OREANDA-NEWS. Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL) announced today that it has made a strategic investment in Oxford Performance Materials (OPM). OPM produces thermoplastic, carbon fiber reinforced 3D printed parts for Commercial Aerospace and Space and Defense applications.

The investment creates a partnership between Hexcel – a global leader in advanced composites and carbon fiber – and OPM – a recognized leader in high performance additive manufacturing (HPAM™) – to further advance the commercial application of this growing manufacturing technology to serve the aerospace market.

Hexcel Chairman, CEO and President Nick Stanage said, “Aerospace adoption of reinforced manufactured parts using Hexcel carbon fiber is becoming a viable and meaningful design solution due to its performance and processing advantages. With the adoption of these lightweight, high-performing materials expected to accelerate, this is an ideal opportunity for our two companies to work together enabling faster product development and adoption for our customers.”

Scott DeFelice, OPM’s Chairman and CEO, said, “Hexcel represents the gold standard in carbon fiber and composite material technologies, and our core target markets are extremely complementary. Hexcel’s investment in OPM will help enable us to further expand production capacity to meet rapidly growing market demand for our OXFAB® technology. In addition, this investment sets the stage for joint technology collaboration and business development efforts with Hexcel.”

OPM is a recognized leader in materials technology and high performance additive manufacturing (HPAM™), delivering fully functional end-use products to the biomedical, aerospace and industrial markets. OPM is the only company producing 3D printed PEKK-based products in today’s marketplace, including patient-specific medical implants and strong, lightweight parts for space, defense and commercial aircraft. OPM is privately-owned and based in South Windsor, Connecticut.