Hexcel transitions winter sports prepregs to HexPly Nature range

On Sept. 16, Hexcel (Stamford, Conn., U.S.) announced the successful transition of its winter sports industry production to the company’s HexPly Nature bio-derived product range. This move includes the full conversion of HexPly M78.1-LT prepregs to the more sustainable HexPly Nature version, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation.

Since the early 1970s, when it manufactured composite skis at industrial scale, Hexcel says it has been a trusted partner to the winter sports industry. Today, Hexcel supplies a comprehensive portfolio of products, including HexPly prepregs, Polyspeed laminates and Modipur polyurethanes, to companies like Elan, Fischer, Kästle, Stöckli, Tecnica Group (Blizzard and Nordica brands) and Völkl.

A member of The Winter Sports Sustainability Network (WSN), Hexcel also commits itself to environmental sustainability efforts. The HexPly Nature range is the result of a multi-year development initiative, during which Hexcel collaborated closely with its customers to ensure the bio-derived prepregs met rigorous OEM qualification and production standards while maintaining high performance on the slopes.

“At Tecnica Group, we pride ourselves on delivering high-performance skis that meet the rigorous demands of our customers and the environment,” notes Alberto Zanatta, chairman of Tecnica Group. “Partnering with Hexcel to incorporate its Nature range of bio-derived prepregs into our series production process has been seamless. Hexcel’s advanced composite technology and commitment to sustainability have enabled us to transition smoothly without compromising the performance or consistency of our skis in series production and out on the mountain. This choice is compliant to the action plan for carbon footprint reduction and products’ circularity the group is taking toward a more sustainable future.”

According to Hexcel, its HexPly Nature range version of M78.1-LT prepreg offers the same high quality and consistency as its predecessor, as well as rapid curing, robust handling and optimal adhesion to aluminum, wood and thermoplastics. Hexcel provides a variety of HexPly M78.1 standard products, from lightweight fleeces for bonding to heavier glass fiber reinforcements, tailored to ensure a balanced cost/performance ratio. Additionally, Hexcel has developed carbon fiber-based prepregs for ski applications.