US composites manufacturer Hexcel (Stamford, Connecticut; www.hexcel.com) has acquired an undisclosed stake in thermoplastic, carbon fibre-reinforced 3D printed parts producer Oxford Performance Materials (OPM, South Windsor, Connecticut / USA; www.oxfordpm.com). The “strategic investment” is aimed at advancing the use of OPM’s high performance additive manufacturing and materials technology in the aerospace market. By joining hands, the two companies will be able to provide “faster product development and adoption” for customers, Hexcel CEO Nick Stanage said, adding that, “Aerospace adoption of reinforced manufactured parts using Hexcel carbon fibre is becoming a viable and meaningful design solution due to its performance and processing advantages.”

OPM chief executive Scott DeFelice added that the two companies’ core markets are “extremely complementary.” The CEO also said the investment by Hexcel would help OPM further expand production capacity to meet growing demand for its “Oxfab” technology. Using the group’s proprietary PEKK resin, “OXPEKK”, Oxfab caters to industrial applications requiring functional complexity and weight reduction. Using selective laser melting, the resin is free-formed in a tool-less additive manufacturing process, producing what OPM calls “uniform, near isotropic properties with exceptional build fidelity and nearly limitless design possibilities.” Apart from that, the investment by Hexcel also “sets the stage for joint technology collaboration,” the OPM head said.

OPM, which purports to be the only global company producing 3D printed PEKK-based products, has had a variety of owners over the years. The company was once linked to DSM, which sold its stake to Arkema in 2009 (see Plasteurope.com of 17.02.2009). OPM's owners in 2011 reacquired the share owned by Arkema in the company's medical division (see Plasteurope.com of 08.06.2011). Arkema remains invested in OPM's Aerospace & Industrial unit. In addition to this, OPM also operates two other divisions: CMF & Orthopedics as well as Biomedical Manufacturing.