Hexcel announced this week in its 2nd Quarter earnings release that it will be setting up a new glass prepreg plant in Colorado to support the emerging North American wind turbine blade industry.  The new plant will begin production in the second half of 2009.

Commenting on the decision, Hexcel Chairman and CEO Dave Berges said:  “With renewable energy targets now set in 30 states, the U.S. is expected to continue to be a strong growth market for wind turbines and we are pleased to see our customers investing in the region."

Hexcel is already expanding its wind energy prepreg operations to meet growing worldwide demand and will open a new facility in Tianjin, China later this year.

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