Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Leeham News and Analysis
- How Trump tariffs affected, and could affect, Airbus, Boeing and Embraer December 6, 2024
- Start-up hybrid plane OEM MAEVE teams with MHIRJ for sales, more December 5, 2024
- Production increase delays hurt Airbus costs December 2, 2024
- Books to consider for Christmas November 29, 2024
- Slow, methodical process to restore Boeing’s trust, efficiencies November 28, 2024
Hexcel reports increased demand for aerospace composites as industry rebounds
By Bryan Corliss
Jan. 27, 2023, © Leeham News: Composites materials supplier Hexcel Corp. reported that its fourth-quarter sales were up 29% over the same period last year, driven by increased demand from all across the aerospace industry.
“Virtually every platform from narrowbody to widebody to business jets is growing, and the customers continue to ramp as fast as the supply chain allows,” CEO Nick Stanage said.
As international air travel recovers, airlines are seeking more widebody jets, which is good for Hexcel, because newer widebodies have higher percentages of composite materials, Hexcel executives told investment analysts. However, new business jet and military aircraft models also incorporate higher percentages of composites.
Stanage and Hexcel CFO Patrick Winterlich noted that their company is not immune from the inflation and labor issues facing most manufacturers, but said they’re coping.
“You can’t give someone five years, three years, of experience in six months or nine months,” Stanage said. “We are working as hard and are focused as hard as we can on training and accelerating it.”
- Hexcel profits beat Wall Street expectations
- Analysts: Can Hexcel match Boeing ramp-up?
- CEO: Commercial aerospace can withstand recession
Read more
HOTR: Hexcel gives glimpse at 2030 airplane
By the Leeham News Team
July 28, 2022, © Leeham News: Hexcel, a major supplier of composites to Airbus and Boeing, gave a hint of things to come when the next generation narrowbody airplane is developed for late this decade or early next decade.
In its 2Q2022 earnings call, Hexcel forecast that the next-gen airplane may be comprised of more than 60% of composites and thermoplastics. (Figure 1.) This compares with about 50% for the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. It compares with about 5% of the narrow- and widebody airplanes of the 1970s and 1980s.
Upping composite content in single-aisle airplanes and achieving economic operating gains is more difficult than the gains for widebody aircraft. The weight savings and stage lengths simply don’t match the benefits achieved on widebodies.
Nevertheless, Hexcel’s presentation presents an intriguing look into the future.
