Co-authors Charles Cotton and Kate Kirk reveal that science and technology in Cambridge is entering a new phase of high growth. Employment is above the national average and multinational companies are choosing to expand in the city rather than move jobs and research overseas. A good example of this trend is Hexcel, which has just officially opened its $10 million innovation centre at Duxford on 24th May 2016.
Duxford is the site of Hexcel’s largest centre for research into resin systems and adhesives. The new innovation centre will support the growing worldwide demand for composite materials. Duxford is also Hexcel’s centre of excellence for process technology including product scale-up and research into new processes for making composite material. The company is investing a further $28 million in capacity expansion.
Hexcel’s marketing communications director, Rachel Owen says: “Cambridge is a world-renowned brand, a byword for innovation and a pleasant place to live with a dynamic community. Product innovation and operational excellence are key pillars at the foundation of our company and our new R&T facility and expansions in Duxford are core to this.
“We have a history of innovation and will continue to develop new products and technologies to support our customers worldwide as they design the weight-saving, fuel-efficient aircraft of the future.”
Innovations in polymer chemistry and material science developed at Duxford, together with advanced fibres from its USA operation, were instrumental in the company being selected to supply the Airbus A350 XWB.
Both engine choices for the new A320neo aeroplane incorporate significant quantities of weight-saving, performance-enhancing composite materials from Hexcel and it features fuel-saving Sharklet wingtip devices that are manufactured using Hexcel’s HexPly M21 and M21E carbon fibre/epoxy pre-preg (fabric pre-impregnated with a resin). The Sharklets reduce fuel burn, increase payload range and improve take-off performance.
