Cristex Composite Materials
Cristex Composite Materials is a UK-based distributor and value-added precision kit-cutting service provider supplying composite reinforcement materials (fibres, fabrics, resins, foams) and CNC cutting services to aerospace, automotive, marine, renewable energy, and industrial manufacturers across the UK and Ireland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersBlackburn, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cristex Composite Materials does
Cristex Composite Materials is a UK-headquartered distributor and value-added manufacturer of composite reinforcement materials, founded in 1990 in Blackburn and operating across the UK and Ireland. The company supplies high-performance fibres and fabrics (woven, multiaxial/NCF, specialist), structural foams, braids and tapes, RTM/infusion consumables, resins and adhesives, treatments, and ancillary tools to composite manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, marine, renewable energy, sports and recreation, and broader industrial sectors. Revenue is generated through one-time material sales (quote-based pricing with no public list price), professional kit cutting and kitting services via the in-house CCK division, slitting and rewinding services, and increasingly through the higher-value Cristex Advanced Materials (CAM) and CCK Aerospace divisions.
The company's competitive position rests on long-tenured UK distributorship agreements with global principals including SAERTEX (multiaxials, since 1990), Eurocarbon (braids/tapes), Elantas/ALTANA (epoxy resins), and Angeloni Group (technical and decorative fabrics). In-house technical capabilities are concentrated in the Cristex Cutting and Kitting (CCK) service, which uses Zünd G3 L3200 CNC cutters (0.003 mm repeatability, 1.4 m/s cutting speed), a Ribamatic slitter handling 3000 mm to 30 mm widths, and digitising software (±0.5 mm accuracy), supplemented by an ISO-approved cleanroom established for the January 2026-launched CCK Aerospace division, which is currently progressing through AS9100 accreditation. The company holds ISO 9001 certification and operates under a sales-led go-to-market model using a UK Sales Manager, regional Technical Sales Representatives, trade show presence (Advanced Engineering Show, JEC World, International Composites Summit), and direct enquiry-based engagement, with no disclosed e-commerce transactional channel.
Operationally, Cristex is a private limited company (Cristex Ltd) led by Managing Director Bruce Craig and Operations Manager Scott Singleton, with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity. The firm has invested steadily in capacity and systems over time, including new digitising software (2017), Zünd G3 cutter (2019), Ribamatic slitter (2021), a customised NetSuite-Oracle ERP (2022), and a third Zünd system (2025), and has participated in industry bodies including the National Composites Centre and Composites UK, reflecting an ongoing strategy of moving up the value chain from pure distribution toward certified, regulated-tier service provision.
Cristex Composite Materials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cristex Composite Materials
- Legal name
- Cristex Ltd
- Website
- https://cristex.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cristex Composite Materials is a UK-based distributor and value-added precision kit-cutting service provider supplying composite reinforcement materials (fibres, fabrics, resins, foams) and CNC cutting services to aerospace, automotive, marine, renewable energy, and industrial manufacturers across the UK and Ireland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cristex Composite Materials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Composite Reinforcement Materials Distribution
- NAICS
- Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials) (IMAJAKAC)
Keywords
Where Cristex Composite Materials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Blackburn
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cristex Composite Materials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Composite Materials Distribution: Cristex generates revenue primarily through the distribution and sale of composite reinforcement materials, including woven fabrics, multiaxials, structural foams, resins/adhesives, braids/tapes, and treatments. The company acts as a UK distributor for several global manufacturers (SAERTEX, Eurocarbon, Elantas, Angeloni Group). Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing quoted on a per-order basis.
- Kit Cutting and Kitting Services (CCK): Cristex operates an in-house kit cutting and kitting service (CCK) providing precision CNC cutting of composite materials to customer specifications. The service is offered as a value-added manufacturing service for customers requiring pre-cut, pre-kitted composite reinforcement pieces. Revenue is generated per project/service engagement.
- Slitting and Rewinding Services: Cristex provides slitting and rewinding services for composite reinforcements, processing materials to customer-specified widths. This is a processing/service-based revenue stream complementing material distribution.
- Cristex Advanced Materials (CAM) Division: CAM is a new division of Cristex focusing on delivering high-performance solutions including PrePregs, Nomex, Honeycomb Cores, Towpregs, UHMWPE and Carbon SMC, expanding the product portfolio beyond distribution into advanced material solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard product pricing – quote-based |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cristex Composite Materials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cristex Composite Materials distributes and supplies a comprehensive range of high-performance composite reinforcement materials — including woven fabrics, multiaxials/non-crimp fabrics, specialist fabrics, structural foams, braids/tapes, RTM/infusion media, resins, structural adhesives, gel coats, treatments, and tooling — to manufacturers in the UK and Ireland. The company also provides in-house precision CNC kit cutting, slitting, and rewinding services through its CCK division, alongside advanced material solutions (PrePregs, Nomex, Honeycomb Cores, Towpregs, UHMWPE, Carbon SMC) via its CAM division, including an ISO-approved cleanroom for aerospace-grade prepregs through CCK Aerospace.
Product overview
Cristex Composite Materials is a distributor and supplier of advanced composite reinforcement materials, operating as a single product portfolio with multiple specialized product lines. The core offering encompasses Woven Fabrics (carbon, glass, specialty), Multiaxials/Non-Crimp Fabrics, Specialist Fabrics, Structural Foams, Braids/Tapes, RTM/Infusion materials, Resins/Adhesives (including Epoxy Resins, Structural Adhesives, Gel Coats, Additives), Treatments, and Tools. Supporting the material portfolio are service divisions including Cristex Cutting & Kitting (CCK) for precision CNC cutting and kitting services, and Cristex Advanced Materials (CAM) for high-performance solutions including PrePregs, Nomex, Honeycomb Cores, Towpregs, UHMWPE and Carbon SMC. Specialty products include Co-Fibre™ hybrid fabrics, SAERTEX LEO fire-resistant coatings, SAERflow structural flow media, and SAERTEX flax fibre non-crimp fabrics. Materials are supplied into aerospace, marine, automotive, renewable energy, sports & recreation, oil & gas, industrial, and caravan sectors across the UK & Ireland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Woven Fabrics Range of woven fabrics including carbon fibre, glass fibre, and specialty woven fabrics for composite reinforcement in aerospace, automotive, marine, and industrial applications.
- Multiaxials (Non-Crimp Fabrics) Non-Crimp Fabrics produced by laying plies of parallel fibres in different orientations and stitching them together; available in glass, carbon, and aramid fibre variants for structural composite laminates.
- Specialist Fabrics Range of specialist fabrics including web-stabilised carbon fibre and unique composites suited to demanding performance applications.
- Structural Foams (SAERfoam) Cost-effective, high-performance, ultra-lightweight structural foam core solutions (including SAERfoam) used as sandwich cores in composite laminates.
- Braids and Tapes (Eurocarbon) Tubular and flat braids, woven tapes, and gusset fillers in glass, carbon, and aramid fibres, supplied in association with Eurocarbon for structural preforms and reinforcements.
- RTM and Infusion Materials (including SAERflow) Closed moulding fabrics and infusion materials for resin transfer moulding and vacuum infusion processes, including SAERflow structural flow media with high resin flow and drape characteristics.
- Resins and Adhesives (Elantas) Epoxy resins, structural adhesives, epoxy gel coats, casting resins, and additives suitable for wet lay-up, vacuum infusion, RTM, press moulding, pultrusion, and filament winding, distributed from Elantas Europe.
- Treatments (SAERfix and surface finishing) Powder coating, surface adhesives (SAERfix), webs, and veils for stabilisation, preforming, and surface improvement in composite laminate production.
- Composite Cutting Tools (Electric Shears) Electric shears capable of cutting through carbon fibre, glass fibre, aramid, decorative fabrics, multiaxial fabrics, needle felt, and related composite materials.
- Co-Fibre™ Hybrid Fabric Innovative hybrid glass-fibre and polypropylene (PP) fabric offering high mechanical properties with exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio and impact properties for automotive, construction, aerospace, industrial, and marine applications.
- SAERTEX LEO Fire-Resistant Coated Fabric Fire-resistant coated fabric with the highest level of fire resistance integrated within the fabric; complies with railway HL3 acc. to EN 45545-2 and is used in floor panels and other safety-critical composite parts.
- SAERflow Structural Flow Media Structural flow media combining glass reinforcement and a lightweight synthetic structure, providing uncompressed layers with excellent resin flow and high drape characteristics for RTM and infusion processes.
- SAERTEX Flax Fibre Non-Crimp Fabrics Bio-based flax fibre non-crimp fabrics with renewable fibres and minimal environmental impact, designed for marine and sports & leisure composite applications.
- Structural Adhesives (Elantas Epoxy) High-strength epoxy resin structural adhesives for bonding carbon fibre, glass fibre (FRP/GRP), aluminium, steel, honeycombs, and ceramics, available in 400 ml cartridge and tin formats.
- ADD UP2 Additive Additive designed for use with polyester and vinylester gel coats in combination with Elantas epoxy resin systems; promotes adhesion and aids curing without affecting mechanical properties.
- EPO-TAK Spray Adhesive Solvent-based modified epoxy resin spray adhesive with 5-minute open time for repositioning composite materials, reducing the risk of cloudy surface finish compared to other spray adhesives.
- CCK (Cristex Cutting & Kitting) Precision CNC Service Precision CNC cutting and kitting services for composite materials including cutting of prepreg composites; available on all fabrics supplied by Cristex with Zünd G3 cutting technology.
- CCK Aerospace (Aerospace-Grade Prepreg Cutting & Kitting) Dedicated cutting and kitting division serving aerospace, motorsport, defence, and advanced industrial customers; operates from an ISO-approved cleanroom providing fully traceable kitting solutions for aerospace-grade prepreg composites.
- Cristex Advanced Materials (CAM) Division Division delivering high-performance advanced composite solutions including PrePregs, Nomex, Honeycomb Cores, Towpregs, UHMWPE, and Carbon SMC alongside ceramic fabric technologies for aerospace and defence.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% material yield achieved through precision kit cutting for Urban Automotive prepreg components
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cristex Composite Materials
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cristex Composite Materials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cristex Composite Materials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- SAERTEX GmbH & Co. KGcoreSAERTEX is the global market leader in multiaxial fabrics (non-crimp fabrics) and core materials for fibre-reinforced composites, with approximately €350 million annual revenue, 1,400 employees, and 14-15 production sites on five continents. Cristex has been a UK distributor for SAERTEX since 1990, representing their full range including multiaxials, SAERTEX LEO fire-resistant coated fabrics, SAERfoam structural cores, and SAERflow infusion media. SAERTEX products serve wind, aerospace, automotive, marine, rail, and construction sectors.
- EurocarboncoreEurocarbon, established in 1982, manufactures braided and woven reinforcements using glass, carbon, and aramid fibres. Cristex supplies the UK market with Eurocarbon's standard and bespoke braided and woven reinforcements including tubular and flat braids, woven tapes, and gusset fillers. The partnership also includes an Overbraiding service for net-shape cost-effective structural preforms.
- Elantas Europe (ALTANA Group)coreElantas Europe is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of epoxy resins, structural adhesives, epoxy gel coats, casting resins, and additives. Cristex distributes Elantas products suitable for wet lay-up, vacuum infusion, RTM, press moulding, vacuum bag infusion, pultrusion, and filament winding processes. Elantas is part of the ALTANA group, a global leader in speciality chemicals.
- G. Angeloni GroupsecondaryAngeloni manufactures an extensive range of fabrics using carbon, aramid, thermoplastic, and hybrid fibres. Founded in 1927, Angeloni has 92+ years of experience and is certified UNI EN ISO 9001:2000. Cristex distributes Angeloni's range including stabilised carbon fabrics, woven carbons, and decorative fabrics primarily used in sporting and automotive applications.
- Terre de LinminorTerre de Lin is a global leader in flax production based in Normandy. SAERTEX (Cristex's principal supplier partner) entered a sustainable partnership with Terre de Lin for flax fibres used in non-crimp fabrics for the marine and sports & leisure markets. This partnership enables Cristex to supply bio-based, renewable composite reinforcements with reduced CO2 footprint.
- National Composites Centre (NCC)minorCristex became an affiliate member of the National Composites Centre (NCC), an open-access technology centre delivering world-class R&D of composites. The affiliate membership provides access to expertise, specialist training courses, networking events, and supports Cristex's strategy toward innovation and sustainability.
- Composites UKminorCristex holds membership with Composites UK, the trade association for the UK composites industry. Through this membership, Cristex receives industry updates, advocacy support, and access to industry events and networking.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cristex Composite Materials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gurit: Swiss-headquartered global composite materials supplier with a strong wind energy core and aerospace/defence materials. Comparable product portfolio (prepregs, core materials, multiaxials) and customer verticals (wind, marine, aerospace).
- SGL Carbon: Global manufacturer of carbon fibre and composite materials serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial. Comparable upstream as a carbon-fibre supplier to the same value chain where Cristex distributes reinforcement fabrics.
- SAERTEX: Global leader in multiaxial (non-crimp) fabrics and core materials for composites, and Cristex's principal supplier since 1990. Comparable in product category but operates at global manufacturer scale across wind, aerospace, marine.
- Hexcel: Global manufacturer of carbon fibre, prepregs, and composite reinforcement materials serving aerospace, defence, and wind. Indirect comparator: supplier of equivalent product classes to the same aerospace/automatic OEMs that Cristex serves via distribution.
Direct peers
- Scott Bader: UK-headquartered manufacturer of composite resins, gelcoats, and adhesives serving marine, wind, automotive and construction globally. Comparable in product category (resins and structural composites) and UK origin, though at much larger scale.
- Composites Evolution: UK-based supplier of natural-fibre and sustainable composite reinforcement materials. Comparable UK/Ireland distributor profile with a differentiated bio-based portfolio overlapping Cristex's flax/SAERTEX sustainable offering.
- PRF Composite Materials: UK manufacturer and distributor of prepreg materials, resins, and reinforcement fabrics for composites. Comparable to Cristex in product range (prepregs, fabrics, resins) and UK&I customer base, with overlap in aerospace and motorsport segments.
- East Coast Fibreglass Supplies: UK composite materials retailer/distributor stocking resins, fabrics, and consumables. Comparable UK domestic distribution of fibre-reinforcement materials, albeit with a heavier SMB/Simpson-Strong-Tie-skewed end-market mix.
- Technical Fibre Products (TFP): UK-based manufacturer of advanced nonwoven materials, including veils and surfacing films used in composite laminates. Comparable niche player serving aerospace and wind with surface/composite reinforcement materials.
- Easy Composites: UK-based retailer and distributor of composite materials (resins, fabrics, cores, tooling) serving small-to-medium manufacturers across the UK. Directly comparable to Cristex as a domestic UK composite materials distributor, though with stronger e-commerce/SMB orientation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cristex Composite Materials social profiles
Digital presenceCristex Composite Materials compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Cristex Composite Materials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cristex Composite Materials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Cristex Composite Materials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cristex Composite Materials 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 Cristex Composite Materials
What does Cristex Composite Materials do?
Cristex Composite Materials distributes and supplies a comprehensive range of high-performance composite reinforcement materials — including woven fabrics, multiaxials/non-crimp fabrics, specialist fabrics, structural foams, braids/tapes, RTM/infusion media, resins, structural adhesives, gel coats, treatments, and tooling — to manufacturers in the UK and Ireland. The company also provides in-house precision CNC kit cutting, slitting, and rewinding services through its CCK division, alongside advanced material solutions (PrePregs, Nomex, Honeycomb Cores, Towpregs, UHMWPE, Carbon SMC) via its CAM division, including an ISO-approved cleanroom for aerospace-grade prepregs through CCK Aerospace.
Is Cristex Composite Materials a public or private company?
Cristex Composite Materials is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cristex Composite Materials founded?
Cristex Composite Materials was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cristex Composite Materials based?
Cristex Composite Materials is headquartered in Blackburn, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cristex Composite Materials make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Composite Materials Distribution is the primary driver. The others are kit Cutting and Kitting Services (CCK), slitting and Rewinding Services and cristex Advanced Materials (CAM) Division.
Who are Cristex Composite Materials's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gurit, SGL Carbon, SAERTEX and Hexcel. Direct peers are Scott Bader, Composites Evolution, PRF Composite Materials, East Coast Fibreglass Supplies, Technical Fibre Products (TFP) and Easy Composites.
Does Cristex Composite Materials have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cristex Composite Materials.
What industry is Cristex Composite Materials in?
Cristex Composite Materials's product category is Composite Reinforcement Materials Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAEAB, Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAJAKAC, FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials). Its NAICS code is 326112 and its SIC code is 3812.