Frequently Asked Questions

Coratec Custom-manufactured.
Custom solutions make economic sense for:
Mass production
Medium to high production volumes
Recurring projects
A standard technical solution is not always the most cost-effective solution.

The standard temperature range for Coratec products is between -40°C and +80°C. However, there are applications—such as dark-painted roofs—where temperatures can rise as high as 95°C. Not every product is suitable for such applications. In most cases, the weak point is the core material or the adhesive bond. For these applications, Coratec offers products with aluminum surfaces and PET foams, for example. Coratec also offers suitable products for temperature ranges up to 110°C. For these applications, PET foams or aluminum honeycomb structures with fiber-reinforced plastics based on epoxy resin systems are used.

Inserts allow your sandwich panel to be customized to your specific requirements. Inserts are used, for example, as:
fastening structures
reinforcements
cable channels
edge trims

Sandwich panels can be used wherever lightweight construction, high flexural stiffness, or large, attractive surfaces are important. Here are a few examples:
Automotive manufacturing: walls , floors, roofs, interior partitions
Container construction
Construction: roofing for awnings, carports, and bike shelters
Balcony floors, platforms, gallery floors, facades, partition walls
Industrial applications: machine enclosures , transport surfaces

Our main market is Europe. In general, inquiries can be submitted directly to Coratec . In most cases, Coratec can serve customers directly from Switzerland. However, Coratec also has partner companies in various countries that carry our products in stock. Furthermore, for language reasons or due to a lack of local knowledge, it may make sense to handle certain transactions through a partner company.

At Coratec , you can purchase raw panels, machined panels, ready-to-install panels, panels with attachments, and, in some cases, pre-assembled units.

In general, inquiries can be submitted directly to Coratec . In most cases, Coratec can serve customers directly from Switzerland. However, Coratec also has partner companies in various countries that stock our products. Furthermore, for language reasons or due to a lack of local knowledge, it may make sense to handle certain transactions through a partner company.

Yes—depending on the core material. Corapan and PET foam offer good thermal insulation properties.
Aluminum honeycomb panels are structurally very strong but do not provide insulation.
The U-value depends on:
core material
core thickness
thermal conductivity
The design of the fastening system is part of the technical consultation.

Localized damage, such as dents or punctures, can be repaired depending on the construction.
Repairability depends on:
Topcoat material
Type of damage
Safety-critical function
A technical inspection is required for safety-critical applications.

Depending on the design, the following are possible:
large-format panels
cut-to-size pieces
CNC machining
inlays
prefabricated components
.
Curved elements can be produced depending on the radius and the selected design.

Yes. Coratec supports customers throughout the following stages:
Concept phase
Material selection
Prototyping
Calculations
Transition to series production
The added value lies in our expertise in materials science and our vertical integration.

Sandwich panels consist of two outer layers and a core that is firmly bonded or welded to both outer layers. They are designed to provide high flexural stiffness while maintaining a low weight: The outer layers absorb tensile and compressive stresses, while the core absorbs shear stresses.

Due to the wide variety of products, Coratec manufactures almost exclusively to order. The delivery time depends on whether materials need to be procured for the order and on Coratec ’s current production capacity. Typical delivery times range from 6 weeks.
For Corapan GFK 85, which is available from stock, the delivery time ranges from 1 to 2 weeks, depending on whether Coratec processes the panels prior to delivery.

Coratec . stocks 1-mm-thick aluminum in white (RAL 9010) and primed with epoxy primer in various widths up to 2,500 mm. GRP sheets are available in thicknesses of 1.5 and 2 mm in various widths. For insulating applications, the core materials typically used are Corapan (our own core material) and PET foam. For non-insulating applications with high compressive strength requirements, aluminum honeycomb is used.

The great strength of Coratec lies in its flexible production of products tailored to customer needs. Many other materials can be processed upon request.

The maximum possible spandepends on:
panel thickness
core material
facing
load assumptions
and allowable deflection
Large spans can be achieved using aluminum face sheets and suitable core materials. A project-specific calculation is required.

Floor applications often pose a challenge for composite materials because the loads acting on lightweight products can be relatively high. For basic products, the primary options are CoraPET AL, which features higher-density PET foam, and Corahex . There are other possible solutions that can be evaluated upon request. Please feel free to contact us.

The following products have been optimized and tested for flammability:

Corapan AL 150: B s1 d0 according to EN 13501
Corahex : B s1 d0 according to EN 13501
Composite of PET with epoxy resin systems: IMO Part 2
CoraPET AL 70: DIN EN 45545-2 R1/R7/R17 HL3

Coratec carries only one product in stock. It is the Corapan GFK 85, which is available as follows:
24.5 x 2180 x 5980 mm
24.5 x 2180 x 2990 mm
It features a 1.5 mm thick GFK facing in RAL 9010 matte and our core Corapan 85. Corapan GFK 85 is primarily used in vehicle manufacturing.

Relevant tolerances include:
Thickness
Flatness
Dimensional accuracy
Angularity
Positioning of inserts
The tolerances depend on the design and are defined on a project-by-project basis.

Sandwich panels consist of two face layers (aluminum, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, steel, HPL, etc.) and a core (insulating core, honeycomb core, Purenit , etc.). The layers are bonded together to form a rigid composite.

FRP is corrosion-resistant. Aluminum can react when subjected to contact corrosion.
PET and Corapan cores are moisture-resistant. The bonding process is critical to the material’s durability.
For applications with high moisture exposure, the choice of material combination is critical.

Possible fastening methods:
Screw fastening
Riveting
Adhesive bonding
Inserts / Liners
Perimeter frame structures
Fastening affects:
Pull-out values
Local compressive stress
Long-term behavior

The design depends on:
Span
Load type (distributed load, concentrated load, line load)
Allowable deflection
Temperature range
Fastening conditions
The following factors are critical:
Bending stiffness (EI)
Shear modulus of the core
Compressive strength of the core
Face layer thickness and material
Coratec assists with the design based on load assumptions and boundary conditions.

The surface layers bear tensile and compressive forces, while the core bears shear stresses.
Important influencing factors:
Bending stiffness:
Plate thickness
Modulus of elasticity and thickness of the surface layers
Shear modulus of the core
Compressive strength:
Compressive strength of the core