Hexcel Corp., a global leader in advanced composites technology, is expanding its long-standing partnership with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) by establishing a Hexcel Application Center inside NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS).

The announcement was made this week at the Paris Air Show. The new center will serve as a hub for advanced composite materials development, manufacturing innovation and workforce training. Hexcel is contributing nearly $10 million in advanced manufacturing equipment and technology to support the effort.

Located on Wichita State’s Innovation Campus, the ATLAS facility will house dedicated space for Hexcel engineers to work alongside NIAR researchers and Wichita State students. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating innovation and applied learning in composite materials used in commercial aviation, defense and space.

“Establishing this center at Wichita State aligns with our goal of driving innovation while developing the next generation of aerospace talent,” said Tom Gentile, Hexcel CEO. “This partnership strengthens our ability to collaborate closely with a world-class research institution and helps us remain at the forefront of composite technology.”

The application center will also enhance opportunities for Wichita State students to engage in hands-on learning with industry-grade tools and real-world aerospace projects.

“This collaboration is a win for our students, our researchers and the Kansas aerospace ecosystem,” said John Tomblin, WSU senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR executive director. “Having Hexcel engineers on site at NIAR will amplify our ability to deliver cutting-edge research while training students on the tools and processes they’ll encounter in their careers.”

The partnership builds on more than 30 years of collaboration between Hexcel and NIAR and reinforces Wichita State’s national leadership in applied research, advanced materials and workforce development.

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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