What Corex Honeycomb does

Corex Honeycomb is the only UK-based manufacturer of both unexpanded and expanded aluminium honeycomb core, operating as a division of Encocam Ltd since the company's founding in 1988. Its core technology centres on the hexagonal cell structure derived from bee hive geometry, manufactured by bonding aluminium sheets and expanding them into honeycomb; the company offers two alloy grades (3003 and 5052), cell sizes from 1/8" (3.2mm) to 1" (25.4mm), thicknesses from 3mm to 500mm, and a proprietary SuperFlex flexible variant for curved panel applications. Beyond aluminium, the product portfolio extends to polypropylene honeycomb and Nomex/Kevlar aramid paper honeycomb for flame-resistant and high-strength applications, supported by an in-house test laboratory capable of dynamic testing up to 35KJ kinetic energy and FE modelling and validation.

The company generates revenue primarily through direct B2B sales of honeycomb materials to industrial customers across rail, automotive and motorsport, marine, wind energy, architecture and construction, and general industrial segments. Pricing is quote-based for custom orders, while standard sizes are available off-the-shelf through the Corex Express online shop with worldwide shipping. Corex goes to market through a sales-led motion anchored by direct technical engagement, supported by multilingual staff and an exhibition-led presence at major industry events (JEC World, InnoTrans, Advanced Engineering, Railtex, Composites Europe). Enterprise customers typically reach Corex through system integrator partnerships with composite panel manufacturers such as TRB Lightweight Structures, Satys, MCT Engineering, Gilcrest Manufacturing, and Dartford Composites.

Corex supplies reference projects across multiple sectors, including Eurostar high-speed train doors, Heathrow Personal Rapid Transit Pod chassis and floors (via TRB), Hitachi Class 800 train interiors, the Jaguar I-Pace race car flooring, Formula Student vehicles, and architectural installations including the British Museum and Berkeley Hotel canopy. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001:2015, and Wheelmark rail certifications, and operates a 100% recyclable production process with zero waste to landfill. Its parent group Encocam Ltd also operates adjacent divisions in energy absorption, crash testing, and motorsport engineering, providing structural support and cross-divisional collaboration.

Name

Corex Honeycomb

Legal name

Encocam Ltd

Website

https://corex-honeycomb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Corex Honeycomb is the only UK manufacturer of unexpanded and expanded aluminium honeycomb cores, supplying direct B2B customers and panel integrators across rail, automotive and motorsport, marine, wind energy, architecture, and industrial applications worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntingdon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aluminium Honeycomb Core Sales: Sale of aluminium honeycomb core materials in various forms (expanded/unexpanded, full blocks/cut slices, perforated/unperforated) to industrial customers. Primary revenue stream.
2. Specialty Honeycomb Materials: Sale of SuperFlex flexible honeycomb, polypropylene honeycomb, Nomex and Kevlar aramid paper honeycomb to customers requiring specialized properties like flame resistance or flexibility.
3. Testing Services: Laboratory testing services for customers including Lap Shear, T-Peel, Climbing Drum, Flatwise Tensile and Dynamic testing using Universal Test Machines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Corex Honeycomb manufactures and supplies aluminium honeycomb core materials (plus aramid paper and polypropylene honeycomb) for composite sandwich panel construction across rail, marine, automotive, construction, and wind energy industries. It operates the only UK facility producing both unexpanded and expanded aluminium honeycomb in multiple alloy grades, cell sizes, and thicknesses, supported by in-house mechanical and dynamic testing services and a Corex Express e-commerce storefront for standard products.

Product overview

Corex Honeycomb is the only UK manufacturer of aluminium honeycomb core materials, offering a comprehensive portfolio of honeycomb products for sandwich panel construction. The core product line includes standard hexagonal aluminium honeycomb and SuperFlex flexible aluminium honeycomb (both in 3003 and 5052 alloy grades), Nomex and Kevlar aramid paper honeycomb, and polypropylene honeycomb. These materials are supplied in various forms (expanded/unexpanded, full blocks/cut slices, perforated/unperforated) with cell sizes ranging from 1/8" to 1". Supporting offerings include energy absorbers for defence and aerospace applications, test laboratory facilities for quality verification, and the Corex Express online shop for standard product purchases. The products serve industries including rail, marine, automotive, construction, architecture, and wind energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aluminium Honeycomb Standard hexagonal cell aluminium honeycomb core manufactured in two alloy grades (3003 and 5052), supplied in expanded or unexpanded formats, full blocks or cut slices, perforated or unperforated. Used as a structural lightweight material with high strength-to-weight ratio for composite sandwich panels in rail, marine, automotive, construction, and aerospace applications.
• SuperFlex Flexible Aluminium Honeycomb Flexible aluminium honeycomb with adapted cell geometry that allows bending and flexing for curved, spherical, and cylindrical surface applications while retaining the same properties as standard aluminium honeycomb. Available in the same 3003 and 5052 alloy grades.
• Nomex Aramid Paper Honeycomb Flame-resistant aramid paper honeycomb core providing lightweight structural support with thermal insulation properties. Available in industrial and aerospace grades for applications requiring formability for 3D shapes and flame retardancy.
• Kevlar Aramid Paper Honeycomb High-strength aramid paper honeycomb core known for durability, rigidity, and penetration resistance. Available in aerospace grade for applications requiring lightweight structural support with flame-resistant properties.
• Polypropylene Honeycomb Thermoplastic honeycomb material offering corrosion and moisture resistance with reduced noise and vibrations for lightweight assembly. Suitable for commercial vehicle construction, boat building, rail, and wind power systems.
• Test Laboratory Facilities and Testing Services Comprehensive mechanical and dynamic testing services for aluminium honeycomb structures, including Lap Shear (ASTM D1002-10), T-Peel (ASTM D1876-08), Climbing Drum (ASTM D1781-98), Flatwise Tensile (ASTM C297/C296M-16) quasi-static tests, and Dynamic Testing with a Gravity Sled Facility capable of up to 35KJ kinetic energy, plus FE Modelling and Validation. Tests are performed on Universal Test Machines and serve aerospace, defence, nuclear material handling, and industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% recyclable aluminium - 0% production waste goes to landfill
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Encocam LtdcoreOthersParent company of Corex Honeycomb. Encocam Ltd established in 1988 by Mike Ashmead. Corex Honeycomb was founded when Encocam began manufacturing its own aluminium honeycomb to reduce reliance on external suppliers. Encocam operates multiple divisions including BCP, Cellbond, Euro Road Safety (ERS), Herald Motor Company, Mykon, Racetek and Stonehill Engineering.
• TRB Lightweight StructurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration on transportation projects including Heathrow Personal Rapid Transit Pod development (chassis and floor) and Hitachi Class 800 train interiors as part of the UK Intercity Express Programme.
• SatyscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench industrial group. Corex Honeycomb has been supplying Satys Interiors Railway division with aluminium honeycomb for over 10 years. Satys uses honeycomb for train floors, tables and partitions. Satys operates 4 sites globally with 300 staff in rail sector, producing 50,000 SQM of composite panels annually.
• TWI LtdstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU funded wind turbine project collaboration. Corex Honeycomb manufactured 9.7m rotor blade and TWI provided sensor technology. Two sections bonded together on site for Embedded Early Failure Crack Detection Sensor project.
• MCT EngineeringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist composite manufacturer with over 20 years experience working with OEMs in Automotive and Motorsport industries. Corex supplies aluminium honeycomb currently used in Jaguar I-Pace race car flooring. MCT has over 75 employees and internal training college.
• Gilcrest ManufacturingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBristol-based composite panel manufacturer. Long-standing relationship supplying aluminium honeycomb for various projects including British Museum floor panels and Royal Garden Hotel wall panels.
• Dartford CompositesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner on Eurotunnel Vehicle Shuttle project supplying composite panels with Corex aluminium honeycomb.
• Oxford Brookes RacingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFormula Student racing team sponsorship. Corex provides aluminium honeycomb for monocoque chassis and end plate of racing car. Sponsorship ongoing for multiple years. Team uses honeycomb in both combustion and electric Formula Student vehicles.
• Team Bath RacingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormula Student sponsorship. Corex supplies honeycomb core for chassis and aerodynamic devices. Partnership spans multiple years.
• Full Blue Racing (Cambridge University)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity of Cambridge racing team sponsorship. Corex proud sponsors.
• Stonehill EngineeringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of Encocam group. Collaboration on Oxford Brookes Racing project providing parts for racing car.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hexcel Corporation: Hexcel is the world's largest publicly listed manufacturer of advanced composites including aluminium and aramid (Nomex) honeycomb cores. It is comparable to Corex as a direct honeycomb competitor serving aerospace, defence, rail, wind, and industrial markets, but operates at vastly greater scale and with much broader global footprint.
• Pacific Panels / PPG Aerospace: PPG Aerospace (including the legacy Pacific Panels / HEXION honeycomb product lines) manufactures honeycomb core materials used in aerospace and industrial sandwich panels. It is comparable to Corex as a honeycomb core supplier to OEM and Tier 1 panel customers, but operates at much larger scale within a diversified coatings and specialty materials portfolio.

Others

• TRB Lightweight Structures: TRB Lightweight Structures is a UK-based manufacturer of lightweight composite sandwich panels using honeycomb cores from Corex and other suppliers, serving rail, road, marine, and aerospace customers. It is comparable as a customer/ecosystem participant rather than a direct honeycomb competitor — TRB integrates Corex cores into finished panels for projects like the Heathrow PRT and Hitachi Class 800.

Regional players

• Tasuns Composite Technology: Tasuns is a China-based manufacturer and supplier of aluminium honeycomb cores, panels, and composite materials for rail interiors, construction, and marine applications. It competes with Corex in global rail and architectural panel markets, particularly on price in Asia and emerging markets.
• Showa Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd. Showa Aircraft is a Japanese manufacturer of aluminium honeycomb and aramid honeycomb cores primarily serving Asia-Pacific aerospace, rail, and industrial customers. It is comparable to Corex as a honeycomb core manufacturer but operates predominantly in Japan/APAC rather than competing directly in Corex's European home market.

Direct peers

• Plascore Inc. Plascore is a US-based manufacturer of aluminium honeycomb cores, polypropylene honeycomb, and aramid fibre honeycomb for marine, automotive, aerospace, and construction applications. It directly overlaps Corex's product range (aluminium, PP, Nomex/Kevlar honeycomb) and serves the same sandwich panel fabricator customer base.
• Argosy International: Argosy International is a US-headquartered supplier and manufacturer of composite materials including aluminium honeycomb, supplying aerospace, defence, transportation, and industrial markets. It is comparable to Corex as a competing honeycomb distributor/manufacturer serving global Tier 1 panel fabricators.
• Advanced Honeycomb Technologies: Advanced Honeycomb Technologies is a US specialty manufacturer of aluminium and aramid honeycomb cores for aerospace, marine, and industrial sandwich panel applications. It is a direct competitor to Corex in custom honeycomb specifications and small-to-mid volume orders serving panel fabricators.
• EURO-COMPOSITES S.A. EURO-COMPOSITES is a Luxembourg-based manufacturer of aluminium and Nomex honeycomb cores and sandwich panels, supplying aerospace, defence, rail, and industrial customers in Europe. It is a direct peer to Corex with overlapping product portfolio and similar end markets, but operates from continental Europe with larger scale.
• Gillcore (Gill Industries): Gillcore is a US manufacturer of aluminium honeycomb cores for aerospace, defence, and transportation sandwich panel applications. It directly competes with Corex in the aluminium honeycomb segment and serves similar panel fabricator and OEM customers in rail, marine, and industrial markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/corex_honeycomb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqAB_SV_s3O6JAsWpct_u3g
• Facebookfacebook.com/corexhoneycomb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corexhoneycomb

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Corex Honeycomb