Manufacturer of sealing profiles made from PVC, TPE and silicone for windows, doors and industry – with in-house extrusion in Marxen.
GfA-Dichtungen GmbH
Marxen (DE) · Cape Town (ZA) · Netherlands · DenmarkNew on Amplifa
GfA – Seal Manufacturer since 1978
GfA-Dichtungen GmbH, based in Marxen near Hamburg, develops and produces sealing profiles made from highly modified elastomeric PVC, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE-S, TPE-V) and silicone rubber. The product range comprises more than 5,000 standard profiles, including seals for window and door systems made of wood, aluminium and steel, as well as for roller shutters, conservatories, vehicle construction, furniture, showers and refrigeration systems. Custom special profiles are manufactured from 200 metres in almost any RAL colour – development is based on hand sketches, photos, CAD or 3D files. Production includes extrusion on 17 lines, in-house toolmaking with EDM technology, rapid prototyping via 3D printing, injection moulding of corner mouldings, and welded frame production by GfA-Service GmbH. Over 1.25 million metres of profiles are held in stock and are quickly available to industry, trade and craft businesses. The GfA-Group includes several subsidiaries, including production and sales locations in the Netherlands, Denmark and Cape Town (South Africa).
- Site
- Marxen
- Processes
- Extrusion of sealing profiles, In-house toolmaking / EDM technology, Rapid prototyping / 3D printing, Welding of sealing frames (frame production, special corners), Injection moulding of corner mouldings (horizontal injection moulding machine), Production of silicone sealing profiles on in-house extruders, Finishing with automatic winders, Surface treatment of seals
- Materials
- PVCw 55 / PVCs 55 (highly modified elastomeric PVC), PVCw 70 / PVCs 70 (semi-rigid), PVCw 95 / PVCs 95, TPE-S 30 (IT-SEBS), TPE-S 45 (IT-SEBS), TPE-S 60 (IT-SEBS), TPE-S 70 IT (IT-SEBS), TPE-S 85
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015
- Founded
- 1978
- Employees
- over 100
- Industries
- Window and door construction, Construction industry/trades, Trade, Automotive industry, Furniture manufacturing, Roller shutters/louvered shutters
- 01
Profile development (CAD, 3D files, photo or hand sketch)
- 02
Rapid prototyping / 3D printing
- 03
In-house toolmaking with EDM technology
- 04
Extrusion on 17 lines
- 05
Injection moulding of corner mouldings
- 06
Welding of sealing frames (GfA-Service GmbH)
- 07
Automatic stress-free winding
- 08
Delivery from stock
Materials for Sealing Profiles
Elastomeric PVC (PVCw 55 / 70 / 95)
Soft to semi-rigid elastomeric PVC in Shore hardnesses 55–95 for window, door and building element seals, DEHP-free in accordance with REACH.
TPE-S (IT-SEBS, hardnesses 30–85)
SEBS-based thermoplastic elastomer with high heat resistance for system seals, introduced in 1985.
TPE-V
Vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer for elastic sealing profiles with high recovery force.
Silicone rubber 60 VMQ
Temperature- and weather-resistant silicone rubber, produced on in-house extruders by GfA-SiliTech GmbH, FDA-compliant possible.
GfA-Group Locations
Marxen
DEHeadquarters with production and administration
- Lot size
- Custom production from 200 m
- Materials
- PVC, TPE, silicone rubber
- 17 extrusion lines
- EDM machines (toolmaking)
- 3D printers
- Horizontal injection moulding machine
- Automatic winders
Cape Town
ZAGfA-SealSystems Pty. Ltd. – production and sales
Netherlands
NLGfA-SealSystems West B.V. – sales Benelux/France
Denmark
DKGfA-SealSystems Scandic – sales Scandinavia
Sealing Profiles and Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extrusion of sealing profilesPlastics | – | – | – | – | PVCw 55, PVCw 70, PVCw 95, TPE-S 30, TPE-S 45, TPE-S 60, TPE-S 70, TPE-S 85, Silicone rubber 60 VMQ |
| In-house toolmaking / EDM technologyEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rapid prototyping / 3D printingAdditive | – | – | – | – | – |
| Welding of sealing frames (frame production, special corners)Joining | – | – | – | – | PVC, TPE, Silicone |
| Injection moulding of corner mouldings (horizontal injection moulding machine)Plastics | – | – | – | – | PVC, TPE |
| Production of silicone sealing profiles on in-house extrudersPlastics | – | – | – | – | Silicone rubber 60 VMQ |
| Finishing with automatic windersPlastics | – | – | – | – | PVC, TPE, Silicone |
| Surface treatment of sealsSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Development of sealing profiles (CAD, 3D files, samples)Engineering | – | – | – | – | PVC, TPE, Silicone |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extrusion line | – | 17 | on 2,390 m² of production space | – | Marxen near Hamburg |
| EDM machine | – | – | – | – | Marxen near Hamburg |
| 3D printer | – | – | – | ab 2015-20 | Marxen near Hamburg |
| Horizontal injection moulding machine (corner mouldings) | – | – | – | seit ca. | Marxen near Hamburg |
| Automatic winder | – | – | – | – | Marxen near Hamburg |
| Welding device HSG5 | GfA HSG5 | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality and Certification
Production is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015. Technical data sheets on hardness, density and tensile strength in accordance with standardized test methods document the material properties.
| Evidence | Marxen |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | |
| ISO 14001:2015 |
Company Milestones
- 1978
Foundation of GfA-Gesellschaft für Abdichtungstechnik mbH on 25.07.1978; production initially in the Berlin Osram building, sales in Hamburg; foamed soft sealing profiles made of highly modified elastomeric PVC.
- 1982
Foundation of GfA-Service GmbH.
- 1983
Foundation of GfA-Dichtungen für Altbauten und Systeme Joachim Hagemeier GmbH.
- 1985
Relocation to Seevetal/Meckelfeld; introduction of TPE as a material.
- 1989
Production start of silicone rubber seals; move into today's site building in Marxen.
- 1997
Gradual relocation of production into the new halls in Marxen.
- 2003
Production of corner mouldings with horizontal injection moulding machine; extensive investment programme.
- 2011
Market launch of the anti-stretch cord; product range grows to over 5,000 profiles.
- 2013
Expansion of offerings and production space with double-decker systems and roller rack shelving.
- 2014
New corporate design of the GfA Group.
- 2015
Overhauled machinery, new extrusion lines and 3D printers; photovoltaics and water recycling.
- 2018
40 years of GfA; foundation of GfA-SealSystems PTY Ltd. in Cape Town, South Africa.
- 2020
Foundation of GfA-SiliTech GmbH (silicone rubber) and GfA-SealSystems West B.V.; sales partnerships in Switzerland and Croatia.
- 2024
Start of GfA-SealSystems Scandic for Scandinavia.
- 2025
Introduction of a new ERP system and new website.