EconCore

EconCore N.V. is a Leuven, Belgium-based technology company specializing in the continuous production of honeycomb sandwich materials. Founded around the research work of Dr.-Ing. Jochen Pflug at KU Leuven, the company commercializes the ThermHex process, a fast, versatile and continuous method for manufacturing rigid yet lightweight thermoplastic honeycomb cores and sandwich panels. Rather than mass-producing panels itself, EconCore operates primarily as a technology licensor: it develops the process, machinery and material know-how, then licenses the technology to manufacturing partners around the world. Its best-known licensee is ThermHex Waben GmbH in Halle (Saale), Germany, which produces and sells honeycomb cores and finished sandwich panels based on the EconCore technology. The company positions its technology as a way to make sandwich materials economically viable at high volume. The ThermHex process integrates core production, skin lamination and panel finishing into a single continuous line, which reduces cost, weight and environmental impact compared with conventional batch processes. EconCore markets the resulting materials for automotive, transportation, building and construction, photovoltaic panels and infrastructure, aerospace and railway, industrial packaging and graphical displays, reusable packaging, and furniture and design applications. It also maintains a material-application matrix to help converters and OEMs match core types to end uses. EconCore is a privately held company. Its leadership team includes Dr.-Ing. Jochen Pflug, who has served as Chairman of the Board since 2005 and Chief Executive Officer since April 2007, alongside Chief Financial Officer Walter Van de Weyer, Chief Operating Officer Tomasz Czarnecki, and Wouter Winant in R&D, process and machinery development. The company is headquartered at Philipssite 5/1, 3001 Leuven, Belgium, and works closely with its German licensee ThermHex Waben. In recent years EconCore has used the JEC World composites trade fair in Paris as a platform for launches and awards. It presented JEC Innovation Award-winning innovations together with ThermHex Waben, announced a lightweight, fully circular solar panel aimed at reducing the weight of roof installations, and highlighted sustainable sandwich panels with high-quality surface finishes. The company continues to promote honeycomb sandwich technology as a route to lighter, more sustainable products across multiple industries.

EconCore's origins lie in academic research on composite materials at KU Leuven in Belgium. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Pflug, an aerospace engineering graduate of the University of Applied Science Aachen, earned a master's degree in Polymer and Composites Engineering from KU Leuven in 1996. From 1996 to 2005 he worked as a research assistant in the Composites Materials Research Group at KU Leuven's Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (MTM), where he completed a doctorate on the continuous production of honeycomb cores. That research became the foundation of the ThermHex process. EconCore was established to commercialize this technology. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Pflug has served as Chairman of the Board since 2005 and became Chief Executive Officer in April 2007. The company is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and operates as a technology provider rather than a volume panel producer. Its business model centers on licensing the ThermHex continuous production process to manufacturers worldwide, supported by process engineering, machinery development and application know-how. A key relationship is with ThermHex Waben GmbH of Halle (Saale), Germany, EconCore's licensee and close collaborator. ThermHex Waben produces honeycomb cores and sandwich panels using EconCore technology and has announced product ranges such as sustainable panels for lightweight applications. The two companies frequently exhibit together at industry events. EconCore has used the JEC World composites exhibition in Paris as a recurring showcase. At JEC World 2023 it announced a new lightweight, fully circular solar panel intended to reduce the weight of roof installations, while ThermHex Waben announced what it described as the world's lightest sustainable sandwich panels with high-quality surface finishes. At JEC World 2025, EconCore and ThermHex Waben presented innovations that won a JEC Innovation Award. The companies planned to exhibit together again at JEC World 2026 in Paris. Over time EconCore has broadened the application space for its honeycomb sandwich technology. Its stated markets include automotive, transportation, photovoltaic panels and infrastructure, aerospace and railway, building and construction, graphical displays, reusable packaging, and furniture and design. The company also maintains a material-application matrix and lists technology in development such as HPT (FR/FST) honeycomb and RPET honeycomb core, reflecting an ongoing focus on recyclable and sustainable material solutions. In 2025, Dr. Jochen Pflug was appointed to the board by the ICSS Scientific Committee, recognizing his standing in the sandwich structures field.

• 2026

  EconCore and ThermHex Waben to exhibit together at JEC World 2026 in Paris, booth 6P108, 10-12 March.

• 2025

  EconCore and ThermHex Waben present JEC Innovation Award-winning innovations at JEC World; Dr. Jochen Pflug appointed to the board by the ICSS Scientific Committee.

• 2023

  EconCore launches a lightweight, fully circular solar panel at JEC World; ThermHex Waben announces sustainable sandwich panels.

• 2010

  Jochen Pflug takes on an additional management role (per board biography).

• 2007

  Jochen Pflug appointed Chief Executive Officer of EconCore in April.

• 2005

  Jochen Pflug becomes Chairman of the Board of EconCore; company founded in Leuven, Belgium.

• 1996

  Jochen Pflug receives a master's degree in Polymer and Composites Engineering from KU Leuven.

World leader in technologies for economic honeycomb sandwich material production; technology licensor enabling cost-efficient, high-volume, lightweight and sustainable sandwich materials.

• ThermHex process

  Continuous production technology for thermoplastic honeycomb sandwich materials, licensed to manufacturers worldwide.

• ThermHex honeycomb cores

  Lightweight thermoplastic honeycomb cores produced via the ThermHex process.

• Honeycomb sandwich panels

  Rigid, lightweight panels for automotive, transport, construction, packaging, furniture and other applications.

• Lightweight circular solar panel

  A fully circular solar panel launched at JEC World to reduce the weight of roof installations.

• HPT (FR/FST) honeycomb and RPET honeycomb core

  Technologies in development listed by EconCore, reflecting focus on fire performance and recycled materials.

1. 1Econcore - New technologies and honeycomb cores for economic sandwich material productioneconcore.com
2. 2Econcore - About useconcore.com
3. 3Econcore - Boardeconcore.com
4. 4Econcore - Contacteconcore.com
5. 5EconCore (Belgium) - Wikidatawikidata.org