Hexcel Corporation announced a sponsorship of the USA Bobsled and Skeleton team during the 47G Zero Gravity Summit, according to an October 28 statement. The partnership will involve supplying advanced composite materials for the design and fabrication of bobsleds and skeleton sleds.
The collaboration aims to apply advanced materials engineering to a sport where weight and structural performance can impact outcomes measured in hundredths of a second. Lyndon Smith, President, Americas & Global Fibers at Hexcel, stated that the partnership is an example of the company's mission of lightweighting to propel the future. Smith noted that the same advanced composite technologies used in demanding aerospace applications will support the USA Bobsled and Skeleton team.
Hexcel maintains a significant manufacturing presence in Utah, operating its largest carbon fiber manufacturing footprint in West Valley City. The company's vertically integrated portfolio includes carbon fiber, resin systems, prepregs, honeycomb core, engineered composites, and advanced structures. According to the company, these materials support commercial and military aircraft as well as space launch vehicles.
The sponsorship links Utah's aerospace and defense industrial base with the state's Olympic legacy. Many USA Bobsled and Skeleton athletes and coaches live and train in Utah. The region is also home to the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, which is scheduled to host the 2029 IBSF World Championships and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic winter games.
Aron McGuire, Chief Executive Officer of USA Bobsled and Skeleton, said the partnership brings together elite athletes, advanced composites expertise, and American manufacturing excellence. McGuire noted that the support from a company with deep roots in Utah's aerospace and defense community helps strengthen the pursuit of excellence for athletes on a global stage.
