Published: March 5, 2026
Reading Time: 8 minutes
When the global composites industry gathers at JEC World in Paris, the exhibition floor often becomes a preview of where lightweight engineering is heading next.
At JEC World 2026 (March 10–12, Paris Nord Villepinte), Hexcel Corporation will present a broad portfolio of advanced composite materials and processing technologies that reflect one major direction: industrial scalability for next-generation lightweight structures.
From aerospace prepregs to thermoplastic structural components, the company’s latest material systems highlight a growing emphasis on high-rate production, supply-chain collaboration, and circular manufacturing models.
A Broad Composite Portfolio for Aerospace and Industrial Applications
At Hall 5, Booth H57, Hexcel will display a full range of composite technologies including:
- aerospace-grade carbon fibers
- prepreg systems
- woven reinforcement fabrics
- thermoset and thermoplastic resins
- honeycomb cores
- film adhesives
- foaming films
- machinable tooling materials
These materials form the backbone of structural composite systems used across commercial aviation, defense programs, space structures, and high-performance automotive platforms.
Tom Gentile, Chairman and CEO of Hexcel, noted that industry events like JEC World serve as a checkpoint for technological progress.
According to Gentile, advanced composites continue to deliver the performance, efficiency, and weight reduction required by modern aerospace and industrial platforms.
A Demonstrator Built Through Industrial Collaboration
One of the centerpieces of Hexcel’s showcase is the FACC Ultra-Performance Wing Demonstrator, developed under the Clean Aviation program.
The project demonstrates how modern composite architectures can address two challenges simultaneously:
- complex geometry integration
- high-rate industrial production
The wing structure integrates box-profile designs built entirely with Hexcel continuous-fiber composite systems, combining prepreg and injection technologies.
From a manufacturing standpoint, the demonstrator highlights a key shift in the aerospace sector:
structural composites are no longer limited to small production volumes — they are increasingly engineered for scalable industrial output.
Programs like this show how collaboration between material suppliers, component manufacturers, and aircraft designers is becoming essential to move advanced composites into next-generation aircraft platforms.
HexPly® M51: Prepreg Designed for High-Rate Production
Among the new materials presented at JEC World is HexPly® M51, a rapid-curing aerospace prepreg developed for press molding processes.
Unlike traditional prepreg systems that require long curing cycles, HexPly® M51 completes curing in approximately:
40 minutes at 180°C
For manufacturers, the implication is significant.
Shorter curing cycles allow:
- faster production throughput
- reduced tooling demand
- smaller factory footprints
- lower labor requirements
Despite the accelerated cure schedule, the prepreg maintains mechanical performance comparable to conventional aerospace structural systems.
The material is also compatible with automated manufacturing technologies such as:
- ATL (Automated Tape Laying)
- AFP (Automated Fiber Placement)
- pick-and-place composite automation
These processes are becoming standard for large aerospace structures and composite fuselage sections.
Towpreg Systems for Filament Winding Applications
Hexcel will also introduce a new thermoset towpreg product range, developed specifically for filament winding processes.
The system combines:
- intermediate modulus carbon fibers
- epoxy resin systems
- a novel hot-melt impregnation technique
Compared with conventional wet winding processes, towpreg offers several manufacturing advantages:
- precise resin content control
- cleaner production environments
- reduced machine maintenance
- improved winding efficiency
The new material is manufactured in collaboration with RIMAC Machines, illustrating how equipment suppliers and material developers are increasingly working together to refine composite manufacturing workflows.
Towpreg systems are particularly suited for:
- high-performance electric motor sleeves
- composite pressure vessels
- rotational structures requiring high hoop strength
HexTow® IM11-R: A New Generation of Carbon Fiber
Another major introduction is HexTow® IM11-R, the latest addition to Hexcel’s intermediate modulus carbon fiber family.
The fiber is engineered to provide:
- higher tensile strength
- improved stiffness
- low thermal expansion
- enhanced thermal conductivity
- excellent corrosion resistance
These properties make IM11-R particularly suitable for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs).
Such vessels are widely used in:
- aerospace propulsion systems
- space launch vehicles
- hydrogen storage systems
- satellite pressure tanks
The fiber’s proprietary R-type sizing improves bonding efficiency during winding processes, helping ensure that the mechanical properties of the fiber transfer effectively to the final composite structure.
HexPly® M949: Carbon Surface Prepreg for Automotive Applications
In the automotive sector, Hexcel will highlight HexPly® M949, a cosmetic-grade prepreg designed for high-quality visible carbon components.
The material offers:
- rapid curing capability
- excellent surface finish
- high thermal resistance
Unlike many decorative carbon materials, M949 also incorporates 15% bio-based carbon content, reflecting increasing pressure across industries to reduce environmental impact.
The prepreg can be processed using both:
- compression molding
- autoclave curing
Typical applications include high-end automotive exterior panels, interior components, and structural aesthetic parts.
Recycling Carbon Fiber for Circular Composite Manufacturing
Sustainability remains a central theme at JEC World 2026.
Hexcel is expanding its recycled carbon fiber (rCF) prepreg portfolio, demonstrating how reclaimed fibers can be integrated into new composite structures.
One example on display is an automotive demonstrator component combining:
- recycled carbon fiber backing plies
- virgin carbon fiber outer layers
- Class-A painted finishes
The result illustrates that environmental responsibility and premium performance are not mutually exclusive.
Recycled carbon fiber materials reduce:
- raw material demand
- landfill waste
- lifecycle carbon emissions
HexShape® Textile Technology for Complex Structures
Another innovation presented is HexShape®, a woven textile system designed for composite parts with complex three-dimensional geometries.
Unlike traditional reinforcement fabrics that require trimming and shaping during manufacturing, HexShape integrates the final geometry directly into the textile design.
This approach provides several advantages:
- reduced material waste
- simplified manufacturing steps
- improved fiber alignment
- consistent structural properties
HexShape textiles can be produced using:
- carbon fibers
- glass fibers
- quartz fibers
and are compatible with manufacturing processes such as:
- resin infusion
- RTM (Resin Transfer Molding)
- prepreg layup
Thermoplastic Composite Structures for Future Aircraft
Hexcel is also presenting advanced thermoplastic composite structures developed in partnership with Arkema, Hutchinson, and ATC.
The materials are based on HexPly® PEKK/IM7, a high-performance thermoplastic composite system.
Two notable structural demonstrations include:
Continuous Structural Profile by Hutchinson
Using the Hutforming® continuous manufacturing process, Hutchinson developed a U-shaped composite profile designed for structural aircraft components.
The process enables:
- continuous production
- improved mechanical consistency
- high stiffness and strength
Omega Stringer by ATC
ATC produced an Omega stringer using a Continuous Compression Molding (CCM) process.
The technology can manufacture stringers up to 10 meters in length, with potential for even larger components.
Thermoplastic composites also enable welded structural assemblies, offering new opportunities for aircraft fuselage integration.
Collaboration as the Backbone of Composite Innovation
Beyond individual materials, Hexcel’s JEC World showcase highlights a broader industry reality.
Modern composite programs increasingly rely on cross-industry partnerships.
Hexcel is working with a network of manufacturing partners including:
- FACC
- Duqueine
- ATC
- FLYING WHALES
- Arkema
- RIMAC
- NOVATION
These collaborations extend across the entire composite supply chain — from raw materials to final structural components.
Moving Toward a Circular Composite Economy
Another long-term theme presented by Hexcel is circularity in composite materials.
Carbon composites have historically been difficult to recycle. However, advances in reclaimed fiber technologies, recycled prepregs, and circular manufacturing models are beginning to change this landscape.
Hexcel is working with industrial partners and industry associations to develop scalable recycling solutions that extend the lifecycle of carbon composite materials.
Such efforts are increasingly important as aerospace and automotive industries face growing environmental expectations and regulatory pressure.
Looking Ahead
JEC World continues to serve as one of the most influential platforms for the global composites industry.
Hexcel’s presentation at the 2026 exhibition demonstrates several trends shaping the future of advanced materials:
- faster composite manufacturing processes
- thermoplastic structural solutions
- high-performance carbon fiber innovations
- circular material strategies
- deeper collaboration across the supply chain
Together, these developments suggest that composite materials are entering a new phase — one where industrial scalability and sustainability become just as important as performance.