Renolit Gorcell available from Panello UK

Renolit Gorcell is a polyproylene based lightweight composite panel material constructed using a honeycomb core sandwiched between two composite decking panels. It is available in flat sheets in a range of sizes, thicknesses and finishes, or in compenent parts which can be formed to make bespoke components using bent lamination techniques.

Download the Renolit Gorcell Brochure

Decorative variants of Gorcell are an ideal component for caravans, campervan conversions, yachts and waterproof lightweight applications such as outdoor kitchens. Non-decorative variants expand that versitility even further to vehicle and trailer bodies, flight cases and other lightweight structures.

Honeycombe Core

The key to the lightweight and rigid finish of a Gorcell compoent is the Polyproylene Honeycombe core. When bonded to the surface decks, this produces an extremely rigid and lightweight structure offering a panel or formed component which is extremely light, rigid, strong and durable.

Surface Layer “Deck”

The suface layer (typically around 1.3mm for most standard sheets) is made from a composite material comprised of thermoplastic films bonded and compressed with layers of natural fibres. Surface decking is available in two grades; Stock Gorcell sheets are constructed with Woodstock decking. This offers better characteristics for flat sheets and gives the stock panels a rigid finish. A slighly more pliable variant called Corkstock is available separately. This offers a similar finish but exhibited improved workability for the production of profiled or formed work using bent lamination techniques.

Looks as good as it performs

The surface layer of Gorcell sheets are available in a number of finishes to suit your individual needs:

Alkorcell Decorative Foil
Recoatable
Fleeced
Bare

Alkorcell Decorative Foil

The most common option; the surface is factory finished with high-quality Alkorcell decorative foil. Currently available designs include: Tweedy Oak Grey, Gladstone Oak Cappuccino and Cocha White 87.

Beige Recoatable / Laminatable

The surface layer is factory finished with a smooth beige bondable surface, ideally suited as a base for end-user lamination of a range of decorative foils and films, such as Renolit Alkorcell.

Fleece-Backed

A fleeced layer is factory bonded to the board surface to give a highly textured keyed surface which is perfect for most adhesives and offers an excellent base for bonding a range of decorative and/or surface finishes such as lino, materials and other surface finishes.

Bare Polypropylene

Whilst not commonly requested, Gorcell Sheets are available as bare Polypropylene boards with no surface treatment or finish applied. Note that Polypropylene is a low-energy surface so bonding to bare boards requires special treatment.

What are the Benefits?

Gorcell is poised to revolutionise the camper conversion and marine industries. It offers a range of benefits over traditional “lightweight” plywood and other similar materials that many constructors and end-users will find very appealing. Whilst not an exhaustive list, Gorcell boasts the following attributes:

LIGHTWEIGHT

Made from a high-strength honeycombe core sandwiched between solit outer layers, Gorcell is exceptionally light. A typical 12mm 2440×1220 sheet weighs in at 11kg and a 15mm sheet of the same size weighs in at just 12.3kg.

STRONG

DURABLE

Gorcell sheets and Alkorcell decorative coatings provide exceptional durability. Gorcell is water repellant and hard-wearing with excellent resistence to weather, humidity and fungal attack. The panels exhibit high thermal resistence and chemical compatability.

ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY

Gorcell and the decorative Alkorcell films are made from polypropylene to give a long service life. It contains no formaldehyde, halogen components or plasticisers and everything can be recycled, minimising waste and environmental impact.

What does it cost?

As you will be getting a sense already, Gorcell provides a longer service life than plywood and is significantly more resilient in the face of “real world” conditions – humidity, water ingress, temparature fluctuations and the like. It enables significantly lighter builds and, at the end of its service life, can be 100% recyled.

With all these benefits, you’d be forgiven for expecting it to be an order of magnetude more expensive than the lightweight decorative plywood it’s been engineered to replace. It’s not – see for yourself…

Download Gorcell Retail Price List

For commercial builders expecting to use more than 20-sheets a month, get in touch for commercial / volume pricing.

Using Gorcell

In order to get the best out of Gorcell, you’ll need to consider and adopt new techniques rather than applying the same practices that you would employ when working with wood and wood-based materials.

To help you make the leap, the technical specialists at Renolit, who manufacture Gorcell and who have been living and breathing the product since its inception, have produced a fantastic Processing Guide that gives all sorts of hints, tips and suggestions on how to get the best out of the product. It’s not an exhaustive, new fixings and techniques are being added all the time but, in the meantime, it should help with that first step…

Download Gorcell Processing Guide

Interested? Want to know more?

For more information on Gorcell or any other product, please get in touch with the Panello UK team by phone on 08452 246 801 or by email: sales@panello.uk and we will be delighted to help you.