Custom-manufactured fabric expansion joints for piping, plant and apparatus engineering
GFG Gesellschaft für Gewebekompensatoren mbH
Bad Berneck i. F. · GermanyNew on Amplifa
Flexibility is our business
GFG Gesellschaft für Gewebekompensatoren mbH has been producing custom-made fabric expansion joints (soft compensators) as components for piping, plant and apparatus engineering since 1992. The special parts are handcrafted in all sizes, designs and constructions, each designed according to the customer's specific operational mechanical, chemical and thermal conditions. The multi-layer compensators consist of insulation fabrics (ceramic, glass, silicate), sealing foils made of high-alloy steel, elastomers or PTFE, carrier fabrics (silicate, polyester, glass, aramid) and elastomer coatings such as Neoprene, silicone, CSM, PTFE, Viton, EPDM or Hypalon. Three designs are available: hose compensator I (up to 350 °C), hose compensator II (up to 1000 °C) and flange compensator (up to 650 °C). In addition, the company supplies fire protection sleeves, sun protection sleeves, insulation and sealing materials as well as steel accessories such as flanges and baffle plates. The scope of services includes installation for new construction or overhaul work, repair service, inspection contracts and customer training. Production, administration, development and logistics are located at the headquarters in Bad Berneck im Fichtelgebirge (Upper Franconia).
- Site
- Bad Berneck i. F.
- Processes
- Fabric expansion joints (soft compensators) – custom manufacturing of all sizes, designs and, Manufacture of fire protection sleeves, Manufacture of sun protection sleeves, Manufacture of insulation and sealing materials (fabrics, felts, packings, cords), Production of accessories: steel parts (flanges, baffle plates) and complete installation kits, Installation of compensators/seals (new construction and overhaul work, master fitter instruction), Repair service for compensators, Inspection of installed seals/compensators (leak and wear testing)
- Materials
- Neoprene, EPDM, Hypalon, Silicone, Viton, PTFE, CSM, Ceramic (insulation fabric)
- Founded
- 1992
- Employees
- 20
- Industries
- Piping construction, Plant and apparatus engineering, Thermal power plants, Chemical industry, Cement industry, Shipbuilding
- 01
Consulting and technical design
- 02
Custom design
- 03
Handcrafted production (compensators, protective sleeves, insulation and
- 04
Production of steel accessories (flanges, baffle plates) and installation kits
- 05
Installation for new construction or overhaul work
- 06
Repair service and inspection contracts (leak and wear testing)
- 07
Customer training
Locations
Bad Berneck i. F.
DEHeadquarters: administration, development, production & logistics
- Materials
- Plastics (Neoprene, EPDM, Hypalon, silicone, Viton, PTFE, CSM), ceramic, glass, silicate, polyester, aramid,
Fabric expansion joints and designs
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric expansion joints (soft compensators) – custom manufacturing of all sizes, designs andJoining | – | – | – | – | Neoprene, EPDM, Hypalon, Silicone, Viton, PTFE, Ceramic, Glass, Silicate, Polyester, Aramid, High-alloy steel |
| Manufacture of fire protection sleevesPlastics | – | – | – | – | Glass, Silicate |
| Manufacture of sun protection sleevesPlastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of insulation and sealing materials (fabrics, felts, packings, cords)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Glass, Silicate |
| Production of accessories: steel parts (flanges, baffle plates) and complete installation kitsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Installation of compensators/seals (new construction and overhaul work, master fitter instruction)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair service for compensatorsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Inspection of installed seals/compensators (leak and wear testing)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design and engineering according to customer-specific specifications and operating conditionsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Handcrafted special partsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Production of hose compensator I (attachment directly on the pipe, round/oval cross-sections,Joining | – | – | – | – | Neoprene, EPDM, Hypalon, Silicone, Viton, PTFE |
| Production of hose compensator II (attachment on pulled-out attachment flanges, allJoining | – | – | – | – | Neoprene, EPDM, Hypalon, Silicone, Viton, PTFE |
| Production of flange compensator (self-sealing flanges, single/multi-part backing flanges,Joining | – | – | – | – | Neoprene, EPDM, Hypalon, Silicone, Viton, PTFE |
Additional services
Company history
- 1992
Company founded by Hans-Dieter Fichtel with 2 employees in production and office
- 1993
Move into the first office rooms at Bayreuterstr. 23, Hummeltal
- 1994
Occupation of the current production hall in Bad Berneck
- 2012
Move into the new office building at Steingraben 9 in Hummeltal (opened 2013)
- 2014
Expansion of production with the third hall
- 2017
Change of managing directors: Hans-Dieter Fichtel leaves the operational business, Andreas Fichtel takes over; approx. 20 employees
- 2019
Dipl. Ing. Carsten Fichtel joins the company for technical design
- 2022
30th company anniversary