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Rabat – Hexcel Corporation, an American advanced composite materials manufacturer, announced the inauguration of an expansion to its engineered core operations plant in Morocco, located in the Casablanca’s Midparc Free Trade Zone.
The expansion, which is 13,000 square meters in size, has doubled the size of the plant to 24,000 square meters and increased employment at the site from 145 employees to around 400 by 2026, according to a statement from the company.
The facility produces engineered core parts used in aerospace applications, including aircraft structures and helicopter blades, among other products.
The Casablanca plant is part of Hexcel’s worldwide investment of $30 million to create a diversified and robust global supply chain and meet the growing demand for engineered cores.
Hexcel has also installed solar panels at the plant to cover over 20% of its annual electricity requirements, as part of its commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.
The inauguration of the plant took place with the presence of Morocco’s Trade and Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour, who called the decision to expand the plant a testament to the aerospace industry’s resilience, competitiveness, and worldwide reputation, as well as Hexcel’s commitment to generating employment opportunities for the future of Morocco.
On his part, Hexcel’s President of Aerospace for Europe Thierry Merlot noted that the company is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
“In fact, in 1948, two engineers developed honeycomb technology, the raw material for our Engineered Core machined parts at the Casablanca site,” Merlot added.
President of Midparc Hamid Benbrahim said that the extension “demonstrates Hexcel’s renewed trust for the Morocco aeronautical base and its potential for future development.”
“We are proud of the quality of the partnership developed over more than 5 years between Hexcel and Midparc, which confirms the importance of Midparc’s business model,” he added.
Morocco’s Aeronautic industry
Morocco’s aeronautics industry has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, with 140 aerospace companies operating in the North African country as of 2022, according to US Trade Administration data.
Aeronautic companies in Morocco specialize in finished aircraft maintenance and airport infrastructure, among other activities.
The presence of internationally certified subcontractors in the local market has contributed to the growth of the sector, which also includes factories specializing in engineering manufactured parts, making it an attractive manufacturing destination for aerospace parts.
The industry has become a major job creator, accounting for 17,500 jobs in 2019, with female labor participation set at over 40%, way above the national average.
The country has invested heavily in infrastructure to attract manufacturers in the sector and currently holds several industrial zones focused solely on the aerospace industry.
In 2020, Morocco’s aerospace industry ranked 36th globally and third in the Middle East and Africa region in an aerospace manufacturing attractiveness ranking produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
