Draft:GKD-Group

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. The privately held corporation operates subsidiaries in the United States, South Africa, France, China, Spain, India, 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.

In 2019 GKD Group generated revenue of 107 million euros.

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.

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

Microplastic filtration for washing machines
Since 2023 GKD Group is collaborating with Cleanr, an Ohio-based microplastic filtering tech developer, claiming to support washing machine manufacturers in meeting global regulations targeting microfiber pollution. Cleanr suggests that its technology can filter over 90% of microplastic in washing machine wastewater being integrated into machines or used as an external filter.

Filtration for reduced CO2 emissions and fuel consumption
GKD developed a mesh filter medium, which is used by Volkswagen for its new generation of filters, designed to filter out particles and soot with minimal pressure loss, thus ensuring efficient engine performance and reduced CO2 emissions. The patented filter modules were designed to replace older bag-style filter media. Volkswagen adopted the GKD pads as standard parts for its diesel engines.

Pollen filtration for training masks
GKD developed a pollen filter for training masks. This filter insert, made of die-cut rounds of stainless steel mesh, shall offer reliable protection against pollen for athletes.

Architectural media mesh
GKD’s architectural media mesh was installed at the Eton Place Dalian tower complex in the port city of Dalian, northern China. This installation by NBBJ spread out on a 6.23-hectare site including five mixed-use towers and a six-story mall. The transparent displays, wrapped around the building's corners, just as two screens, 34 feet high and up to 78 feet wide, allowed media to be viewed over a 90° angle using LED technology.

The media mesh was also installed at Celebrity Cruises first ever brand-designed cruise terminal at Port Everglades in Hollywood, Florida, in Crown Plaza Time Square Hotel in New York and in Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York.