Metal foam has become a key engineering material across Europe's automotive, aerospace, rail, construction, machinery and energy sectors — valued for its unique combination of low weight, high stiffness, energy absorption, thermal conductivity, acoustic damping and filtration capability. But with specialized producers scattered across Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, the Netherlands and France — each focusing on different foam structures, materials and manufacturing processes — finding the right partner can take weeks of research.
This 2026 sourcing guide reviews the top metal foam manufacturers and suppliers in Europe, from closed-cell aluminum foam and aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panel producers to open-cell porous aluminum and functional metal foam specialists. It is written for procurement managers, design engineers, R&D buyers and technical decision-makers sourcing metal foam for lightweight structures, crash energy absorption, thermal management, acoustic control or filtration systems. For each company, you will find its manufacturing focus, product portfolio, key products, application coverage and the reasons buyers choose it — so you can build a qualified supplier shortlist in minutes instead of weeks.
European Metal Foam Manufacturers Comparison Table (2026)
| Company | Country | Main Products / Business |
|---|---|---|
| Havel metal foam GmbH | Germany | Aluminum foam, aluminum foam sandwich |
| Pohltec metalfoam GmbH | Germany | Aluminum foam sandwich |
| Mayser GmbH & Co. KG | Germany | Open-cell metal foam, aluminum foam components |
| Aluinvent | Hungary | Aluminum foam, aluminum foam sandwich |
| Exxentis AG | Switzerland | Open-cell porous aluminum |
| Recemat BV | Netherlands | Open-cell metal foam and porous metal materials |
| Alveotec | France | Metal foam and porous metal solutions |
1. Havel metal foam GmbH (Germany) — Aluminum Foam & Aluminum Foam Sandwich
Company Overview
Havel metal foam GmbH is a specialized German manufacturer of aluminum foam, headquartered in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. The company produces aluminum foam through a powder metallurgical foaming process, which enables precise control of density, cell structure and component geometry. Havel metal foam supplies industrial customers in the automotive, machinery, rail, aerospace and architectural sectors with both standard foam panels and fully customized foamed parts — positioning itself as a development partner rather than a pure material seller.
Metal Foam Products
The portfolio covers flat aluminum foam sheets and blocks in various thicknesses and densities, near-net-shape aluminum foam parts foamed directly into customer-specific geometries, and aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panels that bond a lightweight foam core between dense aluminum face sheets for maximum bending stiffness at minimum weight. The company also supports foam-filled hollow profiles and hybrid structures for energy absorption.
Key Products: Aluminum foam sheets and panels, aluminum foam blocks, aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panels, near-net-shape foamed components, custom energy-absorbing foam structures.
Application Coverage: Crash and impact absorbers, lightweight structural panels, machine frames and vibration-damping bases, industrial design and architecture, transport equipment.
Main Markets: Automotive suppliers, machinery and equipment manufacturers, rail and aerospace engineering, architects and designers — primarily in Germany and the wider EU.
Why Consider Havel metal foam
Havel metal foam combines German process engineering with flexible, project-based manufacturing. Buyers who need custom geometries, tightly defined density ranges and European-made aluminum foam for safety-relevant or stiffness-critical applications will find it a strong development partner, especially for small and medium series production.
2. Pohltec metalfoam GmbH (Germany) — Aluminum Foam Sandwich Panels
Company Overview
Pohltec metalfoam GmbH, based in Berlin, Germany, is one of Europe's most focused producers of aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) material. The company manufactures foamable aluminum precursor material and converts it into flat and shaped sandwich panels in which a stabilized aluminum foam core is bonded between two dense aluminum face sheets. Pohltec works closely with customers in the automotive, rail, machinery, marine and lifting-equipment industries to replace heavy solid plates with high-performance AFS structures.
Metal Foam Products
Core products include standard and custom AFS panels in various core thicknesses and face sheet combinations, foamable precursor semi-finished material for customers with their own foaming capability, and 3D-shaped sandwich components. Compared with polymer sandwich materials, AFS panels deliver an exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio, high energy absorption and inherent fire resistance.
Key Products: Aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panels, custom-sized AFS plates, 3D-shaped AFS components, foamable precursor material, AFS-based structural elements.
Application Coverage: Automotive and battery lightweight structures, rail vehicle interiors and flooring, crane and access platform decking, machine beds, yacht and marine construction, motorsport.
Main Markets: Automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, rail and commercial vehicle manufacturers, mechanical engineering and shipbuilding companies in Germany and across Europe.
Why Consider Pohltec metalfoam
If your core requirement is maximum bending stiffness and energy absorption at minimum weight, a dedicated AFS specialist is hard to beat. Pohltec's single-technology focus, German manufacturing quality and willingness to develop customer-specific panel geometries make it a go-to supplier for structural lightweight projects.
3. Mayser GmbH & Co. KG (Germany) — Open-Cell Metal Foam Components
Company Overview
Mayser GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Lindenberg im Allgäu in southern Germany, is a long-established family-owned technology company with a dedicated foam technology division specializing in open-cell metal foam. Rather than selling raw foam, Mayser converts open-cell aluminum foam into finished functional components — crash absorbers, filtration media, heat-transfer structures and acoustic elements — for demanding industrial customers.
Metal Foam Products
Mayser's capability covers material selection, cutting, forming, joining, coating and series production of open-cell aluminum foam parts. The open, interconnected pore structure enables fluid flow, sound absorption and heat exchange, making the material suitable for functional roles rather than purely structural ones.
Key Products: Open-cell aluminum foam components, crash and impact absorber elements, filter and flow-control media, heat exchanger and thermal-management structures, acoustic foam parts.
Application Coverage: Automotive safety systems, machinery and plant engineering, filtration technology, thermal management, acoustic treatment and e-mobility components.
Main Markets: Automotive and commercial vehicle manufacturers, machinery and equipment builders, filtration and process industry customers across Germany and Europe.
Why Consider Mayser
Mayser is the right choice when you need finished, series-produced open-cell foam components rather than raw material. Its combination of metal foam know-how, industrial-scale component manufacturing and German quality management suits buyers in safety-critical and high-volume applications.
4. Aluinvent (Hungary) — Aluminum Foam & Aluminum Foam Sandwich
Company Overview
Aluinvent is a Hungarian aluminum foam manufacturer with deep roots in Hungarian aluminum research and long-standing cooperation with university R&D. From its production site in eastern Hungary, the company manufactures closed-cell aluminum foam and aluminum foam sandwich panels using a melt-based foaming technology, supplying European industry with technically capable lightweight foam materials at competitive cost.
Metal Foam Products
The range includes aluminum foam sheets and blocks in different densities and thicknesses, aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panels, near-net-shape foamed parts and foam-filled structural elements. Aluinvent supports custom density targeting and panel dimensions for construction, transport and industrial applications.
Key Products: Aluminum foam panels, aluminum foam blocks, aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panels, custom foamed parts, foam-filled crash and impact structures.
Application Coverage: Lightweight construction and façade elements, crash boxes and impact protection, acoustic and noise-barrier panels, transport and machinery, furniture and design.
Main Markets: Construction companies, transport and vehicle manufacturers, industrial designers and engineering firms across Hungary and the EU.
Why Consider Aluinvent
Aluinvent offers European-produced aluminum foam with the cost advantages of Hungarian manufacturing and the backing of strong in-house R&D. For buyers balancing performance requirements against budget in architectural and industrial lightweight projects, it is one of the most interesting aluminum foam sources in Europe.
5. Exxentis AG (Switzerland) — Open-Cell Porous Aluminum
Company Overview
Exxentis AG is a Swiss manufacturer specialized in open-cell porous aluminum, based in the Zurich area of Switzerland. The company produces porous aluminum with precisely defined, interconnected pore structures that allow controlled flow of gases and liquids. With Swiss precision manufacturing and deep application engineering expertise, Exxentis serves customers in pneumatics, vacuum technology, process engineering and machine building.
Metal Foam Products
The product range covers porous aluminum sheets, blocks and finished components in various pore sizes and permeability classes, as well as precision-machined parts manufactured to drawing. Unlike closed-cell structural foams, Exxentis materials are engineered for functional performance: pressure equalization, flow restriction, filtration, damping and diffusing.
Key Products: Open-cell porous aluminum sheets and blocks, precision porous aluminum components, flow-control and filtration elements, custom-machined porous parts.
Application Coverage: Pneumatics and vacuum technology, air cushioning and clamping, filtration and flow regulation, acoustic damping, thermal management, process engineering.
Main Markets: Machine builders, automation and pneumatic component manufacturers, process and medical engineering firms in Switzerland and across Europe.
Why Consider Exxentis
When your application depends on controlled permeability rather than structural stiffness, Exxentis offers rare material specialization. Swiss manufacturing quality, tight pore-size control and custom machining make it a preferred partner for high-precision porous aluminum components.
6. Recemat BV (Netherlands) — Open-Cell Metal Foam & Porous Metal Materials
Company Overview
Recemat BV, based in the Netherlands, is a specialist supplier of open-cell metal foams and porous metal materials under the Recemat® name. The company provides metal foams in a wide selection of materials, pore densities (PPI grades) and thicknesses, serving both research institutions and industrial customers in energy storage, catalysis, thermal engineering, filtration and electronics.
Metal Foam Products
The portfolio spans open-cell foams in materials such as nickel, copper and other alloys, supplied as sheets, panels, discs and custom formats. These highly porous, interconnected structures — typically well above 90% porosity — provide very large specific surface area, making them ideal for electrodes, catalyst supports, heat exchangers, silencers and shielding applications.
Key Products: Open-cell nickel foam, copper foam and other metal foams, porous metal sheets and panels, battery electrode foams, catalyst and filter support materials, EMI shielding foams.
Application Coverage: Batteries and energy storage, catalysis and chemical processing, heat exchangers and heat sinks, EMI shielding, acoustic silencers, laboratory research.
Main Markets: Battery and electronics manufacturers, chemical and process industries, thermal engineering companies, universities and R&D institutes across Europe.
Why Consider Recemat
Recemat's strength lies in material breadth and technical selection support: multiple foam materials, PPI grades and formats from a single European source. It is a practical partner for engineers developing batteries, catalytic systems, thermal components and research setups that require open-cell metal foam.
7. Alveotec (France) — Metal Foam & Porous Metal Solutions
Company Overview
Alveotec is a French specialist in metal foam and porous metal solutions, designing and manufacturing open-cell metal foams and engineered porous components for demanding industries including aerospace, energy, transport and industrial processing. The company acts as a solutions provider, supporting customers from material selection and prototyping through to series production of porous metal parts.
Metal Foam Products
Alveotec's offering includes open-cell metal foam materials and custom porous components engineered for acoustic absorption, heat transfer, filtration and flow control. Its engineering team adapts foam material, pore structure, geometry and finishing to each application, delivering functional porous solutions rather than catalog-only products.
Key Products: Open-cell metal foam panels, acoustic foam solutions, heat exchanger foam cores, filtration and flow-control media, custom engineered porous metal components.
Application Coverage: Aerospace and aeronautics, acoustic treatment, thermal management and compact heat exchangers, liquid and gas filtration, energy and process industries.
Main Markets: Aerospace primes and suppliers, energy and industrial equipment manufacturers, acoustic and HVAC engineering firms in France and Europe.
Why Consider Alveotec
Alveotec is the right partner when off-the-shelf foam panels are not enough. Its combination of French engineering, multi-material porous expertise and project-based development makes it well suited to buyers who need application-specific metal foam solutions backed by technical support.
Europe Metal Foam FAQ
Answers to the questions buyers most frequently ask when sourcing metal foam from European manufacturers and suppliers.
1. Who are the top metal foam manufacturers and suppliers in Europe in 2026?
Europe has several metal foam manufacturers and suppliers specializing in aluminum foam, open-cell metal foam, porous metals, and custom foam solutions. Key companies include Havel metal foam, Pohltec metalfoam, Aluinvent, Exxentis, as well as Mayser, Recemat and Alveotec.
2. Where can I buy aluminum foam from European manufacturers?
You can source aluminum foam from European manufacturers and suppliers offering aluminum foam sheets, panels, sandwich structures, and customized porous metal components. Selection depends on cell structure, density, dimensions, and application requirements.
3. What types of metal foam are available in Europe?
European suppliers offer different types of metal foam, including aluminum foam, open-cell aluminum foam, porous aluminum, and aluminum foam sandwich panels. Some suppliers also provide customized porous metal solutions such as nickel foam and copper foam through specialist distributors.
4. How do I choose a reliable metal foam supplier in Europe?
Consider the supplier's manufacturing capabilities, foam structure, material grade, density, mechanical properties, customization options, quality control, and delivery experience. Request technical datasheets and samples before placing a bulk order.
5. Are European metal foam manufacturers suitable for industrial applications?
Yes. Metal foam is used in lightweight structures, energy absorption, thermal management, acoustic control, filtration, and engineering components. Suitability depends on the foam material, pore structure, strength, and application environment.
6. Can European metal foam suppliers provide customized products?
Some European manufacturers offer customized dimensions, densities, pore sizes, foam structures, and sandwich-panel configurations. Buyers should confirm customization capabilities, minimum order quantities, and technical requirements directly with each supplier.
7. Can I source nickel foam and copper foam from suppliers outside Europe?
Yes. European buyers can also work with specialized international suppliers — such as HY Metal Foam — offering nickel foam, copper foam, silver foam, and other porous metal materials. The selection should consider material specifications, quality consistency, lead time, and import requirements.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Metal Foam Supplier in Europe for 2026
Europe's metal foam industry is strong but highly specialized. Germany leads in closed-cell aluminum foam and AFS sandwich technology with Havel metal foam and Pohltec metalfoam, while Mayser focuses on finished open-cell foam components. Aluinvent offers cost-competitive European aluminum foam from Hungary, Exxentis delivers Swiss precision in open-cell porous aluminum, Recemat supplies open-cell metal foams for energy and electronics, and Alveotec engineers custom porous metal solutions in France.
Before shortlisting, define five things clearly: (1) closed-cell vs. open-cell structure, (2) base material, (3) required density or pore size, (4) degree of customization, and (5) annual volume. Request technical datasheets and samples from at least two or three suppliers, and compare not only price but also process capability and long-term supply reliability.
One practical tip for 2026: most European manufacturers concentrate on aluminum-based foams. If your project also requires nickel foam, copper foam, silver foam or other open-cell porous metals — for batteries, catalyst supports, filtration, heat transfer or EMI shielding — it can be more efficient to work with a global specialist that manufactures these materials at scale. HY Metal Foam is a specialized metal foam manufacturer supplying nickel foam, copper foam and silver foam to industrial customers across Europe and worldwide, with consistent batch-to-batch quality, a broad specification range and factory-direct pricing. Many European buyers combine local aluminum foam partners for structural applications with HY Metal Foam for functional open-cell metal foams — balancing regional engineering support with supply security.
