What Composites Distribution does

Composites Distribution SAS is a French industrial distributor of high-performance composite materials, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Béziers, France. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of family-owned French industrial conglomerate Groupe Gazechim, which operates approximately 40 agencies across 15 countries and 800 employees across three business poles (composites, refrigerant fluids, liquefied gases). Composites Distribution operates two principal divisions: Advanced & Tooling, serving industrial customers across nautical competition, transportation/automotive, sports and leisure, construction, and artistic/effects segments; and Aerospace & Defence, focused on tier-1 aerospace OEMs, their subcontractor chains, and MRO operators. The company holds the EN9120 aerospace distribution certification for over 20 years and AS9120/ISO 9001 for over 10 years, and is the official worldwide distributor of the full Hexcel range (HEXPLY prepregs, HEXFORCE fabrics, HEXBOND adhesives, HEXWEB honeycomb, HEXFOW resins, HEXTOW), holding Airbus supplier code 148979 and qualifications from Dassault, Safran, and Airbus Helicopters. Its product portfolio spans structural adhesives, prepregs, dry fabrics, honeycomb, core materials (Corecell, Rohacell, PVC, PET), epoxy/PU/acrylic resins, silicones, vacuum bagging consumables, and reinforcement fibers (carbon, glass, aramid, flax).

The business model is a B2B distribution and value-added services operation. Composites Distribution purchases high-performance composite inputs from global producers (Hexcel, Gurit, Saertex, Sika, Wacker, Aerovac, Evonik, B'Comp) and resells to industrial customers in bulk or small quantities, with pricing conducted on a quote-by-quote basis rather than via public price lists. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales complemented by ancillary services including precision cutting and kitting (via subsidiary Hexcut Services), honeycomb cutting and sandwich panel production (via Imatec), specialized transport with temperature-controlled logistics (CPT Airport International, DAP Europe), and technical advisory on material selection. Go-to-market is sales-led, with a direct field sales network across France plus worldwide export, supported by a website-driven quote-request funnel and presence at major industry trade shows (JEC World, ADM Sevilla). The distribution channel targets OEMs, subcontractors, and repairers in aerospace, with broader industrial customers in nautical, automotive, sports and leisure, construction, and artistic segments. The company was integrated into Groupe Gazechim in 2007 and merged with sister company Abyla in April 2021 to form the current Advanced & Tooling entity. Leadership rests with Jean-Marc Libes as Président of the SAS; the entity-level headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, though the operational footprint is larger when including Gazechim Composites Pole subsidiaries. No revenue is publicly disclosed, and the company is privately held with no external funding rounds.

Name

Composites Distribution

Legal name

Composites Distribution

Website

https://composites-distribution.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Composites Distribution is a French distributor of high-performance composite materials serving aerospace OEMs and industrial customers across nautical, automotive, sports, construction, and artistic segments. The company distributes the full Hexcel range worldwide and is qualified by Airbus, Dassault, Safran, and Airbus Helicopters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Composite Materials Distribution

NAICS

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (325220)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820), Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials) (IMAJAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB), Fiber- & Mineral-Filled Reinforced Compounds (Glass/Carbon/Talc/CaCO3) (IMANABAI), Biodegradable Composites & Biocomposites (natural fiber-reinforced) (IMAEAOAJ)

Keywords

• Composite materials distribution
• Prepregs and resins
• Aerospace composites supply
• Structural core materials
• Industrial silicones and tooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Béziers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Composite Materials Distribution: Distribution of high-performance composite materials in bulk or small quantities, serving as the intermediary between manufacturers and industrial customers across multiple sectors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Composites Distribution distributes high-performance composite materials — including prepregs, structural core materials, reinforcement fibers (carbon, glass, aramid, flax), epoxy/PU/acrylic resins, structural adhesives, vacuum bagging consumables, and industrial silicones — to industrial customers across aerospace, nautical, automotive, sports & leisure, construction, and artistic sectors. The company operates two divisions — Advanced & Tooling for industrial converters and Aerospace & Defence for OEM and MRO buyers — supplemented by value-added services such as precision cutting, kitting, honeycomb processing, technical support, and temperature-controlled worldwide transport.

Product overview

Composites Distribution is a European leader in high-performance composite materials distribution, operating two main divisions: Advanced & Tooling and Aerospace & Defence. The Advanced & Tooling division offers a comprehensive portfolio including Advanced Composites (adhesives, release agents, structural cores, fibers, vacuum bagging products, prepregs, and epoxy resins) and Tooling products (machinable boards, EP/PU/acrylic resins, silicones, and accessories). The Aerospace & Defence division serves the MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) and AED (Aerospace, Space & Defense) markets with Hexcel-sourced products including HEXPLY prepregs, HEXFORCE dry fabrics, HEXBOND adhesives, and specialized OEM products for Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, Dassault, and Safran. Services include specialized cutting (Hexcut Services), honeycomb cutting (IMATEC), technical support, and worldwide transport with temperature control. The company was founded in 1987, integrated into Groupe Gazechim in 2007, and merged with Abyla in 2021 to form the current Advanced & Tooling entity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HEXBOND: Structural adhesive and film adhesive brand for aerospace and MRO applications, distributed by Composites Distribution.
• HEXPLY
• HEXFORCE
• HEXFOW
• HEXTOW
• HEXWEB

Products and services

• Advanced Composites product range High-performance composite materials for industrial applications — adhesives, release agents, structural cores, reinforcement fibers, vacuum bagging products, prepregs, and epoxy resins — sold to manufacturers across aerospace, nautical, automotive, sports & leisure, construction, and artistic sectors.
• Tooling product range Products dedicated to prototyping, molding, and modeling — machinable boards, EP resins, PU resins, acrylic resins, and accessories — for industrial, artistic foundry, and fine arts customers.
• Silicones product range Complete range of industrial silicone products — RTV2 molding silicones, polyaddition silicones, polycondensation silicones, and RTV1 silicone adhesives — for industrial molding, special effects, and artistic foundry applications.
• HEXCUT Services — reinforcement fabric cutting and kitting Specialized cutting services for technical textiles and composite reinforcement fabrics, with customised kitting solutions assembled in specified order for assembly lines; AS 9100 and ISO 9001 certified.
• IMATEC — honeycomb cutting and sandwich panel production Specialised honeycomb cutting and sandwich panel manufacturing — aluminum honeycomb, Nomex honeycomb, and custom sandwich panels — for aerospace and industrial applications.
• MRO product range Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul composite materials for aerospace — HEXPLY prepregs, HEXFORCE dry fabrics, HEXBOND structural adhesives, and HEXBOND film adhesives — cut to EN9120 standard in a clean room for MRO operators.
• Aerospace, Space and Defence (AED) product range Aerospace, Space and Defence materials with EN9120 certification — carbon fibers, structural adhesives, honeycombs, prepregs, sandwich panels, and reinforcement fabrics — for OEMs and tier-1 subcontractors.
• Worldwide transport services for composite materials Worldwide transport services for composite materials — CPT Airport International (ambient or dry-ice temperature) and DAP Europe (ambient or frozen conditions) — preserving cold chain integrity for prepregs and temperature-sensitive products.
• Technical support and advisory services Personalised advice on material selection, technical assistance for project realisation, and supplier guidance — leveraging the team's experience partnering with the world's largest composite material producers to help industrial customers choose the right materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quality certifications maintained for over 10 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• HexcelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Hexcel distributor for aerospace products worldwide. Composites Distribution distributes the entire Hexcel range including carbon fibers, structural adhesives, honeycombs, prepregs, sandwich panels, and reinforcement fabrics. Qualified by major aerospace OEMs including Airbus (code 148979), Dassault, and Safran.
• Hexcut ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of Groupe Gazechim specializing in cutting technical textiles. Founded in 2006 in Maulévrier near Nantes. Provides precision cutting services for composites, carbon fibers, reinforcements, and prepregs, as well as custom kitting services. Certified AS 9100 and ISO 9001.
• ImateccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of Groupe Gazechim producing high-technology materials for composite industry since 1990. Specializes in aluminum honeycomb, Nomex honeycomb, and custom sandwich panels. Serves construction, mechanical, transport, aerospace, sports equipment, marine construction, furniture, and electronics industries.
• AbylacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerged with Abyla in April 2021, a company specializing in Tooling product distribution (machinable boards, polyurethanes, silicones). Created a single Advanced & Tooling entity under the Composites Distribution name.
• GuritmajorTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of high-performance composite materials including prepregs, structural core materials (Corecell, PVC, PET), and epoxy resins for marine, aerospace, and industrial applications.
• SaertexmajorTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of multiaxial carbon reinforcements and technical fabrics for composite manufacturing.
• SikamajorTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of structural adhesives, epoxy encapsulation resins, polyurethane systems, and composite manufacturing materials.
• WackermajorTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of silicone rubber products for molding applications including RTV2, polyaddition, and polycondensation silicones.
• AerovacmajorTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of vacuum bagging products including vacuum films, release films, breather felts, and vacuum accessories.
• EvonikmajorTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of Rohacell structural foam (PMI) for aerospace applications with high compression strength and temperature resistance up to 180°C.
• Groupe GazechimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Composites Distribution. French family-owned industrial group organized around three poles: composite materials distribution, refrigerant gases packaging/distribution, and liquefied gases packaging/distribution. Present in more than 20 countries through approximately 40 subsidiaries.
• Mouldlife FXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of Groupe Gazechim based in UK specializing in prosthetic makeup, molding systems, casting resins, and special effects products for cinema, television, and theater industries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Gurit Holding AG: Swiss-listed composite materials manufacturer producing prepregs, structural cores, and resins for wind, marine, and aerospace markets. Functions both as a supplier to Composites Distribution and as a broader market incumbent in composite materials manufacturing.
• Hexcel Corporation: Global leader in advanced composites manufacturing (carbon fiber, prepregs, honeycomb, adhesives) for commercial aerospace, space, and defense. Functions as Composites Distribution's principal supplier (Official Hexcel distributor relationship) and represents the upstream counterparty that could potentially bypass distributors.
• Sika AG: Swiss specialty chemicals company producing adhesives, sealants, and composite materials for automotive, construction, and industrial markets. Functions both as a Composites Distribution supplier (structural adhesives) and as a broad incumbent offering competing products via direct sales.
• Saertex GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of multiaxial non-crimp fabrics and technical textiles for composites used in wind, automotive, aerospace, and marine. Functions as a Composites Distribution supplier (multiaxial carbon reinforcements) and competes as a broad composite materials manufacturer.

Direct peers

• Easy Composites: European distributor of composite materials (resins, fibers, consumables) serving industrial, marine, automotive, and prototyping customers. Directly comparable in product range, target customer base, and B2B distribution model across Europe.
• Composites One: North America's largest distributor of composite materials, serving aerospace, transportation, marine, and industrial customers. Closest direct peer in business model (pure distribution) though geographically focused on North America rather than Europe.
• Velox GmbH: European specialty raw materials distributor for plastics, composites, coatings, and adhesives industries. Directly comparable in industrial B2B distribution model and European geographic footprint across composites and adjacent material categories.
• Suter Kunststoffe AG: Swiss distributor of composite materials and tooling products serving European industrial customers. Comparable in product portfolio (resins, fibers, prepregs, tooling boards) and customer mix of industrial OEMs and model makers.
• Bodo Möller Chemie GmbH: European specialty chemicals and composites distributor serving automotive, aerospace, electronics, and industrial customers. Comparable in B2B industrial distribution model and pan-European footprint, with broader specialty chemicals adjacency.

Emerging players

• North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT): Swiss manufacturer of thin-ply composite materials and prepregs for luxury, motorsport, sailing, and aerospace applications. Comparable end-customer focus (high-performance composites users, including sailing and aerospace) but operates as a niche manufacturer rather than distributor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Txk5Y5Mryp0
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/composites-distribution

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Composites Distribution