GKD Group, a Pioneer in technical weaving for industrial and Architectural applications, closed the 2019 financial year with record earnings. The family-run firm, now in its third production, surpassed the prior year's figures for its fifth year in series with sales of $107.4 million (previous year: $95.3 million).

The equity ratio increased by 4.6%age points to 50.3 %. Significant The GKD group employed 848 people at the end of this reporting year, 445 of these at the headquarters in Düren, together with 20 trainees.

"We managed to further significantly increase the successful development of the prior decades, underlining the fact that the GKD group is put up for continuing success in an increasingly demanding financial arena," states Dr. Stephan Kufferath, Commercial Director of GKD. His brother, qualified Engineer Ingo Kufferath, who works alongside him as technical director, adds, "The consistent focus on products which respond to megatrends for example freedom, protecting resources, and wellbeing, was further proof of GKD's resilience, enabling us to once more cement our position as technological and market leaders."

The industrial net branch recorded strong growth especially in The regions of automotive, raw materials extraction, and basic filtration. Additionally, revenue increased from new solutions with metal nets for electromobility and pushes in the near future.

In the crude oil sector, constructions with GKD mesh obtained additional In the field of general filtration, and for the water business specifically, new products like the three-dimensional Porometric mesh contributed to a substantial jump in earnings.

The primary driver behind the success of this process belt division was The substantial growth in capacity produced by the production site in the USA assembled in the previous year. Really strong need from the timber, corrugated board, and nonwovens industries also contributed to the excellent sales tendency in this branch. Revenue from the architecture division dropped. It wasn't possible to match the one-off impact of the last year's sales, which were boosted by a significant job in the USA. GKD responded to the general change in the architecture market, which is accompanied by increasing price sensitivity and the need for colored solutions, with the evolution of new cloth types. At the beginning of 2020, these rigid aluminum meshes were successfully launched on the market in new warm metal colours and with a previously unseen open area.

Strong contribution from subsidiaries overseas

GKD-USA again played an important part in the general result. The country's traditionally strong structure business, the other two branches also delivered a sterling performance. A key contributor to the strong rise in earnings in Asia was the great demand for special meshes for ink jet printers.

In Africa, GKD triumphed in over doubling revenue compared to The preceding year as a result of mining enterprise. In Australia, it wasn't possible to replicate the architecture revenue of former years, resulting in a slide in sales of -12.9 %. Architecture company in Europe also saw a downward trend (-3.8 %).

In Latin America, operations relocated to new business premises in Preparation for anticipated growth opportunities -- particularly in the program areas of mining, environmental protection, and the food industry. Business development in the Middle East was impacted by political upheaval. Stephan Kufferath remarks, "The current situation in the Arab world and building growth in the area inspire low expectations.

Outlook with justified optimism

For the current fiscal year, GKD is expecting a positive result Despite the Coronavirus pandemic and is seeking to"reach the goals set with justified optimism," says Stephan Kufferath. The pandemic has left its mark in all business divisions and subsidiaries of GKD in the first half of 2020 through temporary shutdowns of operations in China, India, South Africa, and Chile. But, these were paid by other factories, enabling the expectations for earnings growth -- even compared to the preceding season -- to be met.

"The good results in the first half of the year show once again That we can compensate negative changes in person Branches with our portfolio aligned to central needs and our Wide-ranging expertise in industry and solutions," explains Ingo Kufferath. His brother adds:"Due to the uncertain consequences of the Pandemic, we are currently unable to offer a reliable sales prediction. But with all our equity share of over 50%, we've got enough of a buffer to Make additional investments in our future as planned."