Core Composites
Core Composites is a Bristol, Rhode Island-based distributor of advanced composite materials and engineering services, serving defense (US Army, Marines, Navy), marine, wind, aerospace, and transportation customers with carbon fiber, structural cores, vacuum infusion consumables, and engineered military shelters through its sister company Tactical Composites.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersBristol, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Core Composites does
Core Composites is a privately held distributor of advanced composite materials and project engineering firm headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, operating as a division of ROM Development Corporation under owner and president Rich O'Meara. The company distributes a broad catalog of reinforcement and core materials — carbon fiber fabrics (unidirectional, plain weave, twill, braided), PET and PVC structural foam cores, end-grain balsa, Nomex/Kevlar/aluminum honeycomb, CoreCork, and ProVac vacuum infusion consumables — sourced through authorized partnerships with global manufacturers including 3A Composites, Toray Carbon Fibers America, Zoltek, Plascore, Amorim, A&P Technology, and The Gill Corporation. Distribution serves marine, wind, aerospace, transportation, infrastructure, defense, and recreation industries through direct B2B sales via website, phone, email, and freight/parcel shipping, with no public pricing (custom quotes only).
Beyond distribution, Core Composites runs a parallel project/program management business delivering engineered composite structures, primarily for the US Department of Defense. Through a sister-company relationship with Tactical Composites, it has served as prime or subcontractor on programs including the Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future (JWSOF, second generation completed December 2022), the 20-foot 3:1 expandable US Army shelter (production-ready 2016), Rigid Walled Shelter Retrofit & Modification Kits for the US Army Medical Department (20 units delivered 2016-2017 under contract W911QY-14-C-0012), a 10-foot expandable Marine Corps EMC shelter (CSC-certified 2017), an EMI-shielded rigid wall shelter, 7-foot military pod shelters, the SHARC autonomous amphibious landing craft (Navy SBIR Phase II in 2024), and a T-22 ground-based radome for L3 Harris. Defense work is Berry Compliant and the company leverages its material supply position plus four-decade-deep engineering relationships (O'Meara has consulted for 3A Composites, Toray, Dupont, and AGY-S2 Glass) to compete on complex, low-volume, high-engineering-value programs.
Core Composites firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Core Composites
- Legal name
- Core Composites, A Division of ROM Development Corporation
- Website
- https://corecomposites.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Core Composites is a Bristol, Rhode Island-based distributor of advanced composite materials and engineering services, serving defense (US Army, Marines, Navy), marine, wind, aerospace, and transportation customers with carbon fiber, structural cores, vacuum infusion consumables, and engineered military shelters through its sister company Tactical Composites.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Core Composites industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Composite Materials Distribution
- NAICS
- Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522), Unlaminated Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing (326113), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133)
- SIC
- Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)
- akta.pro primary industry
- FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials) (IMAJAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sandwich Panels & Core Materials (Foam, Balsa, Honeycomb) (IMAJAKAD), Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB), Prefab Hull Blocks & Modular Ship Sections (IMAJAKAE)
Keywords
Where Core Composites is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Core Composites business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Composite Material Distribution: Global distribution of advanced composite materials including carbon fiber fabrics, fiberglass reinforcements, structural foam cores (PET, PVC, balsa), honeycomb cores, cork core, vacuum infusion consumables, epoxies, and tooling board to marine, wind, aerospace, transportation, infrastructure, defense, and recreation industries.
- Defense Shelter Development Programs: Prime contractor and subcontractor roles on US military shelter development programs including Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future (JWSOF), EMI shielding shelters, and expandable military shelters. Revenue from design, development, and production of composite shelter systems.
- Project Management Services: Program management services through partnership with sister company Tactical Composites to project manage complex composite engineering programs from concept through production.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Core Composites product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Core Composites is a Rhode Island-based distributor of advanced composite materials (carbon fiber fabrics, fiberglass reinforcements, structural foam cores, honeycomb cores, cork core, vacuum infusion consumables, epoxies, and tooling board) serving marine, wind, aerospace, transportation, infrastructure, defense, and recreation industries. The company also partners with sister company Tactical Composites to design, develop, and manufacture composite military shelter solutions and specialized programs including the Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future (JWSOF), expandable Army/Marine shelters, EMI-shielded shelters, and the SHARC autonomous landing craft.
Product overview
Core Composites is a Rhode Island-based distributor of advanced composite materials and project management company. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of reinforcement fabrics (carbon fiber, fiberglass), structural core materials (PET foam, PVC foam, end-grain balsa, honeycomb, cork), vacuum infusion consumables, and assembled solutions. Through its sister company Tactical Composites, Core Composites also provides military shelter solutions including the Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future (JWSOF), expandable Army/Marine shelters, EMI-shielded shelters, pod shelters, and specialized projects like the SHARC autonomous landing craft and T-22 radome. The company leverages a global network of manufacturers including 3A Composites, Toray, Zoltek, and others to serve marine, wind, aerospace, transportation, infrastructure, defense, and recreation industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Carbon Fiber Products Carbon fiber fabric reinforcements including unidirectional, plain weave, twill, and triaxial braided styles in various weights (150gsm to 600gsm) and widths (12" to 52"), compatible with vinyl ester and epoxy sizings. For composite manufacturers in marine, aerospace, and industrial sectors.
- Vacuum Bag Consumables Vacuum infusion and bagging materials including general purpose vacuum bag film, nylon and polyester release fabric, release film, high-flow and low-flow infusion mesh, butyl sealant tape, breather fabric, resin feed systems, infusion valves, and connectors (ProVac system). For composite manufacturers using infusion, hand lay-up, or pre-preg processes.
- Honeycomb Core Honeycomb core materials including Nomex (high strength-to-weight ratio and flame retardancy), Kevlar (up to 40% weight savings and improved shear strength), and Aluminum (elevated temperature performance) varieties. For aerospace, defense, and structural composite applications.
- PET Foam Core 3A Composites T90 and T92 structural PET foam cores compatible with all major resin systems. T90 suited for marine stringer systems and transoms; T92 ideal for small decks and internal components. Features styrene resistance, FST properties, and densities from 4.1 to 13 lb/cu. ft.
- PVC Foam Core Cross-linked, closed-cell PVC foam as standard structural foam (AIREX C70). Process-friendly with solid strength and stiffness properties, non-friable, available in densities from 3.7 to 8.1 lb/cu. ft. Suitable for marine hulls, decks, wind turbine blades, and transportation parts.
- End-Grain Balsa Core Structural balsa wood core (3A Baltek) with ideal properties for sandwich construction. Compatible with all manufacturing processes from wet lamination to pre-preg. Available in controlled density (5-18 lb/cu. ft) with high strength-to-weight ratios and fire performance.
- CoreCork Natural and renewable cork core (Amorim CoreCork) with excellent fire, smoke and toxicity characteristics and natural sound insulation. Suitable for marine applications, wind turbine nacelles, rail, automotive, and light aircraft construction. Features 85% compression recovery after severe impact.
- Core Kits Tailored core kit programs utilizing supplier network and CNC machining capabilities. Provides precise and customized core kits for specific program needs with variety of core options (foam, balsa, honeycomb, cork).
- Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future (JWSOF) All-composite, expandable military shelter conforming to 20' ISO container specifications. Features carbon fiber fabric, fire retardant resin, and foam core composite through multi-side infusion. Expands via lightweight composite walls, roofs and floors with estimated R-value of 8-9. For US Army medical/surgical applications.
- 20' 3-to-1 Expandable US Army Shelter Fully integrated 20-foot, two-side expandable composite shelter meeting form, fit and function of existing aluminum/Nomex shelters with 3:1 expansion ratio. Built for the US Army as a lightweight composite alternative to legacy aluminum shelters.
- Hybrid Retrofit Kit for US Army Rigid Walled Shelter Retrofit & Modification Kits (RWS-RMK) for transitioning aluminum shelters to composite materials. Includes expandable floors, fixed floor, and composite corner posts. Country of Origin USA and Berry Compliant. 20' long x 8' wide x 2' high, 2,900 lbs.
- SHARC Autonomous Landing Craft Autonomous beach-breacher catamaran for US Marine Corps. Next generation Small High-Speed Amphibious Role-Variant Craft (S.H.A.R.C.) designed for bow and stern loading/off-loading with bridge capability to beach/dock. Currently in Phase II prototype development.
- 10' 1-Side Expandable Marine Shelter Electronic Maintenance Complex (EMC) 10-foot single side expandable wall shelter for US Marines Communications Electronic Equipment Maintenance Complex. Passed CSC requirements for 9-high stacking with CSC certificate (USA/MC 102/17) and ASTM E1925 standards.
- T-22 Ground-Based Radome Airport ground-based radome designed and built for L3 Harris. Team led redesign to review specifications, adjust panels, refine tooling, and implement reusable vacuum bag solution for panel manufacturing.
- EMI Shielding Rigid Wall Shelter (EMI-CRWS) Electro-Magnetic Interference Composite Rigid Wall Shelter developed as SBIR subcontractor. EMI-shielded, truck-mounted (12.5' x 8' x 7.5') shelter combining advanced EMI multi-functional composite materials with proven composite shelter design for military communications and electronics protection.
- 7' Military Pod Shelters Fast, simple, modular military shelters designed to fit on HCU-6/E or 463L Master Pallet for transporting military air cargo. Entire structure assembles in one hour by two soldiers with modular expansion capability.
- Agricultural POD Units Compact, composite-based mobile agricultural POD units enabling food and plant cultivation in urban areas without soil or open fields. Demonstrated at MIT in collaboration with Technical Fibre Products Incorporated.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40+ years of industry experience in advanced composites
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Core Composites
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Core Composites technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Core Composites partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tactical CompositescoreSister company partnership for program management of complex composite engineering programs including the Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future (JWSOF). Tactical Composites handles program management while Core Composites provides materials and manufacturing expertise.
- Technical Fibre Products IncorporatedminorPartnership in 2014 to develop novel, compact, composite-based, mobile agricultural POD units for demonstration at MIT.
- ADS, Inc.coreDefense supply chain partner that issued purchase orders to Hill Air Force Base for integration of Rigid Walled Shelter Retrofit & Modification Kits sold to US Army Medical Department.
- 3A CompositescoreKey supplier partner for core materials including PET foam (T90, T92), PVC foam (AIREX C70), and end-grain balsa core. Core Composites is authorized distributor.
- Toray Carbon Fibers AmericacoreCarbon fiber supplier (T300, T700S) for high-performance reinforcement fabrics. Core Composites distributes Toray carbon fiber products.
- AmorimcoreSupplier of CoreCork natural cork core materials with excellent fire, smoke, toxicity characteristics and sustainability benefits.
- ZoltekcoreSupplier of PX35 50K carbon fiber for large-format composite applications.
- PlascorecoreSupplier of honeycomb core materials (Nomex, Kevlar, Aluminum) for structural composite applications.
- ProVaccoreSupplier of ProVac vacuum bag infusion consumables including film, mesh, and accessories distributed by Core Composites.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Core Composites competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Plasan: Plasan designs and manufactures lightweight composite armor and structural components for military vehicles and defense applications. Comparable to Core Composites' defense shelter and EMI-shielded composite structures work, sharing the defense prime/subcontractor dynamic.
- Saertex: Saertex is a global manufacturer and supplier of non-crimp fabrics, core materials, and multiaxial reinforcements for composites used in wind energy, marine, aerospace, and transportation. Comparable portfolio and customer verticals to Core Composites.
- Composites One: Composites One is the largest North American distributor of composite materials (resins, reinforcements, cores, consumables) with similar product lines. It is the most directly comparable distribution-only competitor to Core Composites, though it operates at vastly greater scale across multiple verticals.
- Vectorply Corporation: Vectorply designs and manufactures composite reinforcement fabrics (carbon, glass, aramid) for marine, aerospace, wind, and defense markets. It is comparable to Core Composites' carbon fiber and fiberglass reinforcement distribution, though Vectorply produces rather than distributes.
- Fiber-Line International (Now part of James Cropper): Fiber-Line specializes in fiber reinforcements and coated/twisted yarns including aramid, carbon, and other synthetics used in composite applications. Comparable to Core Composites' reinforcement product line serving similar industrial, marine, and defense customers.
Broad incumbents
- TPI Composites: TPI Composites is a global manufacturer of composite wind turbine blades and other composite structures. Comparable composite core, infusion, and carbon-fiber technology to Core Composites, but operating as a vertically integrated prime in wind rather than a multi-vertical distributor.
- Strongwell Corporation: Strongwell is a large incumbent manufacturer of pultruded and molded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) structural products for industrial, infrastructure, and defense applications. Comparable materials and B2B sales motion to Core Composites, but focused on finished FRP parts rather than raw material distribution.
- Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (carbon fiber division): Mitsubishi Chemical produces and supplies carbon fiber, composites, and structural materials globally including for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Comparable to Core Composites' carbon fiber reinforcement product line as a supplier-level peer, but operating at vastly greater scale.
Emerging players
- TCR Composites: TCR Composites supplies composite tooling, raw materials, and processing consumables for aerospace and advanced industrial applications. Comparable to Core Composites' consumables (ProVac, vacuum infusion products) and composite manufacturing know-how for aerospace and defense customers.
- Axiom Materials: Axiom Materials manufactures composite prepregs, films, and adhesives for aerospace, space, and industrial markets. Comparable to Core Composites' portfolio overlap in advanced reinforcement materials and defense/aerospace customer base, but focuses on manufactured film/prepreg products rather than distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Core Composites social profiles
Digital presenceCore Composites compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Core Composites financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Core Composites leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Core Composites subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Core Composites funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Core Composites M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Core Composites
What does Core Composites do?
Core Composites is a Rhode Island-based distributor of advanced composite materials (carbon fiber fabrics, fiberglass reinforcements, structural foam cores, honeycomb cores, cork core, vacuum infusion consumables, epoxies, and tooling board) serving marine, wind, aerospace, transportation, infrastructure, defense, and recreation industries. The company also partners with sister company Tactical Composites to design, develop, and manufacture composite military shelter solutions and specialized programs including the Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future (JWSOF), expandable Army/Marine shelters, EMI-shielded shelters, and the SHARC autonomous landing craft.
Is Core Composites a public or private company?
Core Composites is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Core Composites founded?
Core Composites was founded in 1980. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Core Composites based?
Core Composites is headquartered in Bristol, United States, in the North America region.
How does Core Composites make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Composite Material Distribution is the primary driver. The others are defense Shelter Development Programs and project Management Services.
Who are Core Composites's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Plasan, Saertex, Composites One, Vectorply Corporation and Fiber-Line International (Now part of James Cropper). Broad incumbents are TPI Composites, Strongwell Corporation and Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (carbon fiber division). Emerging players are TCR Composites and Axiom Materials.
Does Core Composites have an API?
No public API is recorded for Core Composites.
What industry is Core Composites in?
Core Composites's product category is Composite Materials Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAKAC, FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials), with a secondary code of IMAJAKAD, Sandwich Panels & Core Materials (Foam, Balsa, Honeycomb). Its NAICS code is 32522 and its SIC code is 3089.