Development and production of invisible, self-tensioning and detachable connector systems for timber construction, furniture making and façade construction
Knapp GmbH
Euratsfeld (headquarters) · Vaterstetten · Innenheim · Pineville, NCNew on Amplifa
Company
Knapp GmbH, headquartered in Euratsfeld, Austria, is an owner-managed family business and specialist in connector systems for building with wood. The portfolio comprises more than 120 patented connector systems for timber construction, engineered timber construction, furniture and wood structures, doors and windows, stairs and terraces as well as post-and-beam wood-glass façades. All products are invisible after installation, self-tensioning and detachable, and usually consist of two identical parts. Production takes place mainly in Austria and Germany from galvanized steel, stainless steel A5, spring steel and plastic; supplemented by project-specific custom solutions and a 1-K PUR adhesive. Services include a free planning service with design tools, load tables and CAD drawings as well as a 48-hour shipping service via the online shop. Sales branches exist in Germany, France and the USA (KNAPP USA Inc.), and worldwide distribution is additionally handled through partners and specialized dealers.
- Site
- Euratsfeld
- Processes
- Manufacture and distribution of connecting elements (timber connectors), Development of connector systems and special solutions, Bonding with 1-K PUR adhesive KNAPP-KLEBER PM+, Calculation and design service by engineers, Planning service with design tools and load tables, CAD drawings, 48h shipping service (online shop), Special solutions / project-specific custom-made products
- Materials
- Galvanized steel, Stainless steel A5, Spring steel, Plastic, 1-K PUR adhesive, 1-K PUR adhesive (KNAPP-KLEBER PM+)
- Certificates
- ETA-10/0189, ETA-15/0667, ETA-23/0302, ETA-19/0628, ETA-23/0670, CE marking, Der Grüne Punkt (environmental certificate), ETA-10/0189 (GIGANT®, RICON®, RICON® S, WALCO®), ETA-15/0667 (MEGANT®), ETA-23/0302 (MEGANT® S), ETA-19/0628 (T-JOINT), ETA-23/0670 (WALCO® BOLT and PIPE)
- Founded
- 1983
- Industries
- Timber construction, Engineered timber construction, Furniture making and wood structures, Door and window construction, Post-and-beam wood-glass façades, House construction/prefabricated house construction
- 01
Development and patenting of the connector systems
- 02
Manufacturing in Austria and Germany
- 03
Testing by independent research institutes and testing bodies (ETA, CE)
- 04
Central warehouse Amstetten for worldwide delivery
- 05
Direct sales via own branches, partners and specialized dealers
- 06
Planning service with design tools and calculation service
- 07
48h shipping service via online shop
Materials and Processes
Galvanized steel
Standard material of connectors for timber construction with corrosion protection through galvanization.
Stainless steel A5
For furniture making and wood structures, especially for corrosion-critical or visually demanding applications.
Spring steel
Material of self-tensioning connectors in furniture making and for wood structures.
Plastic
Used in door and window construction.
1-K PUR adhesive (KNAPP-KLEBER PM+)
One-component polyurethane adhesive for bonded joints in conjunction with the connector systems.
Locations
Euratsfeld
ATHeadquarters, production and sales, central warehouse Amstetten
- Materials
- Galvanized steel, stainless steel, spring steel
- Central warehouse Amstetten for worldwide delivery
Vaterstetten
DEBranch Germany (sales)
Innenheim
FRBranch France (sales)
Pineville, NC
USKNAPP USA Inc. (sales USA, Canada, South America)
Connector Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture and distribution of connecting elements (timber connectors)Joining | – | – | – | – | Steel, Stainless steel, Plastic |
| Development of connector systems and special solutionsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Bonding with 1-K PUR adhesive KNAPP-KLEBER PM+Joining | – | – | – | – | Wood, Aluminium, Ceramics, Metals, Thermoplastics, Thermosets |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Approvals
The systems are regularly tested by independent research institutes and testing bodies; European Technical Approvals (ETA) and CE marking are available for the system connectors. Declarations of Performance (DoP), installation instructions, tender texts and CAD drawings are provided for each connector.
| Evidence | Euratsfeld |
|---|---|
| ETA-10/0189 (GIGANT®, RICON®, RICON® S, WALCO®) | |
| ETA-15/0667 (MEGANT®) | |
| ETA-23/0302 (MEGANT® S) | |
| ETA-19/0628 (T-JOINT) | |
| ETA-23/0670 (WALCO® BOLT and PIPE) | |
| CE marking |
History
- 1977
Friedrich Knapp develops the connector spring as his first invention.
- 1978
First award for the connector spring at the Inventors' Fair in Vienna.
- 1983
Patent application for the first invisible, self-tensioning and detachable furniture connector MOBI-CHAMP.
- 1985
First public presentation of the furniture connector at the Expobois trade fair in Paris; founding of a sole proprietorship.
- 1986
Conversion into Friedrich Knapp GmbH, owner-managed.
- 1987
First trade fair participation with the first Knapp connectors.
- 1989
Founding of a branch in Germany; direct sales established from 1991.
- 1992
First product catalogues.
- 1994
First participation in the Holz-Handwerk trade fair in Nuremberg.
- 1995
First website online.
- 1998
First connector for timber construction; first German building approval from the DIBt.
- 2005
Founding of an own branch with sales in France.
- 2007
Construction of the central warehouse in Amstetten/Austria for worldwide delivery.
- 2008
Renaming from Friedrich Knapp GmbH to Knapp GmbH.
- 2010
mikado-web-award as best website in the timber construction industry.
- 2012
mikado-web-award as best website in the timber construction industry.
- 2017
Founding of Knapp USA Inc. together with son Paul Knapp.
- 2018
mikado-web-award as best website in the timber construction industry.