Best solutions for our customers
From the development of new products right through to production and quality control in our dedicated laboratories, we support our customers and help find the optimum solution.
“Our motivated and creative team uses its technical expertise to develop and manufacture high-quality products that are precisely tailored to our customers’ needs. Through this, we have established ourselves as a reliable partner.”
Dr. Daniel Holstein
Chief Technology & Operations Officer (CTOO)
Innovative and outstanding: Inventive spirit makes the difference
At GKD, manufacturing and development are seamlessly integrated to ensure continuous improvement and refinement of our product solutions with a strong focus on production. Our engineers and technicians collaborate closely across departments, fostering a dynamic environment for innovation. Furthermore, our experts maintain constant communication with customers and research institutes worldwide, driving the initiation and acceleration of cutting-edge developments. This approach keeps us in sync with market trends and enables us to tailor our solutions to the needs of our valued customers. The result of our innovative efforts is not only evident in our technology
leadership but is also reflected in the numerous awards we have received for our product innovations. These accolades serve as a testament to our commitment to excellence and inspire us to persistently explore new frontiers. Our hunger for progress doesn’t end there. We continuously strive to discover new products, refine processes, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our passion for innovation, coupled with the recognition we receive, serves as a driving force, spurring us forward on the path of excellence.
Future-oriented and practical
We have closely interlinked all elements of the process chain – from the development of new products right through to production and quality control in our dedicated laboratories. Thanks to this structure, improvements are continuously integrated into our production operations. So what benefits does this bring? We are fast, highly innovative, and achieve reproducibly high quality. We develop new and innovative products both quickly and efficiently using the rapid prototyping approach. This produces prototypes of near serial production quality, which we then check for practicality using the finite element method (FEM).
It fits! Like a glove. Made specially for you.
Thanks to our simulation expertise, we are market leaders in the development of new products. Our filtration mesh and filtration solutions need to meet customer requirements exactly. The approach to securing a solution that is perfectly tailored to your needs therefore also includes simulation.
Creating innovative solutions via simulation
Filtration mesh and filtration solutions from GKD need to meet customer requirements exactly and provide efficient benefits. We achieve this using extensive simulations that are as close to the application and as conclusive as possible. There are two material simulation tools we use for this: GeoDict® software, specially developed for porous structures, and the OpenFOAM simulation library.
This is used primarily at universities and research institutes. It is also thanks to our simulation expertise that we are market leaders in the development of new products – as an innovative and solution-oriented partner to industry.
We can create single- and multilayer as well as pleated filtration meshes virtually and combine them with a nonwoven, a foam, or other filter media depending on the application.
To ensure that the model is as close to reality as possible, we incorporate existing filtration meshes into the simulation environment by means of a computer tomography/CT scan. This allows us to precisely analyze the pore geometry of the filter medium even before the actual calculation.
From the simple pressure drop calculation of a wire mesh to the consideration of turbulent, compressible, and/or non-Newtonian flows to the analysis of entire filter systems: We can reliably predict the largest pore or the pore size distribution and porosity of a filtration mesh or mesh package. In the same way, we can calculate complex problems – for example, the treatment of multiphase flows, the interaction of fluid-solid systems (FSI), or heat transfer on woven structures.
Structural mechanics calculations on metal meshes or components using the finite element method (FEM) complete our portfolio.
With our simulation results, flow processes and their causes can be precisely observed and evaluated. Our development engineers use this as a basis for individually optimizing flow control according to customer requirements and application scenarios. In doing so, they pay particular attention to optimizing the flow rate of filter packages, reducing pressure drop, and identifying inefficiently used filter areas. Filtration efficiency as well as degradation behavior when using the filter medium in abrasive media can be determined just as precisely.
Technical solutions from the global market leader.
GKD stands for precise mesh made of metallic and plastic wires, as well as technical fibers – ready for use in all industry sectors. We produce efficient meshes and fabric, process belts, components, filter systems, and architectural fabrics from these materials.
Manufacturing with expertise
We take several factors into account when manufacturing our technical fabric solutions. It is important to us that our customers receive products and product solutions from us that are durable. In addition, they need to be individual and versatile so that they stand up to our customers’ requirements.
And that is exactly what our customers can rely on. We select the right and appropriate manufacturing process for the respective application.
High-quality fabric is made from the right material and with the right weave.
We work with durable materials such as metal or polymers and with sophisticated substances such as basalt, glass, or ceramics. In accordance with the individual wishes of our customers, we produce high-quality and durable industrial meshes, filters, filter elements, or mesh laminates – either in series production or as one-offs. Compound products are just as possible as high-precision mesh made of a single material.
When selecting the right type of weave, our customers can rely on our almost 100 years of experience. The production of mixed constructions, multi-dimensional weave structures, multi-layer constructions, weaves made of special alloys, and production under clean room conditions for special requirements are standard for us.
With our specially developed machines, we make customer wishes possible.
In order to be able to create individual solutions for our customers in niche markets, we at GKD design and manufacture our own machines together with our partners. In contrast to standard machines, these allow us to produce versatile and high-quality meshes that are precisely tailored to the needs of our customers.
Thanks to our special machinery, we can produce just-in-time and process all common materials as well as ultra-fine wires from 16 μM. Ultra-fine meshes up to a width of two meters and a weaving width of up to six meters for other meshes are also possible.
After weaving, 90% of all GKD industrial meshes undergo finishing operations or subsequent processing.
After production, the industrial fabrics are cleaned. We use thermal processes and coatings to permanently ensure the desired material properties and the mesh bond. Finally, we cut and join each product individually. The result of all this is a reliable, durable, and economical product for industry. We process these further into individual solutions or hand them over to our customers as semi-finished products.
A selection of our processing and finishing methods:
- Coating
- Joining
- Degreasing
- Annealing with the shielding gas process
- Calendering
- Marking seams
- Bonding
- Laser cutting
- Solution annealing
- Soldering
- Plasma cutting
- Mechanical cutting/stamping
- Cleaning
- Sintering
- Welding
- Wrapping
Trust is good – control is better.
We provide support for our products throughout their entire lifecycle and beyond. They are developed and tested at our laboratories using state-of-the-art equipment to provide our customers with solutions they can rely on in the long run.
Physical-technical inspections: Quality, efficiency, customer service
The focus of all testing scenarios is on securing benefits for the customer. Our staff members possess the best material and testing expertise, work with the latest laboratory technology, and network constantly with professionals from the fields of inspection technology and science. Our laboratory experts monitor the entire lifecycle of GKD products.
It’s vital that the quality products from GKD exactly meet the customer’s desired specifications. That’s why our physical and technical laboratory conducts tests in the following areas:
- Product development
- Initial sample inspection
- Damage investigation
- Complaints investigation
- Customer-specific tests
- Quality assurance during production
The focus of all testing scenarios is on securing benefits for the customer. Our staff members possess the best material and testing expertise, work with the latest laboratory technology, and network constantly with professionals from the fields of inspection technology and science. Our laboratory experts monitor the entire lifecycle of GKD products.
Between the product idea and the finished application comes mechanical inspection. It provides real data on mechanics and shows how materials and products behave in practice. This is how we ensure that specifications are met and regulations and quality standards are observed.
- Tensile test up to 100 kN including hysteresis test on metallic materials at room temperature according to DIN EN ISO 6892 / DIN EN ISO 13934-1 / DIN EN ISO 13935-1
- Tensile test in the climatic chamber up to +250 °C
- Erichsen cupping test according to DIN EN ISO 20482
- Determination of the coefficients of friction according to ISO 8295
- Load-controlled fatigue testing (Wöhler test) according to DIN 50100
- Chemical composition of various metals by means of elemental analysis via X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
Ever more demanding operating and environmental conditions increase chemical stresses and thus the risk of corrosion for materials. This can lead to structural damage, expensive repairs or contamination, environmental damage, and the loss of products. To avoid this, we carry out targeted chemical tests. With the predominant salt spray tests, we focus especially on the critical application areas of our customers and ensure safety.
- Corrosion tests by means of salt spray tests according to ASTM B117, DIN EN ISO 9227, Strauss test
Based on comparative tests, we optimize our meshes wherever constant quality standards are required. In doing so, we look at meshes of all types in terms of their structure and construction. In this way, specified tolerance limits are adhered to.
- Pore size according to DIN ISO 3310 and DIN ISO 9044
- Manual and automatic mesh determination (e.g. according to DIN ISO 9044 for square mesh)
- Open area (light transmission)
- Determination of the mesh thickness
- Determination of the weight per unit area
- Porosity
- Water permeability of mesh according to DIN EN ISO 11058
- Filter media resistance by means of pocket filters / Büchner funnels
- Air permeability of mesh according to DIN EN ISO 9237
- Surface coarseness on wires
- Rebound angle
With the experience and knowledge gained from countless applications, we also support our customers with specific tests in the field of filtration. These tests are carried out in a standardized manner according to normative specifications. In this way, we assure and improve the quality of the products and ensure high quality in the development of new products.
- Bubble point and pore size distribution by means of capillary flow porometer according to ASTM D6767, ASTM F316-03, ISO 2942 and ISO 4003
- Sized-bead test/spherical aperture according to ISO 17824 / API 19SS
- Retention rate of a filter according to ISO 13319
- Mesh opening (cut point) according to Whitehouse Scientific
Is a product or one of its components failing? We clarify the cause and solve the problem.
- Surface inspection / surface defect inspection using digital microscopy (2D, 3D)
- Component cleanliness inspection according to VDA 19
- Specific acoustic impedance (Rayl value)
- Electrical resistance
- Free shrinkage / shrinkage path / free shrinkage force up to max. 250 °C
- Grain size determination according to DIN EN ISO 643
- Titration/pH value measurement according to DIN EN ISO 10523:2012-04/DIN EN ISO 8655-3:2020-09
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