Products

Balsa core made to suit your lay-up process

End grain panels, 1,219 × 610 mm (48" × 24"), 3 to 50.8 mm thick. Rigid or flexible, with optional coatings, grooves and infusion holes. Suitable for hand lay-up, vacuum bag and infusion.

About balsa

Why balsa works as a core

Balsa is a light, open-grained wood with a high strength-to-weight ratio, which is what a sandwich core needs.

Very light, open grain

Dry density ranges from 40 to 340 kg/m³, typically around 160 kg/m³.

Strong for its weight

Balsa is light because of large, water-filled cells. After about two weeks of kiln drying, the cellulose and lignin cell walls give it exceptional strength for its weight.

The fastest-growing tree

From seedling to an adult tree of about 27 m (90 ft) in 5-7 years, with a trunk about 50 cm across.

Selected from seed

Each tree produces hundreds of thousands of seeds. Only the best are germinated in nurseries and planted.

Ecuador is the source

Fertile soil, about 2,300 mm (90 in) of rain a year and tropical sun make Ecuador the world's main source of balsa.

End grain performance

With the grain perpendicular to the panel face, balsa delivers exceptional compressive properties. It is widely used in wind turbine blades.

Three product lines

End grain panels in 48" x 24" format, 3 to 50.8 mm thick, rigid or flexible, with coatings and machining ready for hand lay-up, vacuum bag or infusion.

Model Grade Balsa

AAA grade sheets, sticks and blocks for model aircraft and architectural models. Densities from 65 to 385 kg/m³.

See model grade specs

Balsa Blocks

Bonded Core Blocks (BCB): kiln-dried balsa glued to ASTM D-4690, the same blocks we slice into panels. Also sold as blocks for your own cutting.

See block specs

End Grain Balsa

Kiln-dried end grain panels, 1,219 × 610 mm (48" × 24"), 3 to 50.8 mm thick. Rigid or flexible, plain or coated, with optional grooves and infusion holes.

See panel specs

Applications

Where FLEXOKORE panels are used

Panels work with hand lay-up, vacuum bag and resin infusion.

Wind energy

Wind turbine blades

Wind blades are the main use of end grain balsa. A light core keeps blade weight down. UV-sealed panels (UVSS) absorb about 1 to 1.3 kg/m² less resin, and drilled panels let resin flow through the core in infusion.

Marine

Hulls, decks, bulkheads

A light core for hulls, decks and bulkheads. Kiln drying kills fungi and insects before the panel is bonded.

Aeromodeling

Model aircraft

Balsa has been one of the main materials for model aircraft since about 1920. It is light, absorbs the shock and vibration of hard landings, and cuts easily with hand tools. We supply AAA sheets, sticks and blocks.

Other uses

Wall panels, design objects

End grain panels are used for wall panelling, trays, boxes and the inner structure of portable tables and stands. Light to ship and easy to cut.

Need a custom specification?

We cut panels to thickness and add scrim, slits, grooves, holes or fillet strips to your specification. Send the details and we will reply with a price. Samples are available on request.

Request a quote or sample