Tell us about Hexcel
Hexcel is an American company specialised in the manufacture of carbon fibre and composite materials for the aeronautical industry.
Tell us about your investment project
Our project is to set up a new factory to produce carbon fiber at the Roussillon Chemicals Complex. This 200-million euro investment will enable 120 direct jobs to be created and around 250 indirect jobs. The construction of this new unit should begin between late August and early September 2015 and be completed in early 2017. Then production can start and we will be able to deliver to our clients by early 2018.
Was the Lyon area in competition with other sites for this project?
We evaluated 60 sites in Europe before selecting the Roussillon site. 27 countries were involved. The main competitors were in England and the Netherlands and we also looked into another site in France.
What made you choose the Lyon area?
It was a combination of things: the proximity to our clients Airbus and Safran as well as to our other sites in the Rhone Alps area, the presence of the Osiris chemical Platform as well as France’s highly competitive electricity supply. The Osiris Platform was a key factor in this decision, because it enables us to share the facilities and investments with other actors at the platform.
How did local actors support this project?
The support of local actors has been essential. We knew that we could rely on the support of the State and the region. I have a unique anecdote: when we first began looking for a site, very few French sites responded to our call for tender. One morning, while at Lyon airport, I met with Jacques de Chilly, Director General of Aderly, and he started sourcing sites in Rhone Alps, including this one. Aderly was therefore at the heart of this initiative and indeed this choice!
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