Solvay expands US aerospace thermoplastic composites capacity

Solvay will have multiplied its qualified capacity by four since 2016 with the commissioning of this new tape line and upgrades to existing lines. The expansions aim to not only improve output, but also quality, consistency and industrial reliability.

“This significant expansion in a short time, coupled with our unrelenting attention to overall quality and productivity improvement, illustrates our engagement to serve our customers best,” stated Augusto Di Donfrancesco (pictured), a member of Solvay’s executive committee. “Their strong demand shows they value how our materials reduce manufacturing time and cost, helping to raise the build rate of aircraft. Solvay is in leading position to drive breakthroughs in materials innovation and accompany our customers in their growth requirements.”

Solvay announced in May the creation of its first horizontal strategic platform to accelerate the development of thermoplastics composites as part of its strategy to leverage its unmatched portfolio and expertise in specialty polymers and carbon fibre composites. These lightweighting materials help lower emissions of planes and cars as they replace metal parts and facilitate their design and integration. Other applications include pipes in the oil and gas industry as they are a strong and cost-effective alternative to existing steel solutions.

www.solvay.com