Solvay SA is doubling its kitting capabilities for process materials in France to meet the increasing production rate of large composite parts such as aircraft wings or wind turbine blades.
In a July 26 statement, the Belgian chemical company said its kitting facility in Toulouse primarily serves customers across Europe.
The additional equipment, capacity and floor space, said Solvay, will increase the site's manufacturing rate of large vacuum bagging kits and create 60 new jobs within the next few years.
“Solvay is reinforcing its position as a key partner to the industry, serving customers out of Europe and the U.S.,” explained Carmelo Lo Faro, president of Solvay's composite materials global business unit commenting about the expansion.
Lo Faro added that process materials were critical for Solvay's customers to manufacture composite parts, and that the Belgian company considered them as an important component to its industrialization trend.
Solvay's composite product portfolio includes prepregs, resin systems, adhesives and surfacing films, carbon fiber, and process materials available as roll-stock or customised kits.
According to Solvay, using kits can reduce labor costs, total production time and waste while offer better process control for improved quality of parts and repeatability.