US composites manufacturer Hexcel (Stamford, Connecticut; www.hexcel.com) has opened its USD 10m innovation centre in Duxford / UK. The site is the company’s largest centre for research into resin systems and adhesives. Duxford is also Hexcel’s centre of excellence for process technology including product scale-up and research into processes for making composite materials, also comprising quality control methods.

The groundbreaking of the centre took place in 2014 – see Plasteurope.com of 17.11.2014 – and the hub will support growing worldwide demand for composite materials for aerospace and industrial markets. The facility houses chemistry and product development functions and is equipped with formulation and analytical laboratories, mixer rooms as well as microscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) laboratories.