What Knauf Interfer does

Knauf Interfer SE is a privately held German metals processor and distributor headquartered in Duisburg, operating as part of the Knauf Interfer Gruppe. The company is organized into two primary business units: Business Unit Steel, which functions as a steel service center offering cold-rolled and hot-rolled strip, hot-dip galvanized steels, electrolytically refined (tinned and galvanized) steels, and value-added services such as cold rolling (Kaltwalzen), forming plates (Formplatinen), and surface refinement (Veredelung); and Business Unit Aluminium, which produces complex extruded aluminium profiles and assemblies with further-processing (Weiterbearbeitung) capabilities. The product portfolio spans standard grades through to specialized "außergewöhnliche Güten und Abmessungen" (exceptional grades and dimensions) and is supported by customer-facing online tools including coil weight, coil outer diameter, pipe, and carbon-equivalent-value (CEV) calculators.

The company targets two end-markets — Automotive and Industry — through direct B2B sales. Its automotive offering emphasizes tailored solutions for vehicle manufacturing and "future mobility," addressing supply-chain efficiency, precision material specifications, weight reduction, and quality consistency. Industrial customers are served with specialized steel and aluminium grades and fabrication support. Operations span Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland, with localized websites in German, English, Dutch, and Polish. The company was founded in 1922 and reports a headcount of 1,001–5,000 employees; it is structured as a European Company (Societas Europaea) and has no public listing, disclosed parent, or known institutional/PE ownership.

Revenue mechanics follow a B2B industrial-supplier model with quote-based pricing — a structure typical for steel and aluminium distribution where pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company markets itself as "precision in a wide range" ("Präzision in großer Bandbreite"), reflecting a value proposition that combines broad material availability with downstream processing and finishing. No revenue figures, customer concentration disclosures, certifications, or AI/ML capability signals were present in the source data.

Name

Knauf Interfer

Legal name

Knauf Interfer SE

Website

https://knauf-interfer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Knauf Interfer SE is a German steel and aluminium processor and distributor serving automotive and industrial customers across Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland through two business units — Steel (cold-rolled, hot-rolled, galvanized, and electrolytically refined products plus finishing) and Aluminium (extruded profiles and further processing).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Steel and Aluminium Processing & Distribution

NAICS

Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding (331318)

SIC

Steel Works, Blast Furnaces & Rolling & Finishing Mills (3310)

akta.pro primary industry

Steel Service Centers & Processing (Slitting, Cut-to-Length, Blanking, Leveling) (IMAKABAL)

Keywords

• Steel processing services
• Aluminium extrusion profiles
• Cold-rolled steel supply
• Automotive steel distribution
• Industrial metals processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Duisburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Knauf Interfer processes and distributes steel and aluminium products through two business units — Business Unit Steel (steel service center with cold rolling, slit strip, forming plates, and surface refinement) and Business Unit Aluminium (extruded profile manufacturing and further processing). The portfolio spans cold-rolled, hot-rolled, hot-dip galvanized, and electrolytically refined steels alongside complex extruded aluminium profiles, supplied primarily to Automotive and Industry customers across Europe.

Product overview

Knauf Interfer is a steel and aluminium processing and distribution company operating two primary Business Units: Business Unit Steel (Stahl Service Center and Functional Metals) and Business Unit Aluminium (aluminium profile manufacturing). The company offers an extensive steel product portfolio including cold-rolled strip and steels, hot-rolled strip and steels, hot-dip galvanized steels, and electrolytically refined steels. Their aluminium offerings include complex extruded profiles and further processing services. The company serves Automotive and Industry sectors with tailored solutions ranging from standard products to specialized grades and dimensions. Additionally, they provide online tools including Coilrechner (coil calculator for weight and outer diameter), Rohrrechner (pipe calculator), and CEV-Rechner (carbon equivalent value calculator). The product architecture follows a business unit structure with specialized divisions for different material types and processing capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Unit Steel Steel service center and functional metals division offering precision cold rolling, slit strip, and steel finishing/processing services for automotive and industry customers.
• Business Unit Aluminium Aluminium profile manufacturing and further processing division producing complex extruded aluminium profiles and assemblies for various industrial applications.
• Cold-Rolled Strip and Steels (Kaltband und kaltgewalzte Stähle) Cold-rolled strip and steels including cold-forming grades, heat treatment steels, microalloyed steels, soft steels, structural steels, and multiphase steels, supplied for automotive and industrial manufacturing.
• Hot-Rolled Strip and Steels (Warmband und warmgewalzte Stähle) Hot-rolled strip and steels for forming, microalloyed hot-rolled steels, structural hot-rolled steels, and hot-rolled multiphase steels, supplied for automotive and industrial applications.
• Hot-Dip Galvanized Steels (Feuerverzinkte Stähle) Hot-dip galvanized steels including soft steels, high yield strength steels, construction steels, cold-rolled multiphase steels, and hot-rolled multiphase steels for automotive and construction industries.
• Electrolytically Refined Steels (Elektrolytisch veredelte Stähle) Electrolytically refined steels including electrolytically tinned fine sheet and strip, and electrolytically galvanized cold-rolled and strip steels (DIN EN 10139, 10132, 10268) for industrial applications.
• Aluminium Profiles (Aluminiumprofile) Complex extruded aluminium profiles and assemblies with further processing capabilities for various industrial applications.
• Forming Plates (Formplatinen) Forming plate processing capabilities within the Business Unit Steel, providing cut-to-size and processed steel plates for industrial customers.
• Cold Rolling Services (Kaltwalzen) Cold rolling technology service for precision steel band/strip processing, offering precision in a wide band range for automotive and industrial customers.
• Surface Refinement and Finishing (Veredelung) Surface refinement and finishing service portfolio for steel products within the Business Unit Steel, providing customized finishing treatments for automotive and industrial customers.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Voestalpine Stahl GmbH: Voestalpine's Steel Division processes and finishes high-quality steel strip for automotive and industrial customers in Europe, including cold-rolled, hot-dip galvanized, and electrolytically galvanized products. It is the closest direct peer to Knauf Interfer's Steel Business Unit because both serve European automotive OEMs with multi-stage steel processing and finishing under one platform.
• Welser Profile: Welser Profile is an Austrian-based specialist in complex cold-rolled steel profiles and aluminium extrusions serving automotive, industrial, and construction end-markets. It directly parallels Knauf Interfer's combination of special-grade steel processing and aluminium profile production for OEM customers.
• Hydro Extrusion: Hydro Extrusion is Norsk Hydro's aluminium extrusion business unit producing complex profiles and further-processed components for automotive, transport, and industrial customers across Europe. It competes head-on with Knauf Interfer's Aluminium Business Unit in extruded profiles and assemblies for European OEMs.
• Constellium SE: Constellium manufactures rolled and extruded aluminium products, including automotive body sheets and structural components, for European OEMs. It is comparable to Knauf Interfer's aluminium profile and processing operations serving automotive lightweighting applications.
• Novelis Inc. Novelis is a major producer of rolled aluminium products serving automotive, beverage can, and specialty markets, with significant European operations. It competes with Knauf Interfer's aluminium processing business on flat-rolled and formed aluminium supply for automotive customers.
• Salzgitter AG: Salzgitter operates a steel service center and processing business in Germany alongside its integrated steelmaking, supplying cold-rolled and surface-finished steel products to European automotive and industrial customers. The service-center and processing activities directly overlap Knauf Interfer's Steel Business Unit.
• AMAG Austria Metall AG: AMAG Austria Metall produces rolled and cast aluminium products, including specialty sheet and plate for automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers. Its rolled and processed aluminium offerings are directly comparable to Knauf Interfer's aluminium processing activities.

Broad incumbents

• thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG: thyssenkrupp Steel Europe is a major German integrated steel producer with downstream processing and finishing capabilities supplying automotive and industrial customers. As a larger incumbent with broader portfolio scope, it competes on parts of Knauf Interfer's steel processing and finishing value chain while also serving broader markets.
• ArcelorMittal Europe: ArcelorMittal Europe is the largest European flat steel producer with deep automotive and industrial customer relationships and extensive downstream processing. It competes with Knauf Interfer on processed and coated steel products but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
• SSAB AB: SSAB is a Nordic steel producer specializing in high-strength steels and offering processed steel products for heavy industry, construction, and automotive segments. While its core focus is on specialty high-strength steel, it competes with Knauf Interfer in supplying advanced steel grades to European industrial and automotive customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 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 Knauf Interfer