Hexcel is exhibiting at the ISPO winter sports exhibition in Munich, January 27-30 (stand no. 324A in Hall B3).  The company has a long history of supplying prepregs, laminates and polyurethane systems to leading ski and snowboard manufacturers.

Many still remember the days when Hexcel manufactured its own skis back in the 1970’s.  The fast, lightweight, durable Hexcel ski was a highly respected brand that pioneered the use of composites in sports equipment.  These days Hexcel continues to support the winter sports market by constantly developing new and improved products to provide a better experience to professionals and enthusiasts alike.

At ISPO 2008 Hexcel will be promoting two new products.  The company’s Modipur® 5-3-0 polyurethane system enables skis and snowboards to be manufactured in under 5 minutes and weighing less than 3 kilos.

Hexcel will also be promoting for the first time Polyspeed® Nano-Ski Laminates in which the laminate contains nano particles, designed to improve the flexural properties of the ski.  The nano particles provide a measurable effect on the flex and damping behaviour of the ski laminate.

Other exhibits on the Hexcel stand at ISPO include:
• A baseball bat manufactured with Modipur® polyurethane, carbon fibre and wood.
• The front fork head for a bike, manufactured by Look Cycle using Hexcel’s HexMC® carbon fibre/epoxy moulding material.  The carbon design saves 30% weight compared to the aluminium equivalent.
• The AERO+ TUBELESS first ever tubeless wheel for a road bike, developed by Corima.  This extremely responsive and lightweight wheel has a high performance carbon fibre composite design that eliminates the need for an inner tube or rim tape.  The low air pressure provides improved acceleration, greater comfort and increased roadability. The setting of the clincher tyre is easier than on a wheel with an inner tube and safety is enhanced as the clincher tyre cannot detach itself from the rim in the event of a puncture.

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Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced structural materials company. It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials, including carbon fibres, reinforcements, prepregs, honeycomb, matrix systems, adhesives and composite structures, used in commercial aerospace, space and defence and industrial applications.

Contact: Rachel Woolerton
Tel: +44 1223 838370
Rachel.Woolerton@hexcel.com