OUR BUSINESSES
The Knauf Group has a global footprint, four divisions and a 90 year history.
OUR GROUP
As a family business we think in terms of generations. We want to make construction safe, healthy, and sustainable. For living spaces – today and tomorrow.
We think ahead for our customers and continuously set new standards which make construction and renovation both easier and more efficient.
To do this, the Knauf Group is split into 4 core divisions which cover the breadth of the modern construction and insulation industry.
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Knauf
Efficient drywall, plaster, facade and flooring systems made of gypsum for unlimited design options.
- 28,000 employees
- 236 plants
- 87 countries
- €11.2bn (2022)
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Knauf Insulation
Energy-efficient, sustainable insulation solutions made of Glass Mineral Wool, Rock Mineral Wool and Wood Wool.
- 6000 Employees
- 28 Plants
- 40 Countries
- €2.5bn Turnover (2022)
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Knauf Ceiling Solutions
Modular Ceiling Solutions for design and fuctionality.
- 1600 Employees
- 11 Plants
- 7 Countries
- €500m turnover (2022) -
Knauf Industries
High-quality packaging, protection, insulation solutions and moulded technical components.
- 2000 Employees
- 42 Plants
- 8 Countries
- €450m Turnover (2022)
OUR HISTORY
How it all started
It all began in 1932, when the brothers and mining engineers Alfons and Karl Knauf secured the mining rights for the gypsum deposits in the municipality of Schengen (Upper Moselle). Success came fast the following year, with the Knauf brothers building their first gypsum plant at the same location, laying the foundations for today’s Knauf Group.
A new beginning
With the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949, a new beginning was also on our horizon as we set our sights on a new headquarters location, moving from the Moselle to Iphofen in northern Bavaria. Cementing a new milestone in our history, we successfully built a new modern gypster plaster plant at our new headquarters in Iphofen.
Iphofen and leadership in innovation
After many years of success, in 1958 we began to emerge as an innovative partner in the building materials market. With the production of new types of gypsum boards, we established completely new ways of building. In the mid-1960s, we produced the world’s first machine plaster “MP75” and developed the corresponding mixing and conveying machines as well as modern flowing screeds based on anhydrite – all at the same time.
Investing in new material
In 1970, we used the knowledge gained from decades within the industry to venture outside of gypsum-based products and make an investment in Perlite from Deutsche Perlite GmbH (Dortmund). In the following years, the product portfolio was expanded, including construction chemicals, lime- and cement-bound plasters, insulating materials, and mineral ceiling systems, as well as the cement board Aquapanel. Never one to shy away from a challenge, during this time we also developed moulded parts made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) for packaging and injection-moulded parts for the automotive and consumer electronics industries, which were produced primarily in France. Today, this part of the company operates under the name Knauf Industries.
New division in the company
Looking further abroad, in 1978 we entered the North American market by taking over a production facility for glass wool insulation in Shelbyville (U.S.) and thus laid the foundations for the insulation division, Knauf Insulation, which is an integral part of our Group.
A new generation of leaders
At the beginning of the 1980s, Nikolaus and Baldwin Knauf, the sons of the company’s founding fathers, took over the management of the Knauf Group. With the consistent conversion and continuation of the corporate philosophy, they played a significant role in Knauf’s worldwide rise.
Global footprint grows
Between 1989 - 2013 we grew the business into the global leader we are today. Starting manufacturing in Turkey, CIS, China, South America, North Africa, Central & Eastern Europe, Australia and South East Asia.
Milestone in the US
In 2019, we made a significant move by acquiring the USG Corporation based in Chicago (U.S.), a key player in the drywall market in North America and the second largest in the ceiling system market. This acquisition stands as a major milestone in our company's history, propelling us to significantly expand our presence in the North American market.
Knauf Ceiling Solutions is born
Continuing to reach even higher in 2019, Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, WAVE, and Knauf AMF united to establish a new division within the Knauf Group known as Knauf Ceiling Solutions (KCS). This collaboration cemented Knauf Ceiling Solutions into a prominent position within the ceiling market, providing an extensive array of multi-material ceiling solutions encompassing mineral, metal, wood, and wood wool, alongside system ceiling solutions.
USG Boral in APAC
In 2021 we continued our expansion efforts by integrating USG Boral into our portfolio, solidifying our position as the market leader for drywall systems in Asia-Pacific (APAC). With this acquisition, we gained approximately 2,800 employees and 19 plasterboard plants, amplifying our network and enabling the APAC region to leverage the extended distribution network for enhanced market positioning and future growth opportunities.
World’s first 100% climate-neutral drywall
In the year 2022, we increased our ownership of the Japanese drywall manufacturer Chiyoda Ute, resulting in 75% ownership of the company. Notably, on August 1st, Chiyoda Ute achieved a remarkable feat by producing the world’s first 100% climate-neutral drywall at its Yokkaichi plant. This pioneering product is crafted from 100% recycled gypsum, positioning it as an environmentally conscious choice for customers.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS
CAREERS ACROSS OUR GROUP
To make it easier, we have combined ALL live opportunities in ALL Group companies and ALL locations on this site.
When you get to the search page, you can either chose a department or use a keyword search and then filter by country.
Each of our businesses has its own Careers Website to showcase their own priorities, location, culture and jobs.
When you click on a specific job on this site, you will be taken to the job description page which sites on the site of the division where the opportunity is. It is here that you can then learn more about that business, the role and their recruitment processes.
