JEC World 2019: Porcher Industries

Porcher Industries (Eclose-Badinières, France), a supplier of fabrics, preforms and intermediates, featured on its stand a thermoplastic 5G SATCOM radome structure (see photo), developed in cooperation with aerospace composites fabricator Meggitt. The challenge, says Porcher, was creation of a glass fiber-based composite material that would deliver high impact resistance and efficient processing while providing the ability to tune the dielectric constant (Dk) for optimizing 5G air-to-ground transmission. Porcher’s BGF Industries site in Greensboro, N.C., U.S. supplied the material to Meggitt.

Andre Genton, CEO of Porcher, says his company is in the midst of aggressive research and development (R&D) spending and facilities expansion. To that end, Porcher has recently hired Jean-Marc Senecot to be global head of R&D. Also, in 2018, Porcher inaugurated a new facility in Zheigang, China, to manufacture technical textiles for the local automotive market. In the U.S., Porcher has built a new purpose-built R&D facility in Danvsville, Va., that will employ 65 people. And, by 2020, Porcher expects to finish establishment of a new Centre of Excellence in Saint Julien en Saint Alban, France. Porcher currently has revenues of $320 million, employs 2,250 people and operates 16 facilities throughout France, the U.K., Germany, the U.S. and Asia.