Composite materials producer Hexcel Corporation has provided $10m of funding for US-based advanced materials technology developer Oxford Performance Materials (OPM).
Founded in 2000, OPM uses 3D printing technology to make structural parts out of thermoplastics for use in the biomedical, aerospace and industrial sectors.
OPM will use the capital to expand manufacturing capacity following a recent deal with aerospace group Boeing to supply 3D-printed parts for the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft capsule it is developing with space station module producer Bigelow Aerospace.
Hexcel had previously invested $15.8m in OPM in May 2016, with Hexcel CEO Nick Stanage observing at the time that the reinforced manufactured parts made by OPM using Hexcel carbon fibre was of interest to the aerospace sector.
OPM has now raised a total of approximately $46.5m, according to press releases and regulatory filings, including $1.2m from the Connecticut State-backed Connecticut Innovations in 2011.