Proflex

What Proflex does

Proflex Shock-absorbers UK Ltd is a privately held motorsport suspension specialist founded in 1989 and headquartered at Revidge Fold Garage in Blackburn, Lancashire. The company designs, manufactures, refurbishes, and services custom-built adjustable shock absorbers for Race, Rally, Off-Road, Historic Motorsport, Sprint, and Hillclimb disciplines, operating as the official technical centre, distributor, and exclusive service-and-repair hub for the Proflex brand in the UK, Europe, and Worldwide.

The technical proposition rests on bespoke shock absorber units engineered to vehicle- and customer-specific requirements, combined with aerospace-standard refurbishing infrastructure — including a Technowash High Temperature Degreasing System and Ultrasonic Cleaner — and in-house dyno and spring testing for validation and tuning. All shocks are positioned as fully maintainable with retrofittable upgrades, supporting a recurring service aftermarket rather than purely one-off unit sales. Supporting components (spring seats in 55mm–84mm sizes, bushes, bearings, camber washers, seals, bump stops, and specialised C-spanners and adjuster tools) are sold individually through the company's online shop.

Revenue is generated through three mechanisms: (1) custom quote-based shock absorber unit sales to professional and amateur racing teams, (2) refurbishing, repair, dyno testing, spring testing, and re-shimming service work, and (3) e-commerce sales of spare parts and consumables to individual racers globally. Go-to-market is sales-led via phone and email combined with an event-driven on-track support model in which Proflex staff attend test sessions to deliver real-time setup adjustments. Named commercial relationships span OEM motorsport programmes (Hyundai, Pro-drive Subaru, GM Dealer Sport, Ford) and elite rally drivers historically associated with the brand (Colin McRae, Ari Vatanen, Stig Blomqvist, Kris Meeke, Mark Higgins, Gwyndaf Evans). Headcount stands at 1–10 employees.

Name

Proflex

Legal name

Proflex Shock-absorbers UK Ltd

Website

https://proflexuk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Proflex Shock-absorbers UK Ltd is a privately held motorsport suspension specialist that designs, manufactures, and refurbishes custom-built adjustable shock absorbers for Race, Rally, Off-Road, Historic, Sprint, and Hillclimb disciplines, serving professional and amateur racing teams and individual drivers in the UK, Europe, and worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clitheroe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shock Absorber Sales: Sale of custom-built and adjustable shock absorbers for various motorsport applications including Race, Rally, Off-Road, Sprint, and Hillclimb
2. Service & Repair: Comprehensive shock absorber refurbishing, repair, and maintenance services including full dismantlement, cleaning, inspection, oil refill, and rebuild to original specifications
3. Spare Parts & Components: Sale of spare parts including bushings, oils, greases, spring seats, camber washers, seals, bump stops, and tools
4. Technical Consultation: Expert advice and consultation services grounded in over 35 years of motorsport experience, including car set-up and driver coaching

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Proflex manufactures and sells custom-built adjustable shock absorbers and complete suspension systems for motorsport applications including Race, Rally, Off-Road, Historic Motorsport, Sprint, and Hillclimb disciplines. The company also sells related spare parts (spring seats, tools, bushes, camber washers, seals, bump stops) through an online shop and provides in-house services such as aerospace-standard refurbishing, dyno testing, spring testing, custom shock design, re-shimming, and on-track support.

Product overview

Proflex is a motorsport suspension solutions company specializing in custom-built shock absorbers and related components. Their core product is the Proflex Shock Absorber system, engineered for Race, Rally, Off-Road, Historic Motorsport, Sprint, and Hillclimb applications. The product portfolio includes suspension systems, spring seats (in 55mm, 60mm, 75mm, and 84mm sizes), specialized tools (C-Spanners, adjuster tools, seal cap tools), and various components such as bump stops, bushes, bearings, camber washers, and seals. Beyond products, Proflex offers comprehensive services including refurbishing/repair using aerospace-standard cleaning technology, custom shock absorber design, spring testing, dyno testing, shock tuning, and on-track support. The company serves as the official technical center, distributor, and exclusive service hub for Proflex products in the UK, Europe, and worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Proflex Shock Absorbers Custom-built adjustable shock absorbers engineered for motorsport applications including Race, Rally, Off-Road, Historic Motorsport, Sprint, and Hillclimb disciplines. Features adjustable dampers and bespoke tuning for optimal vehicle performance.
• Suspension Systems Complete suspension system solutions for motorsport vehicles, including bespoke setups tailored to specific racing conditions and vehicle requirements.
• Spring Seats Spring seat components available in multiple sizes (55mm, 60mm, 75mm, 84mm) for various spring internal diameters, including adjustable spring platforms, top spring platforms, and spring platforms with bearings.
• Tools Specialized tools for shock absorber maintenance and adjustment including C-Spanners (60mm, 70mm, 80mm, 96mm), Adjustable C-Spanner, Bump Adjuster Tool, Rebound Adjuster Tool, and Seal Cap Tool.
• Bump Stops Performance bump stops for shock absorber protection and control during extreme compression.
• Bushes & Bearings Suspension bushes and bearings for various motorsport applications.
• Camber Washers Camber adjustment washers available in 12mm and 14mm sizes, including early camber washers with various offset options.
• Seals Wiper seals and other sealing components for shock absorber maintenance, available in 45mm and 55mm sizes.
• Service & Repair Comprehensive shock absorber refurbishing, repair, and maintenance services using aerospace-standard Technowash cleaning systems and ultrasonic cleaners. Includes full dismantlement, cleaning, inspection, oil replacement, and rigorous dyno testing.
• Custom Shock Absorber Design Bespoke shock absorber design and manufacturing service tailored to specific client requirements for unique motorsport applications.
• Spring Testing Performance and resilience evaluation service for springs to ensure they meet competitive racing demands.
• Dyno Testing State-of-the-art dynamometer testing facilities to analyze and optimize shock absorber performance.
• Shock Tuning and Re-Shimming Tailored shock adjustment and re-shimming service for optimal performance under specific racing conditions.
• On-Track Support Hands-on track testing support with on-site adjustments and setup recommendations for race day preparation.
• Expert Consultation Expert advice service grounded in over 35 years of motorsport experience, offering tailored consultation, innovative solutions, and problem-solving expertise for vehicle setup optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shock absorbers restored to meet or exceed original performance standards through aerospace-standard refurbishing process
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• HyundaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProflex has collaborated with Hyundai motorsport programme, providing suspension expertise and custom shock absorber solutions for their racing vehicles.
• Pro-drive SubarucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pro-drive Subaru racing team, delivering specialized suspension systems for Subaru rally vehicles.
• GM Dealer SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with GM Dealer Sport programme providing suspension solutions for GM racing vehicles.
• FordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Ford motorsport to provide suspension expertise and custom shock absorber solutions.
• Colin McRaeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with legendary rally driver Colin McRae, one of the most successful rally drivers in history, contributing to suspension development and validation.
• Ari VatanenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen, utilizing his expertise to refine and validate suspension systems.
• Kris MeekecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with professional rally driver Kris Meeke for suspension testing and development.
• Mark HigginscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with rally driver Mark Higgins for suspension development and real-world testing.
• Gwyndaf EvanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with rally driver Gwyndaf Evans for suspension refinement and validation.
• Stig BlomqvistflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with rally legend Stig Blomqvist, known for his expertise in rally driving and vehicle dynamics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Reiger Suspension: Dutch specialist in motorsport and high-performance shock absorbers with strong presence in rally and off-road racing. Directly comparable custom-built, service-supported business model targeting similar professional and semi-professional teams.
• GAZ Shocks: UK-based manufacturer of adjustable coilover and motorsport shock absorbers. Geographic and product overlap with Proflex in the British motorsport aftermarket, particularly rally and classic disciplines.
• Öhlins Racing: Swedish premium manufacturer of motorsport and high-end automotive shock absorbers and suspension. Direct competitor to Proflex in custom-built racing shocks for rally, circuit, and off-road disciplines, with deeper R&D resources and broader global reach.
• Penske Racing Shocks: US-based specialist in custom motorsport shock absorbers serving IndyCar, NASCAR, and high-end sports car racing. Directly comparable as a niche, engineering-led custom shock manufacturer targeting professional teams.
• KW Automotive: German manufacturer of high-performance coilovers and motorsport suspension systems under KW, ST, and Moton brands. Comparable in offering adjustable, motorsport-grade suspension for race and rally, with significantly larger scale and dealer network.

Regional players

• TEIN: Japanese manufacturer of motorsport and street performance suspension. Comparable in adjustable coilover/shock technology, primarily serving Asia-Pacific and global motorsport customers through a different geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Koni (ITT): Established European shock absorber brand with motorsport heritage (F1, rally). Broader product portfolio spanning commercial, passenger, and motorsport segments; competes with Proflex in performance/racing dampers.
• Bilstein (Thyssenkrupp): Large German manufacturer of OE and aftermarket shock absorbers and suspension components. Competes in the same motorsport/performance category as Proflex but with vastly broader OEM and passenger-car coverage, including motorsport programs.
• ZF Sachs (ZF Friedrichshafen): Major tier-1 automotive supplier producing Sachs-brand shock absorbers and clutches for OE and motorsport. Overlaps with Proflex in motorsport damping supply but operates as part of a much larger chassis portfolio.

Emerging players

• Profender (Europe) / Dynamics Suspension: Smaller European specialist in rally and motorsport suspension servicing and rebuilds. Comparable aftermarket service-led model in the same niche as Proflex, though with narrower product range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Proflex