Hexcel Carbon Fiber Supports World’s First 3D-Printed Commuter Bicycle
STAMFORD, Conn., June 4, 2018 – Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL) congratulates Arevo for producing the world’s first true 3D-printed commuter bike using Hexcel carbon fiber.
Based in Santa Clara, California, Arevo is ushering in the next era of 3D printing and is transforming the way manufactured products are conceived, designed, built, and maintained. To demonstrate its software and robotics at work, Arevo partnered with StudioWest to create the world’s first true 3D-printed carbon fiber bicycle. A reimagined form factor removed a seat stay between the seat and back wheel, adding strength and simplicity.
Conventional 3D printers typically print in two dimensions on a stacked horizontal plane. Arevo’s robotic arm makes all axes available enabling true 3D printing, removing design constraints and
providing the freedom to create.
Arevo is using the bike to demonstrate the potential of the technology, which will be used to produce lightweight parts with superior strength for applications where designers want to make carbon fiber parts but are hesitant due to the high cost and labor-intensive process of making them.
Arevo CEO Jim Miller said, “It was great to have Hexcel -- a leader in advanced carbon fiber – join this project with us. With companies like Hexcel as partners, we are certain that we have the technology, team and tools in place to commercialize our software and fabrication process to build high strength parts that the manufacturing industry hasn’t been able to conceive and construct before.”
Brett Schneider, Hexcel President – Global Fibers, said, “We congratulate Arevo on this technological leap forward. We’re excited to be part of the project and appreciate the trust they have in our products. We look forward to continuing to be a supplier for many more projects like this one.”
Arevo recently secured financing to build on the full-scale commercialization of its technology across a diverse set of industries such as aerospace, defense, transportation, automotive, consumer electronics, sporting goods, medical, and oil and gas.
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About Hexcel
Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced composites company. It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials including carbon fibers, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, honeycomb, adhesives, engineered core and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense and industrial applications.
Kaye Veazey, VP Corporate & Marketing Communications
+1 203 352 0339
Kaye.Veazey@hexcel.com
About Arevo
Arevo, based in Silicon Valley, California, develops technology to enable direct digital additive manufacturing of ultra-strong, lightweight composite parts for end use applications in high volume. With our unique combination of breakthrough materials, powerful design/build software, and free motion robotics for the first “true 3D” construction, AREVO is moving beyond prototypes by enabling the design and fabrication of large, mass-produced parts and structures, quickly leading 3D printing into mainstream manufacturing. AREVO provides designers and manufacturers with unprecedented freedom to unlock the unparalleled strength and weight of composite materials for a wide range of consumer and industrial products, and has seen early success manufacturing CFRTP composite parts for OEM customers. With an initial focus on Aerospace, Defense, Consumer Electronics, Transportation, and Consumer Goods, Arevo is poised to optimize additive manufacturing services to OEM’s worldwide. www.arevoinc.com
Meredith Klee for AREVO
arevo@highwirepr.com
