Belgian chemical producer Solvay is expanding its composite materials capacities with a new state-of-the-art resin facility and an upgraded site in Östringen, Germany. The company said the investment is designed to meet growing demand from aircraft customers for light-weighting materials along with supply products and services for parts such as engine fan blades.

Neither capacity details nor investment cost for the upgrade set to go on stream in the second quarter of 2017 were disclosed. Solvay said the German site will produce and supply materials including for the LEAP engine produced by CFM International, the joint venture between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, for Airbus programs and Boeing. 

The new facility will produce Solvay’s unique infusion resins and resins for reinforced composite materials. The company said these processing technologies are increasingly important in the manufacturing of composite parts as they meet demands from the aerospace industry for faster and higher volume processing of key parts.