Hexcel Breaks Ground on Aviation Research Center

Hexcel Corporation and Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research announced May 28 it had broken ground on the Hexcel Applications Center at the state university. In a joint statement, Hexcel CEO Tom Gentile said the research center would support the advanced composite materials companies’ work with aerospace customers.

“This investment represents a pivotal step in how we support aerospace and defense customers, from material innovation through advanced manufacturing and structural realization,” Gentile said. “By combining Hexcel’s materials science and application development expertise with NIAR’s world‑class automated processing capabilities, we are creating a powerful ecosystem that accelerates innovation and delivers practical, manufacturable solutions for our customers.”

The decision to expand the aerospace manufacturing innovation research site follows Boeing Co.’s acquisition of Spirit Aerosystems in late 2025 and Bombardier’s announcement in April it would set up its U.S. headquarters in the Kansas city.

College leadership said the finished facility will be one for supporting collaboration between the aviation parts industry, researchers and aerospace manufacturers.

“The Hexcel Applications Center at NIAR will bring together world‑class expertise, capability, and technology in one collaborative environment,” said John Tomblin, WSU Executive Vice President of Research and Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR Executive Director. “This collaboration will significantly enhance the resources available to our aerospace and defense customers, enabling them to develop, scale, and validate advanced composite solutions using next generation manufacturing technology.”