What Rhodius does

GDW Rhodius KMS GmbH is a German specialty manufacturer of engineering-grade knitted wire mesh and separation technology, founded in 1925 in Weißenburg, Bavaria, and operating today as a subsidiary of the Gerard Daniel Worldwide (GDW) wire mesh group. The company produces highly efficient separation solutions based on proprietary knitted wire mesh, including droplet separators (demisters) for gas-liquid separation, coalescence meshes for liquid-liquid phase separation, regenerable filter cassettes for dust and oil filtration, and laser-cut elastic elements for electrolysis cells. Secondary products include pressed parts for vibration damping, knitted wire mesh gaskets, vandalism-protection mesh, counter-drone defense mesh, and outdoor mesh for animal enclosures. Core specifications span widths from 4mm to 2,800mm, wire diameters from 0.03mm to 1.5mm, and a wide materials range including stainless steels, Monel, Inconel, Hastelloy, titanium, PP, PFA, ETFE, and various fiber materials. Performance is documented at up to 99.9% separation efficiency with droplet capture down to 1 µm and porosity near 97%; ~400,000 electrolysis elastic elements are installed worldwide, making Rhodius the self-described largest global manufacturer in that category.

The business is differentiated by deep process expertise accumulated over roughly 100 years, an in-house mechanical engineering team that designs and builds proprietary knitting machinery, and the proprietary "Separate" design software used to specify separators. Products are sold through direct B2B enterprise field sales with custom quoting, personalized engineering consultation, on-site installation support worldwide, and an in-house technical center offering CFD flow simulation via SOLIDWORKS plus mobile test units. Customer end-markets span process engineering and chemicals, automotive and mechanical engineering, energy and the hydrogen economy (water electrolysis for green hydrogen plus chlor-alkali electrolysis), environmental and process technology, food and beverage, shipbuilding and maritime, and defense and critical infrastructure. Quality management is certified to ISO 9001:2015, and all manufacturing is concentrated at the Weißenburg site.

Rhodius generates revenue through the design, engineering, and production of custom-made knitted wire mesh products priced individually based on materials, dimensions, and order volume, with no public pricing tiers. Selling motion is exclusively direct B2B engagement with industrial OEMs, engineering firms, and plant operators, supported by industry events, downloadable technical documentation, and the global reach of the GDW network across North America, Europe, and Asia. Since the 2024 integration into Gerard Daniel Worldwide, Rhodius has gained access to broader distribution and co-manufacturing capacity while retaining its German manufacturing identity and brand.

Name

Rhodius

Legal name

GDW Rhodius KMS GmbH

Website

https://rhodius.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Short description

GDW Rhodius KMS GmbH manufactures engineering-grade knitted wire mesh in Bavaria, Germany, founded in 1925. It produces demisters, coalescence meshes, filter cassettes, and electrolysis elastic elements for industrial customers in process engineering, chemicals, energy, automotive, and defense sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Separation Technology & Engineered Knitted Mesh

NAICS

Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing (33261)

akta.pro primary industry

Separation & Filtration Equipment (Filters, Centrifuges, Membranes) (IMAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Engineered knitted mesh
• Droplet separators
• Separation technology
• Filter cassettes
• Electrolysis elastic elements

Headquarters

HQ city

Weißenburg In Bayern

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom-Engineered Knitted Mesh and Separation Products: GDW Rhodius KMS generates revenue through the design, engineering, and production of custom-made knitted wire mesh products and separation solutions. Revenue derives from individual part specifications through to large-series manufacturing, with projects initiated via direct customer inquiry and personalized consultation. The company serves industrial OEM customers, engineering firms, and plant operators with project-based and repeat order business.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GDW Rhodius KMS designs, engineers, and manufactures custom-engineered knitted wire mesh products and separation solutions for industrial customers. The portfolio spans droplet separators (demisters) for gas-liquid separation, coalescence meshes for liquid-liquid phase separation, regenerable filter cassettes for dust and oil filtration, and laser-cut elastic elements for water and chlor-alkali electrolysis applications, complemented by pressed parts, knitted gaskets, vandalism protection, drone defense mesh, and outdoor animal enclosure mesh. The company also offers the proprietary 'Separate' design software, in-house technical center testing, and worldwide on-site installation support.

Product overview

GDW Rhodius KMS is a world market leader in engineering-grade knitted mesh and separation technology. The product portfolio centers on knitted wire mesh products serving three core application areas: (1) Technical Knitted Mesh as the foundational product for filtration, damping, sealing, and insulation applications; (2) Separation Technology including Droplet Separators/Demisters for gas-liquid separation, Filter Cassettes for dust and oil separation, and Liquid Phase Separation coalescence meshes; and (3) Electrolysis Elastic Elements for hydrogen production. Supporting products include Pressed Parts for vibration damping, Cords & Gaskets for high-temperature sealing, Vandalism Protection mesh, Dro-mesh Counter-Drone Defense, and Outdoor Mesh for animal enclosures. The company also provides engineering services including the proprietary SEPARATE design software for separator optimization, a technical center for testing and prototyping, and on-site installation support. Production is based in Weißenburg, Bavaria with global reach as part of the Gerard Daniel Worldwide group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technical Knitted Mesh (Technische Gestricke) Custom-engineered knitted wire mesh with high flexibility, elasticity, and load-bearing capacity. Available in widths from 4 mm to 2,800 mm and wire diameters from 0.03 mm to 1.5 mm in stainless steels, special alloys, plastics, and fiber materials. Used for filtration, damping, sealing, and thermal insulation across industrial applications.
• Droplet Separators / Demisters (Tropfenabscheider) Wire mesh droplet separators for gas-liquid separation in process engineering plants. Achieve up to 99.9% separation efficiency, capture droplets from 1 µm to 100 µm, with low pressure loss of only a few mbar. Custom-designed using proprietary 'Separate' software.
• Filter Cassettes (Filterkassetten) Regenerable and reusable filter cassettes for coarse and fine separation of dusts and oils. Made from wire mesh with stable frames of plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel, available in nearly all dimensions with material combinations tailored to specific suspended particle types.
• Liquid Phase Separation Coalescence Meshes (Phasentrennung von Flüssigkeiten) Coalescence meshes for separating immiscible liquids such as oil and water. Combine hydrophilic and hydrophobic wire materials to significantly accelerate droplet agglomeration and gravity-driven sedimentation, reducing required residence time and container dimensions.
• Electrolysis Elastic Elements (Elektrolyse-Elastikelemente) Laser-cut elastic elements for water electrolysis (green hydrogen) and chlor-alkali electrolysis cells, produced in widths up to 2,800 mm on proprietary high-performance knitting machines. With approximately 400,000 elements installed worldwide, GDW Rhodius KMS is the largest manufacturer of elastic elements for electrolysis applications.
• Pressed Parts (Pressteile) Mechanically compressed knitted mesh sections used as bearing and damping elements in automotive and mechanical engineering. Reduce vibration, noise, and wear, resistant to oils, acids, and alkalis with long maintenance-free service life.
• Cords & Knitted Wire Mesh Gaskets (Schnüre und Dichtungen) Knitted mesh tubes and coverings with elastic cores for high-temperature sealing and electrically conductive applications. Available as hollow cords (5-20 mm diameter) for gas electrodes, solid cords (up to 210 mm diameter) for high-temperature gaskets, and coverings for elastomer or fiberglass gaskets.
• Vandalism Protection Mesh (Vandalismusschutz) Anti-vandalism knitted mesh with thick wire diameters (0.70-0.90 mm) that resists punctures from knives and prevents mesh expansion. Used to reinforce seat covers in public transport and truck tarps against 'tarp slicers', while remaining flexible and comfortable.
• Dro-mesh Counter-Drone Defense System Military-grade drone defense mesh made from high-strength stainless steel (AISI 316L) that physically entangles drone rotors without electronics. 60% more stable than plastic nets, 80% lighter than welded grids, with 99% porosity and ISO 9001 certification. Custom widths 100-3,000 mm and lengths 5-50 m per roll.
• Outdoor Mesh for Animal Enclosures (Outdoor-Gestricke) Stainless steel knitted wire mesh for animal enclosures and aviaries. Bite- and scratch-resistant, 100% corrosion-resistant, 100% permeable to light and air. Standard roll widths 100-3,000 mm, lengths 5-50 m, with wire diameters 0.15-0.50 mm.
• SEPARATE Design Software Proprietary online design software for optimal droplet separator (demister) specification. Calculates separation efficiency, pressure drop, wire diameter, packing density, and separator height based on process parameters including gas/liquid properties, flow velocity, and droplet size distribution.
• Technical Center / Technikum Testing Services In-house testing and prototyping laboratory with mobile test units. Offers Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation via SOLIDWORKS, mobile oil mist test stands, and liquid-liquid separator analysis, with on-site testing and analysis available to support optimal separator selection.
• On-Site Installation Support (Einbaubegleitung vor Ort) Worldwide on-site installation support by experienced engineers, ensuring 100% fit of separator elements even with incomplete documentation. Capable of providing replacement parts within 24 hours through 3-shift production if needed.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 99.9% separation efficiency for droplet separators
• +5 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Gerard Daniel Worldwide (GDW)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Rhodius KMS joined Gerard Daniel Worldwide, North America's largest wire mesh manufacturer. The merger combines Rhodius's nearly 100 years of German engineering excellence and market leadership in separation technology with GDW's global distribution and manufacturing network. This partnership provides access to GDW's production facilities and warehouses in North America (USA, Canada), Europe (Ireland), and Asia, while GDW gains Rhodius's specialized expertise in separation technology and knitted mesh solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Donaldson Company: Donaldson is a large global manufacturer of filtration systems for industrial engines, dust collection, and process applications. Its industrial filtration and dust collection lines partially overlap with Rhodius's filter cassettes for dust and oil separation, though Donaldson operates a much broader product portfolio.
• Sulzer: Sulzer is a broad industrial process equipment manufacturer offering separation, mixing, and filtration solutions across chemicals, energy, and water. Its separation technologies overlap with Rhodius's demister and coalescence product lines, though Sulzer serves a much wider portfolio of process equipment customers.
• Pall Corporation: Pall Corporation, part of Danaher, is a global filtration, separation, and purification specialist serving chemicals, energy, and biopharma. Its industrial filtration portfolio overlaps with Rhodius's filter cassettes and coalescence products, though Pall operates at much greater scale and breadth.

Direct peers

• Munters: Munters is a global manufacturer of air treatment and humidity control solutions, including mist eliminators and droplet separators used in industrial process and HVAC applications, competing directly with Rhodius's knitted mesh demister portfolio.
• Sefar Group: Sefar is a Swiss manufacturer of precision woven fabrics and mesh components for filtration, separation, and industrial applications. Its technical mesh products compete with Rhodius's knitted mesh solutions across similar end markets including process engineering and automotive.
• Koch-Glitsch: Koch-Glitsch is a global leader in mist elimination, fractionation, and process filtration equipment, including wire mesh demisters and vane separators that directly compete with Rhodius's droplet separators and coalescence meshes in chemical, refining, and petrochemical process plants.
• GKD Group: GKD is a German specialist in technical woven and spiral mesh fabrics for filtration, process technology, and architectural applications. Its metal mesh fabrics directly compete with Rhodius's knitted mesh products in filtration and industrial process engineering.

Emerging players

• Porvair Filtration Group: Porvair manufactures specialized filtration and separation products for process industries, aerospace, and energy. Its process filtration products partially overlap with Rhodius's filter cassettes and coalescence meshes, though Porvair's portfolio is broader across media types.
• Mott Corporation: Mott Corporation manufactures porous metal filtration and flow control components for process industries, including media that overlaps with Rhodius's filtration products, though Mott focuses more on sintered porous metal than knitted mesh.

Regional players

• Bopp & Co. Bopp is a Swiss manufacturer of precision woven wire cloth and filter media for industrial and architectural applications. Its metal mesh products compete with Rhodius's knitted mesh in filtration and process engineering, though Bopp is primarily woven (not knitted) and serves a more European-focused customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhodius-gmbh

Compliance1 record

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 Rhodius