Knauf Group

What Knauf Group does

Knauf Group is a family-owned German building materials manufacturer founded in 1932 and headquartered in Iphofen, Bavaria, operating across more than 90 countries with 320 production facilities, 85 raw-material processing plants, and a workforce of approximately 43,500. The company is organised into three core divisions — Knauf Gypsum (drywall systems, plasters, boards, and accessories), Knauf Insulation (thermal, acoustic, and fire-protection insulation), and Knauf Ceiling Solutions (mineral, metal, wood wool, and wood fiber ceilings) — supplemented by the Aquapanel cement board line, ETICS facade systems, and floor screed products. The North American business runs through USG Corporation (acquired 2019) and its Canadian subsidiary CGC Inc., and the Middle East footprint is being built via the 2026 acquisition of United Mining Industries Company in Saudi Arabia.

The company makes money primarily through one-time sale of physical building materials via a decentralised go-to-market model in which local country businesses manage their own sales, distributor, and retail relationships, supported by an enterprise direct-sales motion for large contractors and a digital platform (knauf.com, 60+ country variants) for technical documentation, product information, and supplier procurement. Customers span construction professionals (architects, contractors, installers), residential and commercial construction projects, healthcare facilities, and the hospitality sector; pricing is quote-based and channel-determined rather than publicly listed. Recent operational modernisation includes an AI-powered supply chain partnership with Blue Yonder that has reduced inventory by 13% and cut planning cycles from two weeks to under one week. Ownership remains entirely within the Knauf founding family, with the current management board comprising Jörg Kampmeyer, Dr. Uwe Knotzer, Dr. Kristin Neumann, and Murat Akyildiz.

Name

Knauf Group

Legal name

Knauf Digital GmbH

Website

https://knauf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Knauf Group is a family-owned German building materials manufacturer founded in 1932, producing gypsum drywall, insulation, ceiling systems, and related construction products through three divisions across 90+ countries, serving architects, contractors, distributors, and homeowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Materials

NAICS

Gypsum Product Manufacturing (327420), Lime and Gypsum Product Manufacturing (3274)

SIC

Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products (3270)

akta.pro primary industry

Gypsum Board & Drywall Panels (IMADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plaster (Gypsum/Lime/Cement) & Basecoat Systems (IMADAEAC), Ceiling Boards, Plasterboard Tiles & Suspension-Compatible Gypsum Products (IMADAEAM), Gypsum Plasters & Specialty Additives/Modifiers (IMADAEAG)

Keywords

• Gypsum building materials
• Drywall systems
• Insulation materials
• Ceiling solutions
• Construction plasters

Headquarters

HQ city

Iphofen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Building Materials Sales: Knauf generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of construction materials including gypsum boards, insulation products, ceiling solutions, plasters, and accessories. The company operates a multi-divisional structure with Knauf Gypsum, Knauf Insulation, and Knauf Ceiling Solutions as distinct business units serving different product categories.
2. Knauf Insulation: Thermal, acoustic, and fire protection insulation solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, serving both new construction and renovation markets.
3. Knauf Ceiling Solutions: Premium ceiling systems and components for commercial interiors, architectural projects, and residential applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Knauf manufactures and sells gypsum-based building materials including drywall systems, gypsum boards, plasters, thermal/acoustic/fire insulation products, ceiling solutions, external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), Aquapanel cement boards, and floor screed systems. The company operates 85 raw material processing plants and 320 production facilities across more than 90 countries, serving residential, commercial, healthcare, and hospitality construction projects through three main divisions: Knauf Gypsum, Knauf Insulation, and Knauf Ceiling Solutions.

Product overview

Knauf Group is a global building materials manufacturer with a diversified portfolio organized around three main divisions: Knauf Gypsum (drywall systems, gypsum boards, plasters, and accessories), Knauf Insulation (thermal, acoustic, and fire protection insulation solutions), and Knauf Ceiling Solutions (premium ceiling systems). The company produces construction materials across multiple product categories including plates/panels, insulation, ceilings, putty/finishing compounds, and accessories. Additional offerings include External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS), Aquapanel cement boards, and floor screed systems. Knauf also operates a digital Supplier Portal powered by Jaggaer for procurement and supplier management. The company operates 85 raw material processing plants and 320 production facilities across more than 90 countries, employing over 43,500 people with annual turnover of approximately €15.6 billion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Knauf Gypsum: Gypsum products, drywall systems, plasters, and construction accessories for walls, ceilings, and floors
• Knauf Insulation
• Knauf Ceiling Solutions
• Knauf Aquapanel
• Knauf Industries

Products and services

• Knauf Gypsum

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of employees worldwide would recommend Knauf as an employer

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Blue YondercoreTechnology or Integration · 18 May 2026Knauf received Blue Yonder's 2026 ICONic Customer Award in the Visionary Connector category, recognizing measurable business outcomes including inventory reductions of 13%, forecast accuracy improvements of approximately 12%, and planning cycle time reductions from two weeks to under one week.
• United Mining Industries Company (UMI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Knauf International GmbH received regulatory clearance from Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Competition to acquire a 63.2% stake in Jeddah-headquartered United Mining Industries Company for SR504.49 million ($134.5 million). UMI manufactures gypsum and construction materials for Middle East markets. Following initial acquisition, Knauf intends to acquire the remaining stake, marking strategic entry into Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 industrial localisation agenda.
• Blue YondercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Knauf Group selected Blue Yonder demand planning solutions to address supply chain challenges in Africa. The AI-powered supply chain solutions help optimize inventory, improve forecast accuracy, and reduce planning cycle times from two weeks to under one week. This partnership supports Knauf's digital transformation and operational efficiency improvements.
• USG CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnauf Group acquired USG Corporation in 2019 and maintains ownership through its Board of Directors oversight. Christopher Griffin led USG as President and CEO since the acquisition, with Christopher Macey appointed as successor effective April 1, 2026. USG operates wallboard and ceilings businesses across North America, with CGC Inc. (Canadian division) opening a new CAD$210 million wallboard plant in Alberta in June 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Yoshino Gypsum: Japan's largest gypsum board manufacturer with comparable product breadth across boards, plasters, and ceiling materials — competing in the same product categories as Knauf but focused on the Japanese domestic market.

Direct peers

• Boral Limited: Australia-headquartered building materials group with gypsum wallboard, plasterboard, ceiling systems, and plaster product lines servicing Asia-Pacific markets — a direct regional competitor in adjacent geographies to Knauf's APAC footprint.
• Saint-Gobain: Paris-listed global leader in building materials including gypsum plasters and boards (Habito, Rigips brands), insulation, ceilings, and exterior systems — directly overlapping with Knauf's three core divisions across Europe, Americas, and Asia-Pacific.
• National Gypsum Company: US privately held gypsum board, plasters, and construction products manufacturer competing with USG/CGC in North America and exporting to Latin American and Middle Eastern markets that overlap with Knauf's distribution.
• Etex Group: Belgian multinational specializing in drywall, plasters, fibre cement boards, and ceiling systems under brands such as Siniat, Promat, and Eternit — competing head-to-head with Knauf Gypsum and Knauf Ceiling Solutions across Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
• Georgia-Pacific (Koch Industries): US-based major manufacturer of gypsum wallboard (Dens-brand) and related building products — competes with Knauf-owned USG/CGC as one of the largest North American gypsum board producers.

Broad incumbents

• Holcim Group: Swiss global building materials giant primarily in cement and aggregates, but expanding into lighter building solutions including systems, insulation, and roofing — adjacency to Knauf's systems-and-insulation bundle at the broader construction materials level.
• Wienerberger AG: Austrian-listed building materials manufacturer specializing in clay bricks, roof tiles, and pipe systems, increasingly adding façade and insulation solutions — competes with Knauf ETICS and Aquapanel in building envelope specifications across European markets.

Emerging players

• James Hardie Industries: Australia/New Zealand-listed fibre cement building products manufacturer with growing gypsum-adjacent wall systems exposure — competes with Knauf Aquapanel cement boards in exterior and wet-area applications.
• Continental Building Products: US-focused gypsum wallboard and complementary construction products manufacturer recently acquired by Compagnie de Saint-Gobain — a focused North American competitor in the same product category as USG/CGC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/knaufgroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Knauf
• Facebookfacebook.com/KnaufGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knauf-group

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knauf Group