IFAT, the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies, will be opening its doors in Munich on May 13. The focus of this year’s event is on efficient solutions for the water, wastewater, waste, and raw materials management sector. GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG, the global leaders in the production of metallic, synthetic, and spiral meshes, will be showcasing various solutions, including innovative products and applications to improve water quality and promote sustainability. With a new stand design, that consistently aligns with the company’s vision ‘FOR A HEALTHIER, CLEANER, SAFER WORLD’, GKD is underlining its commitment to sustainability and environmental technologies.

One particular highlight of the trade fair appearance is the premiere of a new product that can help significantly reduce microplastic pollution due to tire abrasion. According to figures published by the General German Automobile Association (ADAC), around 500,000 tons of tire debris is released in the EU every year. In Germany, this debris accounts for around one third of all microplastic emissions. To reduce the level of pollution, the filter specialists from North Rhine Westphalia, Germany have developed a solution that can remove up to 97% of all total suspended solids (TSS) from street runoff. The year-round filter from GKD can easily be integrated into existing road drainage systems and cleaned during standard maintenance cycles. This innovative solution, based on many years of research and development in cooperation with various institutes such as the Technical University (TU) in Berlin, represents a breakthrough in microplastic filtration.

In addition to this, GKD will be presenting new Vortex-based separation units which can effectively separate microfibers, for example in household appliances like washing machines or tumble dryers, while at the same time lowering power consumption. GKD also sees great potential for this development in numerous environmental technology applications.