Satisfactory result despite difficult environment

GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG: Emerging strengthened from the crisis

„Taking the difficult economic and market environment into account, we have achieved a satisfactory result.“ Despite declining sales, Dr. Stephan Kufferath, Chairman of GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG considers the business year 2009 a success. In view of the global economic collapse, the internationally leading technical weaving mill could not keep up the record results of the previous year in 2009, but was able to maintain its top position within the industry. „We have successfully mastered the crisis and, with an enormous effort, set the course for further growth.“ Across the Group, sales fell by 19 percent to 86,2 million Euro. Both divisions, WORLD WIDE WEAVE for technical mesh and CAPITAL EQUIPMENT for capital equipment and engineering, showed a decline in sales. The four self-sufficient business units – SOLID WEAVE (filtration and separation technology), WEAVE IN MOTION (process and filter belt technology), CREATIVE WEAVE (architecture and design) and GKD-COMPACT FILTRATION (compact filter systems) – were affected to different degrees. While some sales in the areas of industrial applications fell drastically, the architectural sector experienced another increase in turnover. GKD-Delkor (Pty) Ltd. recorded a large decline in sales. As of balance sheet date, the GKD Group had 622 employees worldwide, 391 of which are working in Düren, including 24 apprentices.