What Aquobex does

Aquobex Limited was a UK-based flood resilience solutions provider founded in 2010 and headquartered at the Harwell Science Park, with a test facility co-located at the BRE campus in Watford. The company offered a comprehensive portfolio combining physical flood resistance products and resilient repair solutions: the Floodguard range of certified flood doors (uPVC, steel, heritage, monocoque) and aperture barriers (clip-in, screw-in, slot-in, swing gate); the Rapidam range of mobile barriers (Rigid aluminium, Flexi fabric, Tube water-filled); complementary engineered products (Floodbreak automatic barriers, Accredit roller shutters, Aquafragma, Aquaburg, ReadyAquawall); and the FloodRecover portfolio of flood-resilient kitchens, waterproofing, and interior systems. Proprietary technology centred on patented ISIS Technology for uPVC doors and the award-winning Rapidam barrier family.

The business operated four monetisation streams: one-time hardware sales through enterprise direct sales, a regional UK installer network, international distributors, and a worldwide online shop; professional services including flood risk assessment, tailored design, consultancy, and emergency response planning; BRE-based PAS1188-1 and FM2510 product testing offered to third parties; and the FloodRecover brand portfolio. Customers spanned energy (EDF, 300+ passive barriers across French nuclear sites), retail (Walmart), professional services (PwC), banking (National Bank of Oman), defence (British Aerospace), beverage manufacturing (Diageo), and government bodies (Essex County Council, Government of Mauritius). Pricing was predominantly quote-based for enterprise projects with unit pricing for smaller online shop SKUs.

On 16 May 2023, Aquobex Limited entered liquidation with Begbies Traynor as insolvency practitioners and its assets were purchased by Stamford Creations Limited, which now trades as Apex Flood Solutions. Aquobex Technologies Limited continues to operate as a separate entity focused on IoT, big data, and machine-learning tools for disaster management.

Name

Aquobex

Legal name

Aquobex Limited

Website

https://aquobex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aquobex was a UK-based flood resilience solutions provider offering certified flood doors, barriers, mobile defences, and resilient repair products alongside consultancy and BRE-based testing services to enterprise, government, and residential customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flood Protection Equipment

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Flood Control & Protection Infrastructure (Levees, Floodwalls, Gates, Pump Stations) (EUANAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Flood Response & Incident Management (Temporary Barriers, Debris Removal) (EUANAEAL), Real-Time Monitoring & Smart Stormwater (Sensors, SCADA/IoT, RTC) (EUANAEAK), Flood Risk Modeling, Mapping & Forecasting (Hydrology/Hydraulics, Digital Twins) (EUANAEAH)

Keywords

• Flood protection products
• Flood resilience solutions
• Mobile flood barriers
• Flood risk management
• Flood resilient repairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwell

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flood Protection Product Sales: One-time product sales of flood barriers, flood doors, flood gates, and related equipment. Products include Floodguard range (uPVC doors, steel doors, heritage doors, clip-in barriers, screw-in barriers, slot-in barriers), Rapidam mobile barriers, and engineered flood products. Available through online shop worldwide and via approved installers.
2. Professional Services and Consultancy: Consultancy services including flood risk assessment, tailored flood solutions design, emergency flood response planning, asset condition surveys, and property portfolio analysis. Services delivered by qualified specialists with extensive regulatory authority experience.
3. Testing and Certification Services: Product testing and certification services offered to industry for PAS1188-1 and FM2510 testing. Testing carried out independently by BSi or BRE, with Aquobex providing representation on drafting committees.
4. FloodRecover Brand Portfolio: Launched brand portfolio enabling cost effective and insurable flood resilient repairs to properties. Includes partnerships with manufacturers and installers for flood resilient kitchen, waterproofing, and interior solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Aquobex designs, manufactures, distributes and installs certified flood protection products and complementary flood resilient solutions, combined with specialist consultancy, testing and certification services. Its Floodguard range covers permanently installed flood doors and barriers; its Rapidam range covers deployable mobile flood barriers; it also offers pumps, non-return valves, tanking, waterproofing and flood resilient interiors. Revenue is generated through direct enterprise sales, an online shop, regional approved installers and international distributors, plus a professional services arm covering flood risk assessment, tailored solutions design, emergency planning and asset condition surveys.

Product overview

Aquobex is a flood resilience solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of flood protection products and professional services. The product range consists primarily of two branded families: the Floodguard range of permanently installed flood barriers, flood doors and aperture barriers (including uPVC, steel, heritage and monocoque flood doors; clip-in, screw-in, slot-in and swing gate barriers; vent covers; enclosures; curtain walls; and glass walls); and the Rapidam range of mobile flood barriers (Rapidam Rigid aluminium barriers, Rapidam Flexi fabric barriers, and Rapidam Tube/Eco Dam water-filled tubes). Beyond branded products, Aquobex distributes complementary flood products including Floodbreak automatic passive barriers, Accredit roller shutters, Spring Dam, Aquafragma, Aquaburg, ReadyAquawall, Floodtite, Floodgate, and Pivot/Drop-Down barriers. The company also offers resilient interior and infrastructure solutions: Non-Return Valves, Flusher devices, Internal/External Tanking, Closed Cell Insulation, Wall Waterproofing, Flood Resilient Kitchens, Dragonboard, Pumps and Sumps, and ECO 90 groundwater recharge pumps. Services include Product Testing and Certification (BRE-based PAS1188/FM2510 testing), Tailored Flood Solutions design and installation, Flood Risk Assessment and Management, Consultancy, Emergency Flood Response Planning (including Flood Protection as a Service/FPaaS), and Asset Condition Surveys. Two sub-brands extend the portfolio: FloodRecover™ for flood resilient repairs, and Aquobex Technologies for IoT, big data and machine-learning tools for multi-hazard early warning. The company went into liquidation in May 2023; assets were purchased by Stamford Creations Limited trading as Apex Flood Solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Floodguard: In-house range of flood barriers and flood doors for installation into the built environment
• Rapidam
• FloodRecover™
• Aquobex Technologies

Products and services

• Floodguard uPVC Flood Door BSI Kitemark PAS1188-1:2014 certified flood door with patented ISIS Technology™ that acts as a normally-closed barrier up to a pre-determined height, available in single and double configurations with zero to near-zero leakage rates. Designed for residential and commercial buildings.
• Floodguard Monocoque Door

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 passive barriers installed across EDF nuclear power stations in France following Fukushima requirements
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AvivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquobex is proud to partner with Aviva to provide best-in-class flood protection products and flood management services tailored to individual requirements. This partnership enables Aviva customers to access certified flood protection solutions.
• I-REACTflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs one of 20 selected International partners, Aquobex's involvement in the i-React project focuses on proactively saving lives and communities across the world. Project combines best practice emergency response with big data management and new technologies to improve prediction and management of natural disasters including floods, wildfires, and extreme weather.
• ShoothillcoreTechnology or IntegrationFlood mapping partner creating award winning, bespoke solutions for bringing data to life through rich interactive applications. Powers Aquobex's live flood alerts and risk mapping tools.
• FloodBreakcoreTechnology or IntegrationFloodBreak automatic floodgates are passive flood barriers that deploy without human intervention or power for permanent, 24/7 flood protection. Aquobex is sole partner in UK, with FloodBreak providing over 300 passive barriers for EDF nuclear power stations.
• Business in the Community (BITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquobex is a member of the Business Emergency Response Group (BERG) which is part of the Prince of Wales' Business in the Community - the responsible business network. Supports emergency response and community resilience initiatives.
• KWT MilieucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKWT Milieu brings Rapidam and Floodguard products to Netherlands and Belgium. Part of Bergschenhoek Group since 2007 with worldwide activities coordinated from head office in Netherlands.
• GreensurftekcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGreensurftek brings Rapidam and Floodguard products to Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, expanding Aquobex's presence in Southeast Asian markets.
• PCA (Property Care Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Property Care Association is the trade association representing specialists across the UK who can be trusted to resolve problems affecting buildings. Aquobex is a member and active participant in developing the Property Flood Resilience Code of Conduct with CIRIA.
• HR WallingfordflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking in partnership with leading research partner HR Wallingford on the RAFT Project (Flood Resilient Property) bringing together UK stakeholders including BRE and PCA. Live demonstrations illustrate how quickly flooded areas can be recovered.
• Baca ArchitectsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning Baca Architects collaborating on RAFT Project for flood resilient property demonstrations. Partnership develops sustainable flood solutions for domestic, commercial and retail properties.
• BRE (Building Research Establishment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRE hosts Aquobex's test facility at their campus in Watford. BRE is the home of UK testing in the built environment including fire, security and structural testing. Facility utilized by BSI and BRE for flood product testing.
• Strata GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved installer of Floodguard uPVC Doors and Smart Airbricks covering Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Greater Manchester. Reputation built in domestic and commercial sectors as preferred supplier to schools, colleges, architects and specifiers.
• Floodsafe ProjectscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved installer of Floodguard uPVC Doors, Floodguard Steel Doors, Floodguard Clip-in Barriers, Floodguard Screw-in Barriers and Smart Airbricks covering Cumbria, Northumbria, Lancashire. Experienced in managing entire PLP schemes and complicated flood protection solutions.
• NicconcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNiccon partnership announced to offer world-class flood protection to the Japanese market. Strategic expansion into Asian market through established local partner.
• MA AssistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMA Assist is one of the UK's leading Integrated Property Services companies. Strategic partnership expands Aquobex's service delivery capabilities.
• OG KitchenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at launch of FloodRecover brand, providing flood resilient kitchen solutions as part of the portfolio enabling cost effective and insurable flood resilient repairs.
• Delta MembranescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at launch of FloodRecover brand for waterproofing and damp-proofing solutions as part of flood resilient repair portfolio.
• TimberwisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at launch of FloodRecover brand for flood resilient repair solutions as part of enabling insurable flood resilient repairs to properties.
• FloodFlashminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferral partnership with FloodFlash offering rapid-payout insurance. FloodFlash pays claims within 48 hours for catastrophic flooding, with affordable cover enabled by flood barrier installations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FloodBreak: US-headquartered designer of automatic, passive flood barriers that deploy without power or human intervention. Partnered with Aquobex on the EDF nuclear deployment, and competes head-to-head in the same passive-barrier category.
• IBS Engineered Products: Designer and manufacturer of flood barrier systems including automatic and passive barriers for utilities, transit, and commercial sites. Closely comparable to Aquobex in deploying certified passive barriers to critical infrastructure.
• Walney Engineering: UK fabricator of flood defence products including demountable barriers, flood gates, and stainless steel flood defence systems. Direct UK peer to Aquobex's Floodguard engineered-products line.
• HSI Services (Hydraulic Specialists Inc.): US firm specialising in flood protection products and services including barriers, flood doors, and water-inflated systems. Comparable mobile and permanent flood barrier portfolio to Aquobex's Rapidam and Floodguard ranges.
• Flood Control International: UK-based manufacturer and supplier of flood barriers, flood doors, and demountable defences serving residential, commercial, and infrastructure clients. Direct overlap with Aquobex's Floodguard and Rapidam ranges across the UK and international project market.
• Mackenzie Industries: Flood barrier and flood gate manufacturer serving commercial, residential and infrastructure customers globally. Comparable to Aquobex in product scope (barriers, gates, demountable systems) and customer type (enterprise and government).
• StormMeister: UK flood protection specialist producing flood doors, barriers, and anti-flood airbricks for residential and commercial properties. Competes with Aquobex's Floodguard uPVC door and Clip-in/Slot-in barrier lines in the UK retrofit market.

Emerging players

• Hydro International: Stormwater management and flood mitigation technology provider offering SuDS, separators, and smart monitoring. Tangentially comparable to Aquobex through flood risk monitoring and stormwater adjacency rather than direct product competition.

Broad incumbents

• FloodFlash: UK-based parametric flood insurance provider that partners with Aquobex for property-level flood resilience certification. Adjacent rather than competing: enables Aquobex installations to qualify for rapid-payout cover.

Others

• Property Care Association: UK trade association for building preservation specialists including flood protection. Aquobex is a member and active in the Property Flood Resilience Code of Conduct; serves as an industry body peer and standards shaper.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aquobex
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquobex

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Aquobex