Tapping Into New Markets

Visionary and general manager Erich Becker and his small team nevertheless take courage from their initial small successes. Medical suction units start to be fitted with KNF pumps and the refrigeration industry discovers the benefits of types NK 25 and NK 50, which have been developed especially for industrial use, and utilizes them to evacuate cooling systems prior to maintenance. But it is only in 1969, when KNF relocates from its cramped premises in the center of Freiburg to Munzingen on the outskirts of the city, that KNF begins to truly pave the way for its future success.

In the years that follow, KNF builds a team of specialist sales and production staff, and its diaphragm pumps start being installed in ever greater numbers into systems produced by renowned, international device manufacturers. KNF makes a name for itself worldwide as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The young company also demonstrates its expertise and flexibility by developing customized products on a project-by-project basis. As KNF gains insights into a wide range of industries, it uses its new-found knowledge to create innovative products.

Today, KNF’s designs are used in a broad range of areas, from laboratories and industrial facilities to medical research and the food industry. KNF diaphragm pumps are flown around the world in research aircraft, where they compress air samples to help scientists track climate change. They also support the development of environmentally friendly fuel cell technology for city buses in China. Other areas in which KNF diaphragm pumps are used include dialysis machines, equipment for measuring intraocular pressure and the development of external ventricular assist devices. They are also installed in many gas analysis and emissions measuring instruments located at notable sites including a huge petrochemical plant in a Qatari desert and a measuring station in the middle of the Amazon. These are just a few examples of the diverse ways in which KNF’s products are used.