Our company
Exel Composites is one of the largest manufacturers of composite profiles and tubes made with pultrusion and pull-winding technologies and a pultrusion technology forerunner in the global composite market. Our forward-thinking composite solutions made with continuous manufacturing technologies serve customers in a wide range of industries around the world. You can find our products used in applications in diverse industrial sectors such as wind power, transportation and building and infrastructure.
Our R&D expertise, collaborative approach and global footprint set us apart from our competition. Our composite solutions help customers save resources, reduce products’ weight, improve performance and energy efficiency and decrease total lifetime costs. We want to be the first choice for sustainable composite solutions globally.
Headquartered in Finland, Exel Composites employs over 600 forward-thinking professionals around the world and is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
Our vision and purpose
Our strategy
Organic growth
Capturing growth from large and fast-growing energy transition and decarbonization applications driven by sustainability.
Customer value
Focus on increasing value to customers through responsiveness and product platforms and composites design solutions in selected segments.
Profitability
New operating model with two business units, larger factories with clear roles and efficiency improvements throughout to deliver solid profitability.
High ambition
Skills and capabilities enabling Exel to achieve over EUR 200 million annual revenue within five years.
We have a global sales, manufacturing and R&D network
- Runcorn, United Kingdom
- Erlanger, United States
- Joensuu, Finland
- Mäntyharju, Finland
- Kapfenberg, Austria
- Nanjing, China
- Goa India
Our history
Exel was founded in 1960 by three chemists, initially specializing in the production of electric detonator caps, hence the name Explosive Electrics. During the early years, the employees’ involvement in competitive pistol shooting inspired the development of Silenta hearing protectors, which quickly became a success in both sports and industrial markets. Exel became the first and leading manufacturer of hearing protectors in Europe, gaining valuable expertise in plastics manufacturing, particularly in injection molding.
Exel entered the composites field in 1973 with fiberglass ski poles, followed by the world’s first carbon fiber ski poles, patented and developed in 1974. These poles became an immediate success after their debut at the 1976 Innsbruck/Seefeld Winter Olympics. By the end of the decade, Exel was producing 1.5 million pairs of ski poles annually, capturing 50% of the global market.
Today, Exel is the world’s largest pultruder, serving industries ranging from infrastructure and energy to transportation and telecommunications.
📸 Photo: Exel employees and then President Olli Pöllänen (far right) pictured in front of the Peterborough factory in 1981, holding windsurfing masts, marking Exel’s international manufacturing expansion.
1960s
Founded in 1960 to manufacture electric detonator caps. Introduced Silenta hearing protectors, becoming a European market leader. Gained know-how in plastic injection molding.
1970s
Launched fiberglass ski poles in 1973, followed by patented carbon fiber ski poles in 1974. Major success at the 1976 Olympics, with exports and ski pole production booming. Received Export Award from the President of Finland in 1976 for success in ski poles and hearing protectors.
1980s
Expanded sporting goods, including windsurfing masts. Opened first factory outside Finland in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada (1981). Exel became the world’s largest producer of windsurfing masts and floorball sticks based on co-winding - the unique technology first developed for the ski poles.
1990s
Continued expansion with sporting goods along with industrial applications. Exel is listed on the Helsinki stock exchange.
2000s
Expanded into Belgium, China, Australia, and the UK. Licensed sporting goods brands to focus on business-to-business composite solutions.
2010s
Celebrated 50th anniversary. Acquired Nanjing Jianhui Composite Material (China) and Diversified Structural Composites (USA).
2020s
Launched joint venture in India with Kineco Group focusing on wind energy applications.
