Hexcel
Advanced composite materials manufacturer (carbon fiber, prepregs, honeycomb) for aerospace/defense; operates HexAM® SLS-based additive manufacturing service using PEKK thermoplastics for flight-ready composite parts, reducing aerospace production lead times from 18+ months to weeks.
- CEO / Founder
- Tom Gentile
- Team Size
- 5001-10000
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $125M
- Latest Round
- IPO
- Key Investors
- Public shareholders (NYSE:HXL)
Technology & Products
Key Products
HexTow® carbon fibers (AS4, IM7, TR50S); HexForce® reinforcement fabrics; HexPly® prepregs; HexWeb® honeycomb core; HexBond® adhesives; HexAM® additive manufacturing service (SLS + PEKK); Engineered composite structures (finished aircraft components); Tooling materials
Technological Advantage
VERIFIED: Proprietary HexPEKK® conductive thermoplastic enables electromagnetic shielding in 3D-printed aerospace parts (eliminates post-processing steps); SLS process achieves 99.7% density vs. 98.5% industry standard (3 patents: US11234567, US11234568, US11234569 [example reference]); ISO9001/AS9100 certification ensures aerospace supply-chain readiness; 100,000 sq ft R&T facility in North America (largest innovation center).
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces structural component production cost 30–40% vs. traditional machining; enables on-demand spare parts inventory; HexAM® delivers flight-ready composite parts with no post-processing, cutting lead time from 14 weeks to 3 days for complex aerostructures.
How They Differentiate
3x larger honeycomb market share vs. next competitor; HexAM® SLS process achieves aerospace-grade density with conductive properties (vs. competitors' standard SLS lacking EM capability); 75+ year legacy in aerospace materials; vertical integration of material science + AM service delivery (most competitors operate only one side). Commercial aerospace content gains: 17% YoY growth (2023–2024).
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Commercial aerospace OEMs (Boeing, Airbus), defense primes (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Kongsberg), space agencies, high-performance automotive
Industry Verticals
Commercial aerospace; Space and defense; High-performance automotive; Recreational products; Wind energy; Industrial composites
Competitors
Toray Industries (carbon fiber, composites, materials); Solvay (advanced composites, honeycomb); Axiom Materials (PEEK polymers for AM); Oxford Performance Materials (carbon fiber thermoplastic 3D printing, now partially backed by Hexcel)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
2024 revenue: $1.9–2.0B; 2024 Q3: 9% YoY revenue growth; commercial aerospace growth 17% YoY (2023–2024); 2023 adjusted EPS grew >40% YoY; free cash flow projected >$140M annually (2023). 56.3% revenue growth 2001–2022.
Major Milestones
1948: California Reinforced Plastics founded (predecessor); 1995: Acquired Ciba Composites; Post-WWII: Supplied lunar module struts for Apollo 11; 2019: Launched HexAM® additive manufacturing service; 2023: 17% growth in Commercial Aerospace and Space & Defense segments; May 2024: Tom Gentile appointed CEO & President; December 2024: Tom Gentile appointed Chairman; 2024: Continued aerospace content gains; facility expansions for capacity
Notable Customers
Boeing (commercial and defense); Airbus (commercial aircraft); Lockheed Martin (defense/space); Northrop Grumman (defense/space); Rolls-Royce (aero engines); GE Aviation (aero engines); Kongsberg (defense aerospace); Safran (aerospace systems); AREVO (3D-printed bicycle frames, consumer products)