The Golden Pump

At the time, diaphragm pump sales are soaring. KNF has started to sell its double diaphragm system to the nuclear power industry, which leads to further orders being placed from a wide range of other sectors. “We were gaining new customers by word of mouth,” recalls former employee Alexander Gagg. “Even back then, people were saying, ‘If you have a problem, call KNF. They can find the right pump for anything, even if you want a gold-plated one.’” This is how KNF comes to accept the challenge of fulfilling such an order.

The greatest hurdle is identifying a material capable of transferring phosphoric acid vapors at temperatures of up to 150 degrees. Normally, pump components are made from Teflon or materials like stainless steel, aluminum or ceramics. But for one specific customer order, only one particular material comes into question: gold. 

In addition to its unique shine, the precious metal is very corrosion-resistant and acid-proof. Only aqua regia – which is Latin for “royal water” and consists of a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid and nitric acid – can corrode gold. These properties mean that gold is not only used in fine jewelry, but is also a popular material for use in industry.