What Zentia does

Zentia was a UK-headquartered manufacturer of complete suspended ceiling systems, based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, operating two manufacturing facilities that produced mineral fibre ceiling tiles and metal grid profiles. The company's portfolio covered acoustic ceiling tiles, suspension grids, floating ceiling systems (canopies and baffles), wall absorbers, and grid accessories, serving primary verticals of education, healthcare, and commercial offices, with secondary applications in retail, hospitality, clean rooms, laboratories, and transportation. Specialised product lines included humidity-resistant tiles (Hydrabloc, Aquabloc), clean room solutions (Titan, Cleantech), and antimicrobial healthcare surfaces (Biobloc), alongside the Sonify by Zentia customisable acoustic system, which used a patented Create grid suspension system to deliver canopies, baffles and wall absorbers in 17 panel shapes and 35 colours with a 30-year warranty when installed with the Zentia grid.

Zentia operated an indirect go-to-market model, selling exclusively through a network of UK and Ireland distributors — including CCF, SIG, Galaxy, Minster, NDI, Encon, GO Interiors, Markovitz, Charles Tennant, and CIS — covering more than 100 branch locations. Revenue was generated through one-time product sales to these distributors, with the company targeting specifiers (architects and interior designers) via RIBA- and RIAI-approved CPD courses, an award-winning Installation School, BIM, Revit and CAD integration, an online Acoustic Calculator, and NBS Source specification support. Under CEO Gert van Doormalen, the commercial proposition was anchored in compliance credentials including E1 formaldehyde classification, ISO 14644-1 clean room certification, and BREEAM, LEED and Ska green building credits.

Following a 2020 carve-out from Knauf Ceiling Solutions Ltd under a European Commission mandate and a rebranding from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, Zentia spent 2022 to 2025 renaming products and expanding the Sonify line, earning an iF Design Award in 2025. However, on 9 June 2026 both Zentia Limited and Zentia Profiles Limited were placed into administration, with production ceasing and most of the workforce made redundant due to financial difficulties including high energy costs and lower-than-expected sales. The company is therefore no longer operating as a going concern.

Name

Zentia

Legal name

Zentia Ltd

Website

https://zentia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Zentia was a UK-based manufacturer of complete suspended ceiling systems, including acoustic ceiling tiles, suspension grids, and floating ceilings, serving education, healthcare, and commercial office sectors primarily through UK and Ireland distributor networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Suspended Ceiling Systems

akta.pro primary industry

Ceiling Boards, Plasterboard Tiles & Suspension-Compatible Gypsum Products (IMADAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Drywall, Partitions & Suspended Ceilings (IMAFANAG)

Keywords

• Suspended ceiling tiles
• Acoustic ceiling systems
• Ceiling grid suspension
• Mineral fibre ceilings
• Wall acoustic absorbers

Headquarters

HQ city

Gateshead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Acoustic Ceiling Tiles: Sale of mineral fibre suspended ceiling tiles including wall-to-wall solutions, floating ceilings, decorative options, and specialised variants for healthcare, education, laboratories, and commercial kitchens.
2. Suspended Ceiling Grids: Sale of suspension systems including Gridline 15 and Gridline 24 ranges, corrosion-resistant variants, clean room grids, and accessories.
3. Floating Ceiling Solutions: Sale of canopies, baffles, DecoFrame Kit canopy frame and tile systems, and Sonify by Zentia customisable acoustic ceiling solutions.
4. Grid Accessories: Sale of perimeter trims, blind boxes, clips, transitions, aluminium profiles and other suspended ceiling grid accessories.
5. Wall Absorbers: Sale of wall acoustic absorbers including Sonify Wall Absorbers (decorative, 34+ colours) and standard Zentia Wall Absorbers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zentia manufactures and supplies complete suspended ceiling solutions, including mineral fibre acoustic ceiling tiles, metal ceiling grid suspension systems, floating ceilings (canopies and baffles), wall absorbers, and grid accessories. Products are produced at the company's Gateshead factories and sold exclusively through a network of UK and Ireland distributors to specifiers, contractors, and end customers across education, healthcare, commercial office, retail, hospitality, laboratory, and transportation sectors. Zentia also offers specification services, BIM/CAD support, an acoustic calculator, RIBA/RIAI-approved CPD courses, and an Installation School.

Product overview

Zentia is a UK manufacturer of complete ceiling solutions offering a comprehensive portfolio of acoustic ceiling tiles, suspension systems, floating ceilings, grid accessories, and wall absorbers. The product portfolio is organized into four main categories: (1) Suspended Ceiling Tiles including Prestige, Oplia, Aruba, Fission, and Biobloc families plus specialised tiles for humidity, clean room, and hygiene applications; (2) Ceiling Grid Suspension Systems under the Gridline brand (Gridline 24, Gridline 15, Gridline System Z) with variants for clean room and corrosive environments; (3) Floating Ceilings comprising the DecoFrame Kit canopy systems and Sonify by Zentia - an innovative customizable acoustic ceiling system featuring canopies, baffles, and wall absorbers with 17 panel shapes and 35 colours; (4) Wall Absorbers including Sonify Wall Absorbers in 34 colours. Supporting services include an Acoustic Calculator tool, NBS Source specification integration, BIM Objects, Sonify 3D Studio design service, RIBA-approved CPD courses, and Installation School training. The company operates factory locations in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Suspended Ceiling Tiles Mineral fibre acoustic ceiling tiles for wall-to-wall ceiling installations across education, healthcare, commercial offices, retail, hospitality, and clean room environments. Includes the Prestige, Oplia, Aruba, Fission, Biobloc, Serene, Titan, Hydrabloc, Cleantech, Arena, Bene, Acousta, Aquabloc, Mezzguard, Obsidian, VynaBoard, DecoMesh, and Ebro AB product families with variants for high humidity, clean room, antimicrobial, and high sound absorption applications.
• Gridline Ceiling Grid Suspension Systems 24mm and 15mm exposed and concealed ceiling grid suspension systems, including standard Gridline 24, Gridline 15, Gridline System Z, plus variants for clean room (Gridline 24 Clean) and corrosive-resistant environments. Used by installers and contractors to mount acoustic ceiling tiles.
• Sonify by Zentia Customisable acoustic ceiling and wall system combining canopies, baffles, and wall absorbers with the patented Sonify Create grid suspension system, offering 17 panel shapes, 35 standard colours, and a 30-year warranty when purchased with grid. Awarded iF Design Award 2025. For architects and interior designers specifying distinctive acoustic ceiling installations.
• DecoFrame Kit Canopy Systems Frame and tile canopy systems (Classic, Circle & Curved, Blade) for floating ceiling installations. Can be used with almost any Zentia ceiling tile for decorative acoustic ceiling effects.
• Zentia Canopies and Baffles Ready-to-install canopy and baffle panels for floating ceiling applications with semi-concealed or concealed mounting for flexible acoustic management and visual effects.
• Sonify Wall Absorbers Decorative wall absorbers available in 34 colours, mountable with adhesive or via the Sonify grid system for an airgap behind the panel. Complements Sonify ceiling solutions.
• Zentia Wall Absorbers Clean and simple white wall absorbers for sound absorption in commercial environments.
• Gridline Aluminium Grid Accessories Aluminium grid accessories including perimeter trims, blind boxes, profiles, transitions, clips, and other suspended ceiling grid installation accessories formerly branded as Axiom.
• Zentia Acoustic Calculator Online tool helping architects and specifiers check ceiling product performance against acoustic standards using the Sabine formula. A three-step process covers room dimensions, apertures, and product selection.
• Product Selector Online tool helping users find suitable ceiling products for projects by selecting from wall-to-wall, floating, and decorative ranges.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Courses RIBA and RIAI approved CPD courses covering fire systems, acoustics, and health and wellbeing, delivered in-person or online by architectural consultants. Lunch and Learn sessions available.
• Installation School Award-winning (FIS Training Awards 2025) training facility providing hands-on learning about ceiling products and installation, open to installers, distributors, architects, and designers.
• Factory Tours Tours of the Gateshead mineral fibre and grid factories followed by a visit to the Innovation Centre, offered to specifiers and other construction professionals.
• Sonify 3D Studio Design Service Expert design service providing 3D visualizations, Revit models, and CAD support for Sonify ceiling designs through a five-step process from concept to installation specification.
• NBS Source Integration Specification support service integrated with NBS (National Building Specification) allowing architects to add Zentia products to NBS specifications directly from the Acoustic Calculator and access documents such as NBS K40s.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% faster installation with Sonify Create grid system compared to traditional canopy and baffle systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NBS (National Building Specification)coreTechnology or IntegrationNBS Source partnership providing specification support. Zentia products are integrated into NBS specifications allowing architects to directly specify Zentia products in their building specifications.
• Barbour Product SearchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct information distribution partnership through Barbour's digital platform for construction products.
• RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIBA-approved CPD course provider. Zentia delivers accredited continuing professional development courses for architects covering fire systems, acoustics, and health and wellbeing.
• RIAI (Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIAI-approved CPD course provider for Irish architects. Zentia offers accredited training for continuing professional development requirements.
• Pinnacle PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of approved installers trained and certified in Zentia product installation. Pinnacle Partners provide expert installation services for customers purchasing Zentia ceiling solutions.
• Material Source StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Material Source Studio in Manchester, a physical space for architects to explore product and material options. Zentia maintains a presence for product showcase and client engagement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Zentia_UK

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zentia