Photo by Solvay

Solvay SA has appointed Composites One as a new North America distributor for its process materials and tooling product lines.

Based on the agreement Composites One will offer a large range of Solvay’s consumables, including vacuum bagging films, release films, sealant tapes as well as tooling prepreg.

Solvay announced 13 Dec that the new appointment provided it with wider access to a large geography and multiple market segments, improving its ability to service customers.

“Composites One has a proven track record of bringing technical products to market through its extensive North American distribution network and we are excited about this new opportunity,” said Maria Gallahue-Worl, executive vice president industrial business line of Solvay’s Composite Materials Global Business Unit.

The product line on offer can be utilised in a wide variety of industrial and aerospace applications.

“[Solvay’s product line] simplifies composite manufacturing processes, improves cost efficiencies, and fits in very well with our existing close mould process and advanced composites offerings. It also positions us to expand further in markets like aerospace,” added Dave Smith, Composites One vice president of marketing.

Solvay has accelerated its aerospace activities particularly in North America since the €6.2bn acquisition of materials company Cytec in 2015.

As part of Cytec’s integration, Solvay created the composite materials global business unit in 2016, into which the former Cytec airspace materials composite business was absorbed.

In September, the Belgian speciality chemicals supplier signed an agreement with Bell Helicopter Textron Inc for a 10-year supply of polymers to the Fort Worth, Texas-based aerospace manufacturer.

Later that month, the company opened a €100m plant for production of aerospace structural adhesives and surfacing films in Wrexham, UK.

In July, Solvay announced that it had extended another supply agreement for polymers with the world’s largest tier 1 aerostructures manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems, based in Wichita, Kansas.