Hexcel
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA publicly traded American manufacturer of advanced composite materials for aerospace, defense, space, transportation, energy, and industrial applications.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Hexcel Corporation is an American advanced-materials company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. It develops and manufactures lightweight structural materials, including carbon fiber, fiberglass, honeycomb core, prepreg, resin systems, adhesives, and composite parts. Its principal customers and end markets are in commercial aviation, military aircraft, space launch vehicles, satellites, helicopters, wind-turbine blades, automobiles, marine equipment, and sporting goods. The company traces its origins to California Reinforced Plastics, established in 1948 by engineers associated with the University of California, Berkeley. Its early work focused on honeycomb materials for military-aircraft radar domes. The company later adopted the Hexcel name, derived from the hexagonal cells in honeycomb structures. Honeycomb core became a defining technology because it provides high stiffness at relatively low weight, an attribute central to aircraft interiors, doors, control surfaces, nacelles, floors, and other structural assemblies. During the 1960s, Hexcel broadened its materials portfolio and supplied aluminum honeycomb and fiberglass prepreg for ski construction. Its aerospace work also expanded into the United States space program. Hexcel honeycomb materials were used in the landing pads of the Apollo 11 lunar module, linking the company to one of the most prominent engineering programs of the twentieth century. In the 1970s, Hexcel licensed ski technology but subsequently sold the ski business in order to concentrate on aerospace and other core composite-material activities. The company expanded internationally and technologically during the 1980s and 1990s. It acquired or integrated businesses producing glass-fiber, woven, prepreg, and composite materials, including Stevens-Genin in France, Ciba Composites, Hercules Composites Products Division, and Fiberite's satellite prepreg business. These transactions helped Hexcel build a broader position across carbon fiber, reinforcement fabrics, honeycomb, prepreg, and engineered composite components. Since 1980, Hexcel has traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HXL. Hexcel materials have been used in aircraft and spacecraft programs ranging from the Space Shuttle Columbia to the Rutan Voyager aircraft. In contemporary commercial aerospace, the company supplies materials to major airframers and propulsion-system manufacturers, including Airbus, Boeing, and Safran. Its products are incorporated into primary and secondary aircraft structures, helicopter fuselages and rotor blades, engine nacelles, and fan-blade systems. The company has also pursued applications outside traditional aerospace, including wind-energy structures, automotive components, marine products, and sports equipment. In the late 2010s, Hexcel expanded its manufacturing and research footprint in France and Morocco. It opened facilities for carbon-fiber precursor and carbon-fiber production near Lyon and in the Isère region, and established a honeycomb-core processing facility in Casablanca. It also formed a strategic relationship with Arkema to investigate carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tapes using PEKK resin. Such materials are intended to support faster processing, lower manufacturing costs, and lighter structures than some conventional thermoset composite approaches. Hexcel also acquired Oxford Performance Materials' aerospace and defense business, Structil, and ARC Technologies in 2017–2018. Hexcel remains focused on advanced composite technology and large aerospace platforms, while developing processes such as out-of-autoclave manufacturing, resin-transfer molding, and resin-film infusion. On May 1, 2024, Tom Gentile became chief executive officer after Nick Stanage retired from the role. The company's competitive position rests on proprietary material formulations, qualification history, manufacturing scale, and long-term relationships with aircraft, engine, defense, and industrial customers.
History
Hexcel began in 1948 as California Reinforced Plastics Company. The founding team consisted of engineers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the company's first contract involved researching and developing honeycomb materials for radar domes on military aircraft. Honeycomb construction, based on repeating hexagonal cells, offered a useful combination of low weight and structural stiffness. In 1954, the company changed its name to Hexcel Products, reflecting the importance of this technology to its identity. During the 1960s, Hexcel supplied aluminum honeycomb and fiberglass prepreg for ski manufacturing. The company worked with ski innovators Hubert A. Zemke and Dave McCoy, and in 1970 licensed ski technology from McCoy. Hexcel later decided that its long-term focus should be aerospace and sold the ski operation to Hanson Industries, a ski-boot manufacturer. This decision helped concentrate resources on composite materials for aircraft, spacecraft, and other demanding applications. Hexcel's aerospace activities expanded into the U.S. space program. Honeycomb materials from the company were used in the landing pads of the Apollo 11 lunar module, which landed astronauts on the Moon in 1969. In 1981, Hexcel supplied material for elements of Space Shuttle Columbia, including its nose, doors, and wings. In 1986, the company provided much of the composite material used in the Rutan Voyager, the aircraft that completed the first nonstop round-the-world flight without refueling. The company developed an international presence through acquisitions and expansion. During the 1980s it purchased Stevens-Genin in France, a manufacturer of glass-fiber and woven industrial materials. In the mid-1990s, Hexcel combined with or acquired Ciba Composites and the Hercules Composites Products Division. It also acquired Fiberite's satellite prepreg business in 1997. These transactions broadened the company's capabilities in reinforcement fibers, prepregs, honeycomb, and other composite systems. Hexcel has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker HXL since 1980. In the twenty-first century, Hexcel continued to align its business with commercial aviation, defense, space, and industrial lightweighting. In 2017, it acquired Oxford Performance Materials' aerospace and defense business, which specialized in carbon-fiber-reinforced three-dimensional printed parts, and acquired Structil. The same period brought a major Airbus relationship for composite materials used in the H160 helicopter. In 2018, Hexcel acquired ARC Technologies and expanded production in France and Morocco. The 2018 facilities included a honeycomb-processing plant at the Midparc Free Trade Zone in Casablanca and an integrated carbon-fiber operation at Salaise-sur-Sanne near Lyon. The French operation produced polyacrylonitrile, the precursor used to make carbon fiber, complementing Hexcel's earlier precursor operation in Decatur, Alabama. Hexcel also announced a strategic alliance with Arkema to develop carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tapes based on PEKK. The collaboration was intended to support faster processing and lower-cost production of lightweight aircraft components. Hexcel's modern business is centered on carbon fiber, honeycomb core, prepreg, resin systems, adhesives, and engineered composite components. Its materials are used by aircraft manufacturers, engine companies, defense contractors, and industrial customers. The company has pursued out-of-autoclave processing, resin-transfer molding, and resin-film infusion as ways to improve production economics and support future aircraft programs. On May 1, 2024, Tom Gentile succeeded Nick Stanage as chief executive officer.
- 2024
Tom Gentile becomes chief executive officer
[1]Tom Gentile takes over as CEO after Nick Stanage's retirement.
- 2018
European and Moroccan capacity expands
[1]Hexcel opens or expands facilities in France and Morocco for carbon-fiber precursor, carbon fiber, and processed honeycomb products.
- 2017
Oxford Performance Materials aerospace and defense business is acquired
[1]The acquisition adds carbon-fiber-reinforced 3D-printed parts and related aerospace and defense capabilities.
- 2017
Hexcel is selected for Airbus H160 composite structures
[1]Airbus selects Hexcel composite materials for H160 fuselage structures and rotor blades.
- 1997
Fiberite satellite prepreg business is acquired
[1]Hexcel expands its prepreg capabilities for satellite and aerospace applications.
- 1995
Ciba Composites and Hercules composites businesses are acquired
[1]The transactions strengthen Hexcel's capabilities in composite reinforcements, prepregs, and related structural materials.
- 1986
Rutan Voyager materials
[1]Hexcel materials are used extensively in the Rutan Voyager, which completes the first nonstop around-the-world flight without refueling.
- 1981
Space Shuttle Columbia materials
[1]Hexcel supplies composite materials for parts of Space Shuttle Columbia, including the nose, doors, and wings.
- 1980
Hexcel begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange
[1]The company becomes publicly traded under the ticker HXL.
- 1969
Apollo 11 lunar-module application
[1]Hexcel honeycomb materials are used in the landing pads of the Apollo 11 lunar module.
Products and positioning
A high-performance advanced-materials supplier specializing in lightweight, high-strength composite systems and engineered components, with particular strength in aerospace and defense.
Carbon fiber
HexTow
HexTow is Hexcel's family of continuous carbon-fiber products. Carbon fiber combines high strength and stiffness with low density, making it suitable for primary aircraft structures, engine components, rotorcraft, launch vehicles, wind-turbine blades, automotive parts, and sporting goods. Product variants can be selected according to required tensile strength, modulus, processing route, and composite design.
Prepreg and resin systems
HexPly
HexPly comprises pre-impregnated reinforcement materials and resin systems used to manufacture composite parts. The material is supplied with reinforcement fibers already combined with a controlled resin formulation, helping manufacturers achieve consistent fiber placement, resin content, curing, and structural performance. HexPly products support aerospace, defense, industrial, automotive, sports, and other engineered applications.
Honeycomb core
HexWeb
HexWeb is a family of honeycomb-core materials used to create lightweight sandwich structures. Aluminum, aramid, and other honeycomb configurations can provide stiffness and dimensional stability while limiting mass. Applications include aircraft floors, doors, control surfaces, interiors, nacelles, helicopter structures, spacecraft, transportation equipment, and industrial panels.
Acoustic composite core
Acousti-Cap
Acousti-Cap is an acoustic treatment and core-material offering intended to help manage noise and vibration in aerospace structures. It is associated with lightweight composite construction, where acoustic performance must be balanced against structural requirements and aircraft weight targets.
Composite components
Engineered composite parts
Hexcel manufactures and processes composite materials into engineered parts and assemblies for aircraft, rotorcraft, engines, space systems, and industrial products. These capabilities include honeycomb-core processing, composite panels, formed parts, and other components designed to meet customer-specific geometry, performance, and qualification requirements.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Airbus H160 composite-material supply
Europe · Global helicopter market
Hexcel was selected to provide composite materials for the Airbus H160's fuselage structures and rotor blades.
Outcome. The agreement extended Hexcel's role in next-generation helicopter structures and rotorcraft production.
- 1986Rutan Voyager lightweight-aircraft program
United States · Aviation
Hexcel supplied much of the composite material used to build the Rutan Voyager, an aircraft designed for an endurance flight around the world without refueling.
Outcome. The aircraft completed the first nonstop, non-refueled round-the-world flight, highlighting the weight-saving potential of advanced composites.
- 1969Apollo 11 lunar-module materials program
United States · Space
Hexcel honeycomb materials were incorporated into the Apollo 11 lunar module's landing pads, demonstrating the use of lightweight structural materials in a high-profile space mission.
Outcome. The materials supported a successful lunar-landing program and became part of the company's aerospace heritage.
Brand decisions
2018
Expansion of carbon-fiber and honeycomb capacityStrategyBackground
Hexcel sought additional manufacturing capacity and a more integrated European supply chain for aerospace composite materials.
Action taken
The company opened or expanded facilities in France and Morocco for carbon-fiber precursor, carbon fiber, and processed honeycomb products.
Aftermath
The expansion strengthened Hexcel's regional production footprint and its ability to supply aircraft-structure and rotorcraft programs.
2018
Thermoplastic composite collaboration with ArkemaStrategyBackground
Hexcel and Arkema identified carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials as a potential route to faster assembly and lower production costs for aircraft components.
Action taken
The companies formed a strategic alliance and planned a joint research and development laboratory in France, focusing on carbon-fiber-reinforced PEKK tapes.
Aftermath
The collaboration targeted lighter structures and manufacturing processes that could reduce dependence on slower conventional composite-processing methods.
2017
Acquisition of Oxford Performance Materials' aerospace and defense businessM&ABackground
Oxford Performance Materials had developed carbon-fiber-reinforced three-dimensional printed parts for aerospace, space, and defense uses.
Action taken
Hexcel acquired the aerospace and defense business, adding additive-manufacturing and reinforced-polymer component capabilities.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Hexcel's portfolio beyond conventional composite forms and supported its aerospace and defense strategy.
1970
Hexcel exits the ski businessStrategyBackground
Hexcel had developed and licensed ski technology using composite and honeycomb materials during the 1960s and early 1970s.
Action taken
The company sold the ski enterprise to Hanson Industries and concentrated on aerospace and other core composite-material markets.
Aftermath
The decision focused the company on advanced structural materials for aviation, defense, space, and industrial customers.
Recent events
Reported
Hexcel issues FY 2026 earnings guidance[4]
Hexcel issued an update to its FY 2026 earnings guidance, providing EPS guidance of 2.300–2.400 and revenue guidance of $2.0 billion–$2.1 billion.
Reported
Hexcel launches HexPEKK EM material[5]
Hexcel announced the launch of HexPEKK EM, an electrically conductive PEKK-based thermoplastic carbon-fiber composite additive-manufacturing material for aerospace, defense and military applications.
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