2023 – AFS New Product Award

For the third time after 2013 and 2016, GKD won the prestigious AFS New Product of the Year Award. The leading international American Filtration & Separation Society (AFS) presents this award annually for the world’s most significant new product in the field of filtration and separation. The VORTX separation unit was recognized as the best product of 2023. This revolutionary unit for microplastic separation was developed by GKD in collaboration with the US start-up CLEANR and is based on the innovative use of vortex flows.

The vortex technology filters more than 90 percent of microplastic fibers from washing machine wastewater and has the potential to revolutionize filtration performance in other areas such as drinking water filtration and air purification systems.

Markus Knefel, Senior Manager Product Pre-Development & Development at GKD, accepted the award at the AFS Spring Conference and emphasized the importance of innovative solutions for environmental protection.