HexPly M77 “Snap Cure” prepreg
To further extend the use of thermoset resins in mass produced composite parts Hexcel has developed HexPly M77, a rapid curing epoxy prepreg that allows automotive components and sports goods to be press-cured in a 2-minute cycle at 150°C (80 bar pressure).
At JEC Europe 2014 Hexcel will be promoting the latest innovations developed for aerospace and industrial markets. In addition to launching a new carbon fiber and aerospace prepreg, Hexcel is showcasing some of the latest customer applications for which Hexcel’s composites are “the strength within”.
HexTow HM63 carbon fiber
Hexcel is adding to its extensive range of IM and AS fibers by launching a new High Modulus carbon fiber, called HexTow HM63. This new fiber has the highest tensile strength of any HM fiber and provides outstanding translation of fiber properties in a composite, including superior interlaminar shear and compression shear strength. It is therefore ideal for any high stiffness and strength-critical applications including space, satellites, UAV, commercial aerospace and helicopters. It also meets the special requirements for premium sports and recreation applications including F1, marine craft, bikes and fishing rods.
At JEC Hexcel will be display a ThermoSet Carbon (TSC) cable for yacht rigging manufactured by Future Fibres, using HexTow HM63 high modulus carbon fiber for low weight, high break strength and resistance to impact.
NEW HexPly M92 prepreg for aerospace structures
Hexcel is launching HexPly M92, a prepreg that combines all the major benefits achieved individually with other 125°C curing epoxy resins in one new “multi-purpose” system. These benefits include excellent hot wet Tg performance of 115°C, allowing HexPly M92 to operate at higher service temperatures from a lower cost 125°C cure. The system is self-adhesive to honeycomb, making it suitable for sandwich structures as well as monolithic components. Other benefits include high toughness, fire resistance, low exotherm, a long out/tack life and the ability to cure by vacuum bag. HexPly M92 is available in a wide range of prepreg forms (woven and UD tape).
At the JEC show, Hexcel will display a Helicopter Rotor Hub Cap Fairing manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. This oven-cured part is a honeycomb sandwich structure in which the prepreg is bonded directly to the non-metallic core, without any additional adhesive. Airbus Helicopters estimates that weight savings of 8 to 15% will be achieved by manufacturing this part from HexPly M92, depending on the helicopter type.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced executive changes that further enhance its focus on executing its global business plan and driving global expansion.
Elane Stock, 49, group president of Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP), has been elected group president of K-C International (KCI), and is succeeding Christian Brickman, 49, who has announced his intent to pursue a senior executive officer position outside of K-C. Kim Underhill, 49, currently president of K-C's European consumer business, has been elected president of KCP.
In addition to these executive appointments, K-C's global nonwovens operations and sustainability, safety and continuous improvement teams will now report to Mike Hsu, 49, group president for K-C's North American consumer business. These teams previously reported to Stock. The European consumer business will now report to Gustavo Calvo Paz, 52, who will become president of Europe, Middle East and Africa. Calvo Paz currently leads K-C's business in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
"K-C has a deep bench of talented leaders to drive our business plan strategies across the globe," said Chairman and CEO Thomas J. Falk. "Elane, Kim, Mike and Gustavo are all strong leaders with proven strategic, operational and innovation experience. These changes will help us further build our already strong consumer and professional businesses."
Stock joined K-C in 2010 and served as the company's chief strategy officer prior to her role in KCP. Before joining Kimberly-Clark, she served as national vice president at the American Cancer Society, and was previously a regional manager of Georgia Pacific's (Koch Industries) Color Box business. She also held progressive management positions at McKinsey and Company both in the U.S. and Ireland.
Underhill is a 26-year veteran of K-C who joined the company in 1988. She recently led the development and execution of the company's European strategic changes, which involved the exit of certain low-returning businesses and a re-focus on driving growth behind K-C's strongest positions and opportunities in Europe.
Prior to her Europe role, she was vice president of K-C's consumer business in the United Kingdom and Ireland from August 2009 until September 2011, and has also served in various marketing, supply chain, and research and engineering roles in our North American consumer businesses.
All of these changes are effective April 1, 2014. Hsu, Stock and Underhill will report to Falk. Calvo Paz will report to Stock.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust K-C's brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being.