Expansions: TechnoCompound to expand LGF production capacity; Hexcel expands US epoxy matrix production

In response to the growing demand for high-performance, long-glass-fibre-reinforced compounds, TechnoCompound says it is strengthening its sustainable product portfolio. The capacity expansion at the Bad Sobernheim site in Germany is being carried out without making significant changes to the processes or altering the technical concept of the existing production facilities, it adds. The new production line is scheduled to be operational by the second quarter of 2027.

The company already offers sustainable LGF compounds containing between 25 and 60% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. These compounds meet or exceed the future requirements of the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELV-R), offering optimal solutions for structural components in vehicle interiors.

'With this increase in capacity, TechnoCompound is placing particular emphasis on efficiency and sustainability,” adds Managing Director Dirk Breitbach. ‘The new plant will be operated in an energy-optimised manner and will meet the latest environmental and technological standards. This expansion underlines our commitment to providing innovative material solutions for demanding applications, and to growing as a reliable long-term partner for our customers.”

It has facilities that offer compounds, finishes and modifies polymers with a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes/year for customer-specific applications. The functionally modified polymer range extends from commodities via technical compounds to thermoplastic elastomers for the automotive industry.

In other news, composites firm Hexcel Corporation has announced the addition of US manufacturing capability for its HexPly M901 prepreg system at the company’s Salt Lake City facility. The expansion responds to manufacturers’ need for composite materials that can support shorter production cycles and higher volumes while delivering the mechanical and elevated-temperature performance required for structural applications.

Originally developed by Hexcel in Duxford, UK, and currently manufactured in Dagneux, France, M901 will expand Hexcel’s US aerospace and industrial composites portfolio and provide domestic customers with local access to a proven, fast-curing prepreg system. The manufacturing transfer builds on the Salt Lake City site’s established prepreg expertise and supports increasing demand for advanced composite materials suited to scalable industrial production.

M901 offers cure cycles as short as four to five minutes and glass-transition temperature, or Tg, performance of up to 180°C, depending on cure and post-cure conditions. The system is compatible with autoclave and press curing, hot-in/hot-out processing and compression moulding. It also provides up to 15 weeks of out life at room temperature and is suitable for thick-section components.

These capabilities can help manufacturers increase throughput, improve tooling utilization and transition to higher-rate press processing without changing resin systems. M901 is suited for autonomous airframes and defence systems, automotive structures, medical devices and other industrial applications in which lightweight structural performance must be balanced with production speed, scalability and cost.

By combining elevated-temperature and mechanical performance with fast, flexible processing, M901 addresses the need for material systems positioned between traditional aerospace prepregs and lower-cost industrial products. This combination gives manufacturers a scalable option for emerging applications moving from development and initial production toward higher volumes.

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