What Mettex does

Mettex Electric Co. Ltd. is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer of flexible wire braid, strand, and related value-added products, headquartered in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Founded in 1973, the company self-identifies as the largest UK firm focused solely on flexible wire braid, with approximately 50% of output exported to Europe, America, the Far East, and increasingly the Middle East. Its eight core product lines — flat and circular braid, MBS Screening Braid® (EMC/RFI shielding), flexible connectors, flexible busbars, woven wire mesh tape, stocking braid, flexible strand/rope, and custom overbraiding — are built on precision braiding equipment (24-, 36-, and 48-carrier machines) and Spirka winding technology, using copper, tin-plated copper, nickel-plated copper, aluminium, and stainless-steel materials.

The business operates a custom-engineered, B2B manufacturing model with continuous standard lines supplemented by made-to-spec assemblies for electrical interconnection, screening, and earth continuity applications. Go-to-market is direct field sales plus trade-show presence (DVD Exhibition, Saudi Elenex, MEE Dubai), supported by agents in international markets; JIT and Kanban delivery are offered. Customers are concentrated in regulated, mission-critical verticals — aerospace & defence (Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Leonardo Helicopters), rail/transportation (Alstom, Bombardier, London Transport), automotive (IATF 16949 certified), and general electrical and communications industries — where the company's portfolio of certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, VDE, VG-96936-10, JOSCAR, UKCA, Cyber Essentials) functions as a structural entry barrier. Growth is self-funded through reinvested profits, with continuous capital investment in new braiding capacity and an active program of trade-show expansion.

Recurring revenue is implicitly project- and specification-driven rather than subscription-based: batch sizes range from a few to many thousands, with rapid turnover from enquiry to despatch. The company is family-led (CEO Toni Tipper, MD Keith Ridley with 44 years' tenure, COO Sam Tipper), bootstrapped with no external private-equity or venture-capital investment recorded, and operates from a single UK manufacturing facility.

Name

Mettex

Legal name

Mettex Electric Co. Ltd.

Website

https://mettex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mettex is a UK-based specialist manufacturer of flexible wire braid, strand, and related value-added products, serving aerospace, defence, rail, automotive, and electrical OEMs with custom-engineered EMC shielding, flexible connectors, and busbar solutions. Founded 1973, it claims to be the largest UK firm solely focused on flexible wire braid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Banbury

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Standard Braid Products: Continuously manufactured standard lines of flat and round copper braid, strand and screening braid. Products are sold in batch sizes ranging from a few to many thousands.
2. Custom/Added Value Products: Custom-built products meeting specific mechanical and electrical performance criteria. Built to customer drawings or replicas of existing items with various terminations and insulation options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mettex manufactures and supplies flexible wire braid, strand, and related value-added products for electrical industries. The company produces both standard continuously manufactured lines (flat and round copper braid, screening braid) and custom-built products (flexible connectors, busbars, custom overbraiding) to specific mechanical and electrical performance criteria. Their products are designed for applications involving vibration, movement, space restrictions, EMC/RFI shielding, and earth continuity across sectors including general electrical, automotive, aerospace & defence, rail, and communications.

Product overview

Mettex is a specialized manufacturer of flexible braided wire products, operating as the largest UK company focused solely on the manufacture of flexible wire braid, strand, and related value-added products. The product portfolio centers around eight core offerings: Flat Braid & Circular Braid (standard copper braid products), MBS Screening Braid® (EMC/RFI shielding sleeving), Flexible Connectors (custom assemblies), Flexible Busbars (heavy-duty power interconnections), Woven Wire Mesh Tape (knitted shielding tape), Stocking Braid (earth continuity for MV/HV joints), Flexible Strand or Rope (stranded wire alternatives), and Custom Overbraiding (contract braiding services). The business operates in two primary groups: continuously manufactured standard lines of flat and round copper braid, strand and screening braid, and custom value-added products built to specific performance criteria. Materials include electro tin-plated copper, plain copper, nickel-plated copper, aluminium, stainless steel, and other ferrous and non-ferrous options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MBS Screening Braid®: Premium screening braid product range offering EMC/RFI shielding for wire and cable, VG accredited for military applications.

Products and services

• Flat Braid & Circular Braid Copper braid products available in flat and circular configurations, ranging from very fine single braids to heavy duty multiple braids. Suitable for conditions involving vibration or movement due to the ability of individual wires to flex without work hardening.
• MBS Screening Braid Registered trademark sleeving/screening braid providing EMC shielding against electromagnetic, electrostatic and radio frequency interference. Also used for earth continuity purposes. VG-96936-10 certified for military applications.
• Flexible Connectors Custom-made connectors manufactured from braid or strand with suitable terminations. Used for LV power distribution interconnects, battery connections, and cable jointing kits. Available insulated for protection and identification. Suitable for applications exceeding 800 amps when combined with flexible busbar range.
• Flexible Busbars Heavy-duty assemblies using multiple layers of flat braid assembled in parallel or stacked format to achieve required cross sectional area or current density. Can be supplied insulated over whole assembly or individual layers.
• Woven Wire Mesh Tape Knitted or woven wire mesh tape for EMC/RFI shielding of electrical power, control, data and communication cables, and earth continuity in cable joints. Standard sizes of 25mm and 50mm wide, applied with 50% overlap.
• Stocking Braid Designed for earth continuity on medium and high voltage jointing systems. The braid is fastened to exposed armouring and can be pushed back to form a cylinder to slide over joints. Available in sizes up to 220mm diameter.
• Flexible Strand or Rope Wire stranded rather than woven into braid, suitable for complex flexing movements. Cross sectional areas from 2.0mm² to 150mm². Ideal for applications with vibration or movement and space restrictions.
• Custom Overbraiding Service Comprehensive overbraiding service covering customers' free issue material. Braids directly onto cable harnesses, flexible conduit, hose or cable for outer sheath screening or mechanical protection. Coverage of 95% optical coverage or better typical.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of products exported worldwide to Europe, America, and Far East
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Leonardo Helicopter DivisioncoreOthers · 1 December 2023Mettex achieved SQA supplier approval (LH-2788) for Leonardo Helicopter Division, providing screening braid and flexible connector products for aerospace applications.
• Rolls-RoycecoreOthersMettex holds approved supplier status to Rolls-Royce for braided wire products used in aerospace and industrial applications.
• BombardiercoreOthersMettex is an approved supplier to Bombardier for rail and transportation sector products.
• AlstomcoreOthersMettex holds approved supplier status to Alstom for rail transportation sector products.
• BAE SystemscoreOthersMettex is an approved supplier to BAE Systems for defence sector products.
• 3MmajorOthersMettex holds approved supplier status to 3M for various industrial applications.
• London TransportmajorOthersMettex holds approved supplier status to London Transport for transportation infrastructure applications.
• Achilles (FPAL)coreTechnology or IntegrationMettex is enrolled on FPAL (First Point Assessment Limited) via Achilles, a pre-qualification system for the oil and gas industry supply chain.
• JOSCARcoreTechnology or IntegrationMettex is fully registered on the JOSCAR (Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register) supplier accreditation register for aerospace, defence, and security industries.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Storm Power Components: US manufacturer of flexible copper braided connectors, ground straps, and shunt jumpers — a closely comparable product set to Mettex's Flexible Connectors and Flexible Busbars.
• nVent ERIFLEX: Global supplier of flexible power braiding, busbars, and grounding products under the nVent brand. Directly comparable product portfolio (flexible busbars, braid) and overlapping customer use cases in power distribution and industrial.
• Richards Manufacturing Co. US manufacturer of flexible braided jumpers, ground straps, and tinned/nickel copper braid for electrical power applications. Closest functional counterpart to Mettex in flexible braid connectors.

Broad incumbents

• Nexans: French global cable manufacturer serving power, transport, and industrial markets. Comparable end-use exposure (rail, energy, industrial) but operating at finished-cable scale well beyond Mettex's niche.
• TE Connectivity: Global connector and sensor manufacturer with braided-shield cable assembly products. Overlaps with Mettex on flexible interconnect solutions for aerospace/defense and industrial customers.
• Leoni AG: European wire and cable manufacturer serving automotive, industrial, and energy customers. Comparable end-markets (automotive electrification, industrial cabling) but vastly larger scale and broader product scope.
• Prysmian Group: Italian-headquartered global leader in cables for energy and telecommunications. Overlaps on power distribution and EMI screening applications, though predominantly at finished-cable scale rather than bespoke braid.
• Hubbell (Burndy): Major US electrical connector manufacturer with flexible braid jumper products. Overlaps on flexible power connectors but operates across a far broader electrical product portfolio than Mettex.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mettexelectric
• Facebookfacebook.com/Mettex-1009225539103083
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mettex

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Mettex