KNF

What KNF does

KNF is a German family-owned technology company founded in 1946 and headquartered in Hamburg, specializing in diaphragm and swing piston pumps for handling gases and liquids, vacuum generation, and precision dosing. Its catalog spans intelligent diaphragm pumps with integrated sensor technology and closed-loop control (FMS-FC 1.400, FD 1.200, MGP 75, NVC 830), explosion-proof and high-flow industrial diaphragm pumps (N 680.1.2 Ex, N 1200, N 1400), swing piston pumps (NPK 02), and a comprehensive laboratory line (LABOPORT, SIMDOS, LIQUIPORT, RC 900 rotary evaporators, VC 900 controllers). Core technological differentiators include demonstrated 100,000-hour pump life on the NMP 850.1.2, leak-tight designs for purity-sensitive media, smooth-flow turbulence-free output, oil-free and dry-run-capable operation, and a modular architecture enabling assembly from individual key components. The company serves medical equipment, laboratory/research, inkjet and 3D printing, emission measurement, semiconductor, hydrogen/fuel cell, chemical, food and beverage, security and defense, and industrial-automation OEMs through 24 office locations and 5 production sites globally, with a workforce of 900+.

The business model is predominantly hardware sales of pumps, systems, and accessories (138+ OEM diaphragm pump models, 52+ laboratory models), supplemented by service, repairs, spare parts, and lifetime support contracts. KNF has no public pricing; commercial engagement is quote-based through direct sales, supported by a global network of consulting offices and engineering channel partners, plus a web shop for sample pumps to lower procurement friction for smaller buyers. Marketing relies on the company website, industry events (e.g., ADLM), LinkedIn, and YouTube for technical content. The horizontal segmentation approach targets many industries rather than a single end-market, with medical equipment and laboratory/research flagged as primary use-case segments.

Operationally, KNF is actively scaling its intelligent-pump platform (launched April 2026), validated in parallel by the NMP 850.1.2 100,000-hour reliability milestone (June 2026) and the swing-piston expansion (NPK 02, May 2025). Strategic partnerships with Dumarey (flywheel energy storage) and nu glass (frequency-transparent glass for telecom), plus long-standing research relationships (e.g., FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), point to deliberate vertical expansion into energy, telecom, and advanced manufacturing. A planned CEO succession from Martin Becker (26 years as CEO, 40+ years with the company) to Alexander Heizler effective January 2026 — with Becker moving to Chairman — signals continuity planning rather than a strategic pivot.

Name

KNF

Legal name

KNF Neuberger, Inc.

Website

https://knf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

KNF is a German family-owned manufacturer founded in 1946 that designs, produces, and distributes diaphragm and swing piston pumps for gases, liquids, and vacuum applications, serving medical, laboratory, industrial, energy, and semiconductor OEMs across 24 global locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Diaphragm Pumps: Sale of diaphragm pumps for gas, liquid, and vacuum applications serving industrial, medical, and laboratory markets
2. Laboratory Pumps & Systems: Lab-specific pumps including LABOPORT, SIMDOS, LIQUIPORT, and VC 900 product lines for research and laboratory applications
3. Accessories & Spares: Spare parts, maintenance kits, and accessories for all KNF pump products including diaphragms, valves, filters, and connectors
4. Service & Repairs: Technical service, repairs, and lifetime support for KNF products

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KNF designs, produces, and distributes diaphragm pumps and systems for handling gases and liquids. The portfolio covers OEM diaphragm gas and liquid pumps, swing piston pumps, intelligent pumps with integrated sensors and closed-loop control, and laboratory pumps and systems (vacuum pumps, rotary evaporators, vacuum controllers, liquid dosing and transfer pumps).

Product overview

KNF offers a comprehensive portfolio of diaphragm pump solutions and laboratory equipment. The core product lines include intelligent diaphragm pumps (FMS-FC 1.400, FD 1.200, MGP 75, NVC 830) featuring integrated sensor technology and closed-loop control for flow, pressure, and vacuum applications; swing piston pumps (NPK 02); and traditional diaphragm gas/liquid pumps in various sizes (N 1200, N 1400, N 680.1.2 Ex). The laboratory segment includes LABOPORT® vacuum pumps and systems, RC 900 rotary evaporators, VC 900 vacuum controllers, SIMDOS® liquid dosing pumps, and LIQUIPORT® liquid transfer pumps. The intelligent pump product line represents the advanced modular platform with customization options, while the standard diaphragm and swing piston pumps form the foundational product families serving diverse industrial, medical, and analytical applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NMP 850.1.2 Micro Diaphragm Gas Pump Micro diaphragm gas pump achieving a demonstrated 100,000-hour operating life under demanding conditions including 40°C ambient temperature, 40-60% humidity, 0.5 bar overpressure, and constant vibration, suitable for critical medical devices, emission measurement, laboratory instruments, and gas detection systems.
• FMS-FC 1.400 Intelligent Diaphragm Liquid Pump Intelligent diaphragm liquid pump with integrated flow control, sensor technology, and closed-loop control for precise setpoint maintenance, targeting OEMs in medical technology, analytical systems, and industrial processes.
• FD 1.200 Intelligent Diaphragm Liquid Dosing Pump Intelligent diaphragm liquid pump with precise dosing capabilities, integrated sensor technology, closed-loop control, and UART communication, for OEMs in medical, analytical, and industrial applications.
• MGP 75 Intelligent Gas Pump Intelligent gas pump with integrated pressure control, sensor technology, and closed-loop control, part of the modular intelligent pump product line targeting medical technology, analytical systems, and industrial processes.
• NVC 830 Intelligent Micro Vacuum Pump Micro vacuum pump with intelligent vacuum control, integrated sensor technology, and closed-loop control, achieving vacuum levels down to 55 mbar absolute, for OEMs in medical, analytical, and industrial applications.
• NPK 02 Swing Piston Gas Pump Swing piston gas pump with 1.8 l/min flow rate, 2.1 bar relative pressure, and 400 mbar absolute vacuum, expanding KNF's swing piston pump portfolio for industrial and laboratory applications.
• N 1400 (60 Hz) Diaphragm Gas Pump Diaphragm gas pump with 300 l/min maximum flow rate, 6 bar relative pressure, and 150 mbar absolute ultimate vacuum, featuring maintenance-free operation, contamination-free transfer, self-priming, dry-run capability, and excellent reliability for industrial and laboratory applications.
• N 680.1.2 Explosion-Proof Diaphragm Gas Pump Explosion-proof diaphragm gas pump with 220 l/min maximum flow rate and 3 bar relative pressure, available with PTFE and EPDM diaphragm material options for chemical resistance in hazardous environments.
• N 1200 (60 Hz) Diaphragm Gas Pump Diaphragm gas pump with 150 l/min maximum flow rate, designed for industrial and laboratory applications requiring reliable gas transfer and vacuum generation.
• LABOPORT Laboratory Pumps and Systems Laboratory pumps, systems, and rotary evaporators for benchtop laboratory applications, including vacuum pumps, controllers, and accessories for centrifugal concentration, degassing, desiccation, distillation, filtration, fluid aspiration, gel drying, liquid dosing/metering, liquid transfer, rotary evaporation, solid-phase extraction, and vacuum oven; built for intuitive operation, compact design, precision, and chemical resistance.
• RC 900 Rotary Evaporator Laboratory rotary evaporator system used in scientific research applications, combining with the SC 920 vacuum pump system to form a distillation and rotation system with sleek design, minimal footprint, and intuitive handling.
• VC 900 Vacuum Controller Vacuum controller for laboratory applications, available with connection cables for interface connectivity with N 920 G, N 820 G, and N 840 G pumps.
• SIMDOS Liquid Dosing Pumps Diaphragm liquid dosing and metering pumps including SIMDOS 02 and SIMDOS 10 models, featuring modular design with various head materials (KT, TT, FT), valve materials (Kalrez, Chemraz), and diaphragm options (PTFE, FFKM) for precise liquid handling in laboratory applications.
• LIQUIPORT Liquid Transfer Pumps Diaphragm liquid transfer pumps including NF 100, NF 300, NF 1.100, and NF 1.300 models, available in RC (remote control) and S (standard) versions for various laboratory liquid handling applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000 operating hours achieved by NMP 850.1.2 pump (equivalent to more than 11 years of continuous operation)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• nu glasscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Swiss startup known for making glass permeable to telecommunication frequencies partnered with KNF to create revolutionary frequency transparent window technology. KNF provides pump solutions for their manufacturing process.
• DumareycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cleanroom environment and flywheel energy storage system developer partnered with KNF for vacuum pump integration. KNF pumps are key components for operating these systems and optimizing performance.
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)minorOthersUniversity beta testing partner for KNF products including SC 920 vacuum pump system and RC 900 rotary evaporator. FAU provided rigorous testing in demanding laboratory conditions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IDEX Corporation: Diversified fluidics platform with pump, dispensing, and material-handling businesses serving industrial, medical, and analytical customers. Comparable in serving OEM customers across fluid handling niches, but at corporate scale far larger than KNF.
• Parker Hannifin: Global fluid power and motion control leader with a broad pump, valve, and compressor portfolio serving industrial, medical, and process customers. Overlaps with KNF in OEM fluid handling, but operates across a much wider product portfolio rather than specializing in diaphragm pumps.
• Xylem: Global water technology and pump manufacturer with broad industrial and municipal pump lines. Overlaps with KNF in OEM and industrial fluid transfer, but at much larger scale and focused on water/wastewater end markets rather than diaphragm specialty pumps.
• Atlas Copco (Vacuum Solutions / Edwards / Leybold): Global vacuum and compressor group with strong positions in laboratory, semiconductor, and industrial vacuum. Direct competitor in vacuum pump categories where KNF sells LABOPORT and N-series diaphragm pumps, but offers a much broader vacuum portfolio.
• Flowserve: Major industrial pump and valve manufacturer serving oil & gas, chemical, power, and water industries. Adjacent rather than head-to-head, but competes for similar industrial-process fluid handling budgets at larger scale.

Direct peers

• Thomas by Ingersoll Rand: Thomas is a long-established manufacturer of diaphragm and piston vacuum/pressure pumps used in medical, analytical, and industrial applications. Closest direct comparable to KNF's diaphragm gas pump portfolio, including leak-tight and oil-free models for OEMs.
• Watson-Marlow (Spirax Group): Specialist in fluid handling pumps including diaphragm and peristaltic technologies for medical, pharmaceutical, and laboratory applications. Comparable OEM-driven, application-engineered sales motion targeting many of the same medical and lab customers as KNF.
• Bürkert: German-headquartered manufacturer of fluid control systems including solenoid valves, sensors, and micro-diaphragm pumps for medical, lab, and process industries. Highly comparable German mid-market peer with similar OEM customization model and regulated-end-market exposure.
• Pfeiffer Vacuum: German-headquartered specialist in vacuum technology for analytical, semiconductor, and laboratory applications. Direct competitor in lab/scientific vacuum pumps where KNF's LABOPORT product family competes.

Emerging players

• Yamada Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of diaphragm and industrial pumps serving chemical, food, and OEM customers. Comparable diaphragm-pump technology, particularly in dosing/metering applications like KNF's SIMDOS line, though with different geographic emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/knfusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knf-neuberger-gmbh
• Xx.com/knfusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/knfusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about KNF