Hexcel Corp. (Stamford, Connecticut) announced the addition of U.S. manufacturing capability for its HexPly® M901 (a high-performance epoxy matrix) 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.
“Manufacturers should not have to choose between structural performance and production efficiency,” said Imad Atallah, Vice President, Commercial Growth and Fibers, Matrix & Reinforcements Product Management, Hexcel. “M901 gives customers a versatile material platform that supports faster manufacturing and provides a practical path to higher-volume production as their programs grow. Bringing production to Salt Lake City also places this capability closer to customers across the Americas.”
Originally developed by Hexcel in Duxford, U.K., and currently manufactured in Dagneux, France, M901 will expand Hexcel’s U.S. 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 (Tg) performance of up to 180°C (356°F), depending on cure and post-cure conditions. The system is compatible with autoclave and press curing, hot-in/hot-out processing, and compression molding. 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 defense 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.
Hexcel will exhibit at the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX), Sept. 22–24, 2026, in Atlanta at booth P4. Attendees can meet with Hexcel technical experts to learn more about M901 and discuss compression molding, high-rate composite manufacturing, and opportunities to convert from slower-curing legacy prepreg technologies.