The invention concerns a catalytic converter consisting of a tubular shealth (1) containing at least two separate honeycomb elements (2, 3) made of structured layers of sheet metal (4, 5). In order to make it possible to produce the catalytic converter inexpensively on a large scale, honeycomb elements (2, 3) are used which are flexible in their construction and are inserted in the tubular shealth with a prestress. This prestress is produced by compressing the flexible honeycomb elements by 2 to 10 % of the theoretical uncompressed diameter of the element (2, 3), this being carried out by compressing the honeycomb elements before inserting them in the tubular shealth (1) and/or by shrinking the tubular shealth (1) on to the honeycomb elements (2, 3) after they have been inserted. Owing to the prestress, elements (2, 3) of this kind are stable to the mechanical stresses involved in high-speed manufacturing operations and are suitable for welding in the upright position and subsequent coating with ceramic material. The mainapplication of such catalytic converters is in vehicles, particularly mass-produced vehicles.