A process to produce a honeycomb body having a multiplicity of at least partially structured sheet metal layers forming a multiplicity of fluid-permeable passages. A fork-like intertwining device is rotatable about a central axis and engages each stack. A former surrounds the intertwining device and has an inner contour corresponding to an outer contour of the honeycomb body to be produced. At least one opening in a wall of the former for stack ends extends substantially parallel to the central axis. In a production of the honeycomb body, at least one stack is layered from a multiplicity of at least partially structured sheet metal layers. Each stack is introduced into a former corresponding to the external shape of the honeycomb body to be produced, with at least one end of each stack projecting out of the former through at least one opening. Each stack is held by an intertwining device rotatable about a central axis, in a central region. Each stack is intertwined by rotation of the intertwining device relative to the former to form a honeycomb body, with the stack ends being pulled into the former until the stacks fill the entire former.