Hexcel announced on March 29 that it has joined the recently launched project ASCEND (Aviation and Automotive Supply Chain Driven Development) in the UK, which will focus on the development of high-speed manufacturing and processing technologies and accelerate the development of new lightweight advanced composite materials .
Hexcel will work with its main partner GKN Aerospace and 13 other project stakeholders to cooperate throughout the UK supply chain to develop and manufacture lightweight, more energy-efficient and efficient structures to achieve sustainable air mobility, aerospace and automotive Technology and automation equipment required by industry.
The company will contribute to the ASCEND project framework by developing a new HexPly fast-curing prepreg system. Hexcel said it will greatly reduce part processing time compared to existing aviation prepregs.
In addition to the new fast curing prepreg technology, Hexcel's liquid composite molding process (LCM) product series will also be included in the ASCEND project work package. The project will use both HiTape advanced unidirectional (UD) dry carbon fiber reinforced materials and HiMax multiaxial non-crimped fabric (NCF) reinforced materials.
The ASCEND project will enable Hexcel to cooperate with Tier 1 companies, engineers, tooling experts and production equipment OEMs to provide prepreg and LCM solutions that not only meet performance goals, but also meet the processing requirements of high-speed automated manufacturing. The technology integration achieved through the ASCEND project partnership will ensure a complete understanding of the customer's performance and processing requirements, and the opportunity to use the powerful functions of GKN's global technology center in Bristol to industrialize new technologies.
"We are honored to be part of the ASCEND program and we look forward to working with other leading companies because the processes and materials we develop will help make the next generation of sustainable air mobility, aerospace and motor vehicles possible," Paul Mackenzie, Hexcel's senior vice president and CTO said. "This project provides a perfect platform for Hexcel to collaborate and further develop our HexPly, HiMax and HiTape technologies."
Project members include: Assyst Bullmer, Cobham Mission Systems, Cygnet Texkimp (Northwich), FAR-UK Ltd., Hive Composites, LMAT, Loop Technology, McLaren Automotive, National Composites Center (NCC), Rafinex, Sigmatex (Chesire), Solvay Composites and Airborne and Des Composites. Together, the team looks forward to providing material and automation innovations that will power more sustainable mobility solutions in the future.