiring key businesses like Tower Scientific in 1977 and forming partnerships with major aerospace companies such as Boeing and Airbus. Over the decades, Hexcel has developed cutting-edge technologies, including the world’s first film adhesive for aircraft and carbon fiber materials for the next generation of aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 XWB.

In recent years, Hexcel has continued its trajectory of growth and innovation. In 2022, Hexcel broke ground on an expansion at its engineered core plant in Casablanca, Morocco, and completed construction of its Center for Research & Technology in Salt Lake City. The company also set ambitious sustainability targets for 2030, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste. Hexcel's commitment to sustainable materials saw the launch of the HexPly Nature Range, using natural fibers and bio-derived resins. In 2023, Hexcel marked its 75th anniversary, continuing to shape the future of aerospace through partnerships with companies like Archer Aviation for eVTOL aircraft and Dassault Aviation for the F10X business jet program. Hexcel also joined the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association and the Airbus Supplier Sustainability Council, reinforcing its leadership in sustainability and advanced materials.

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Sales Area

Worldwide

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Manufacturing Location

22 Plants

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Ticker

NYSE: HXL

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No. of Employees

~5,300 Employees

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Competitors

PPG Industries, Inc.

Huntsman International LLC.

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

The Dow Chemical Company

Flamemaster Corp.

Chemetall GmbH

Permatex

Master Bond Inc.

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CEO

Tom C. Gentile

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Ownership Type

Public

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Contact Information

281 Tresser Blvd.,16th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901, USA

Tel: 203-969-0666

Product

Product Description

HexBond Adhesives

HexBond adhesives are a comprehensive range of high-performance bonding solutions designed specifically for aerospace applications. These adhesives are formulated to provide superior strength, durability, and temperature resistance, ensuring reliability in critical aerospace environments.

HexBond Film Adhesives:

Epoxy and Bismaleimide (BMI) Film Adhesives are supplied in roll form and require heat and pressure to cure. They are ideal for bonding composite-to-composite, metal-to-metal, and honeycomb structures, offering high strength, toughness, and temperature resistance up to 230°C (450°F). They are commonly used for aerospace components like wing structures, engine nacelles, and fuselage assemblies.

Properties: High shear and peel strength, excellent thermal stability, and compatibility with prepregs for co-curing in composite sandwich structures.

Typical Applications: Aerospace structures such as vertical and horizontal stabilizers, radomes, and fuselage sections.

HexBond Foaming Adhesive Films:

These films expand when cured at elevated temperatures, making them perfect for gap filling, honeycomb core edge bonding, and core splicing. The foaming adhesive films can be used in conjunction with film adhesives or stand-alone for applications where bonding and space filling are required.

Properties: Expansion ratio for optimal bonding, with good shear strength and high temperature resistance.

Typical Applications: Used in aerospace components where lightweight structures are necessary, such as honeycomb core sandwich panels.

HexBond Shimming Adhesives:

A two-part epoxy adhesive designed for bonding and maintaining uniformity between surfaces. These adhesives are particularly useful in ensuring the integrity of bonded joints and preventing gaps in assemblies.

Properties: Cures at room or elevated temperatures, providing strong, durable bonds for aerospace assemblies.

Typical Applications: Shimming for precision parts like wing spars, fuselage frames, and structural joints.

HexBond Paste Adhesives:

Available in one- and two-component formulations, these adhesives are used for bonding, potting, and filling composite and metallic structures. They offer good mechanical performance across a wide range of temperatures, from cryogenic conditions to high heat environments up to 180°C.

Properties: High tensile strength, long pot life, and versatility for structural bonding and repairs.

Typical Applications: Aerospace component repairs, bonding of high-stress joints, and potting of small cavities and edges in aerospace assemblies.

HexBond Primers:

Primers are essential for preparing metal surfaces and ensuring maximum adhesive bond strength. They protect pretreated surfaces before bonding and help in achieving strong, durable bonds with film and paste adhesives.

Properties: Provide excellent surface adhesion and are free from chromium compounds, which makes them ideal for environmentally sensitive aerospace applications.

Typical Applications: Used on pretreated metal surfaces in aerospace structures before applying HexBond adhesives.