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Our History

Learn more about the Knauf business; from it's humble origins to a global entity that employs in excess of 41,500 employees worldwide.

Our timeline

1932

How it all started

It all started in 1932, when two brothers and mining engineers Alfons and Karl Knauf secured the mining rights to gypsum deposits in the Schengen community (Obermosel) in Germany. The project was quickly crowned with success: by 1933 Knauf’s first gypsum factory was established in Perl (Moselle), Germany – and this factory is still the nucleus of production technology for the worldwide Knauf Group.

1949

A new beginning

The founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 was also a time of new beginnings for Knauf – coinciding with a milestone in the company’s history as the company relocated from Perl to Iphofen in northern Bavaria.

1958

Iphofen and leadership in innovation

In Iphofen growth of the family company as an innovative partner in the building materials industry accelerated. For example, Knauf created completely new construction methods with the production of fully new gypsum boards in 1958. A few years later, the company developed drylining systems for the first time ever and broadened its range of products continuously to include processing components, special tools, and metal profiles for wall and ceiling constructions.

1970

Investing in new material

In 1970, Knauf made its first investment in a building material that was not made from gypsum: Perlite. Knauf’s involvement in Deutsche Perlite GmbH (in Dortmund) underlined the systematic ambitions of its business in the long run.

1978

New division in the company

In 1978, Knauf laid the cornerstone for its insulation materials division, an area that is still very important today: Knauf took over a production facility for glass wool insulation material in Shelbyville (USA).

1980

A new generation of leaders

At the beginning of the 1980’s, another significant change was on the way: Nikolaus and Baldwin Knauf, sons of the founders, took over management of the Group – and, with their consequent continuation and implementation of the company’s philosophy, had a significant share in Knauf’s growth. Knauf now has 220 production facilities and sales organisations in over 80 countries, 28,000 employees worldwide, and sales of 7.2 billion Euro (in 2018)

2008

In 2008, Nikolaus and Baldwin Knauf transferred to the shareholders’ committee of the company. In the committee, they alternated in holding the position of chairman and vice-chairman.

Today

Currently, the management of the Knauf Group is in the hands of Manfred Grundke, Alexander Knauf and Jörg Kampmeyer who are also personally liable general partners. Knauf: A group of companies with a long history. Great success. Poised for the challenges of the future. Knauf can

About Knauf North Macedonia

The beginnings of Knauf in North Macedonia are connected with two employees in 1994 in Skopje who very quickly started selling twice as many gypsum products from the domestic factory Radika.

The first major milestone in the history of Knauf in North Macedonia was our acquisition of the gypsum factory in Debar - Radika in 1997.

Since then, Knauf has made an investment of 42 million euros in North Macedonia. By setting goals for the future of operations from German owners, we planned to modernize the facilities, reorganize and train existing employees, hire new employees who slowly but surely made Knauf in Macedonia a small regional center in this part of Europe.

Today Knauf North Macedonia has around 160 employees in Debar and Skopje. Maybe this number is modest in relation to the 41,500 employees in the group in the world, but Debar and Skopje within Knauf have become origins of quality staff who over the years have been given more responsible functions within the global Knauf organization.

Founded in 1994