GKD-Group

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GKD Group - also known as GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG is a company founded in 1925 with its headquarters in Mariaweiler, a district of Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is one of the leading technical weaving mills in the world..[1] The privately held corporation operates subsidiaries in the United States, South Africa, France, China, Spain, India[2], and Chile.

The company has systematically developed from being a supplier of standard woven wire cloth towards supplying mesh types woven of metals and plastics for technically demanding applications.[1]

In 2019 GKD Group generated revenue of 107 million euros.[3]

History

The family-owned company was founded in 1925 by Josef Kufferath and is currently in its third generation of leadership, headed by Stephan Kufferath, along with Lara Kufferath in the fourth generation[4]

Since 1992, GKD has been manufacturing architectural mesh. The first project involved equipping the newly designed National Library in Paris by Dominique Perrault[5] with a fine metal mesh. Some other architectural projects featuring GKD's architectural mesh include the Kunsthalle Mannheim[6], the European Court of Justice (EuGH) in Luxembourg[7], the Indemann observation tower[8], and Bertelsmann's Planet m at Expo 2000. Iconic buildings like the FIFA headquarters in Zurich[9] and the Beijing Opera House[10] also received products from the company. GKD also supplied wind protection for the renovation of the Holmenkollbakken ski jump[11] for the 2011 Nordic Ski World Championships.

Innovation

Since 2023 GKD Group is collaborating with Cleanr, an Ohio-based microplastics filtering tech developer, to help washing machine manufacturers meet new global regulations targeting microfiber pollution. Cleanr's technology can filter over 90% of microplastics in washing machine wastewater and can be integrated into machines or used as an external filter. This partnership addresses the urgent issue of microplastic pollution, which originates from clothing and textiles and accounts for 35% of microplastics in the environment. Governments worldwide are introducing regulations, and this collaboration aims to provide effective solutions to meet these requirements.[12] [13]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, GKD Group optimized existing face masks, starting with a pollen filter insert for Phantom Athletics training masks. These masks, renowned for improving stamina and athletic performance, gained international recognition.[14]

Business activity

The production and development activities of the GKD Group are divided into the following business areas:

  1. Industrial Mesh (Technical Fabrics and Filter Solutions): GKD manufactures technical fabrics and filter solutions for various industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical, environmental technology, chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and textile industries.
  2. Process Belts (Fabric Conveyor Belts for Production Lines): The company produces fabric conveyor belts used in production plants across various industries.
  3. Architectural Mesh (Metal Mesh[15] for Building Facades, Ceilings, and Interior Design): GKD manufactures metal mesh products[16] used in architectural applications to enhance building aesthetics and functionality.
  4. Transparent Media Facades (Stainless Steel Mesh with Integrated LEDs): GKD produces stainless steel mesh with integrated LEDs, which is used in transparent media facades[17] for innovative architectural designs.

Awards

  • Top-Innovator 2023 [1]
  • German Innovation Award für GKD BLUEBACKER 2023[18] [2]
  • Designpreis der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 2009[19]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "GKD - manufacturer profile". Stylepark. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  2. ↑ "GKD founds subsidiary in India". equipmentindia.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  3. ↑ "GKD records highest revenues in company's history". www.innovationintextiles.com. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  4. ↑ "Generation Change at GKD". textile network. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  5. ↑ "Dominique Perrault Architecture - National Library of France - Interiors". www.perraultarchitecture.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  6. ↑ "GKD and the Kunsthalle Mannheim Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art". Building Design + Construction. 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  7. ↑ "Woven Metal Mesh Systems by GKD". Architectural Review. 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  8. ↑ "Imposing Medial Spectacle by Ursula Herrling-TuschArchiExpo". trends.archiexpo.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  9. ↑ "FIFA World Headquarters by Tilla Theus". Architizer. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  10. ↑ "A pearl for Beijing by Ursula Herrling-TuschArchiExpo". trends.archiexpo.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  11. ↑ "Holmenkollen Ski Jump | JDS Architects, Airbnb, GKD Metal Fabrics". Archello. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  12. ↑ "Eliminating microplastics in household washing". www.innovationintextiles.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  13. ↑ Staff, TWICE (2023-05-02). "CLEANR Teams With GKD To Develop Microplastic Filtration System For Washing Machines". TWICE. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  14. ↑ "GKD's pollen filter for high performance". Filtration and Separation. 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  15. ↑ "Visually Stunning Integrated LED Metal Mesh Transforms Facades". Archinect. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  16. ↑ "How Metal Fabrics Bring Architectural Visions to Life". Metropolis. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  17. ↑ "GKD Mediamesh Display Delights Shoppers In Northern China Mall". Archinect. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  18. ↑ www.aberratio.de, aberratio GmbH, Hamburg. "Gewinner des German Innovation Award". www.german-innovation-award.de (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2023-10-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ "Deutscher Designpreis 2009". Stylepark (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2023-10-04.

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