On July 25, 1978 “GfA – Gesellschaft für Abdichtungstechnik mbH” was founded in Berlin as the first of the three companies. One year later the renaming in “GfA – Dichtungstechnik Joachim Hagemeier GmbH” took place.

The transfer of the offices including sales and accounting to the Grusonstraße in Hamburg has been decided. This was the beginning of a meanwhile more than 35 years lasting story of success in the area of sealing technology. On the third floor of the former Osram building in the Helmholtzstraße in Berlin the production of window and door seals for wooden window and door manufacturers has started. Foamed soft sealing profiles made of highly modified elastic PVC are revolutionizing the market.

Rapidly the call for suitable processing machines becomes louder in the industry and so the first cutting and welding equipment has been developed as well as inserting devices for the easier and accurate fitting, according to the motto, there are no clean welded angles without exact cut. The demand of cutting and welding equipment as well as further auxiliary devices for the packing of sealing frames and their fitting are finally resulting…

…in the foundation of the second company named “GfA – Gerätebau Joachim Hagemeier GmbH”.

In addition to sealing profiles for new windows and doors the market starts asking for replacement seals for used building units, which do no longer fulfill their functions due to material fatigue. Soon it is realized that this market will play a major role in the future and investment is made in the manufacturing technique of tools and machinery for the economical production of smaller quantities. Again this is resulting in the foundation of a further corporation… the third company named “GfA – Dichtungen für Altbauten und Systeme Joachim Hagemeier GmbH” is established.

Meanwhile one is bursting at the seams in Berlin and Hamburg. In search of new premises one comes across with Seevetal/Meckelfeld. A new era begins. The business with replacement seals for used building units is growing rapidly besides the business with new seals for the window and door industry.

By the introduction of water dilutable paint or varnish systems on acrylic resin basis the manufacturers of sealing profiles are requested to use new raw material which is not reacting with the varnish system. A new basic material – TPE thermoplastic elastomer – is entering in the production.

The production of seals made of the basic material of silicone rubber is just starting in time for the “fall of the wall” and the considerable requirement of refurbishment of old windows and doors with new seals for the subsequent milling in the newly-formed German states.

And again there is not enough room… Finally it is time to invest in the own companies premises with proper offices and storage area. For the time being 1.000 sqm of storage area and 600 sqm ofoffice space are being built up on a surface of approximately 6.000 sqm at the current location in Marxen close to Hamburg.

The relocation into the new premises is effected and finally there is enough space for the meanwhile considerably grown storage range.

In the meantime Berlin has become capital and the rental fees are increasing immensely. The building of an own broad production hall and the removal of the production to Marxen becomes urgently needed. The removal of the production is effected bit by bit in running operation. A logistic masterstroke for human and machine.

The GfA group is starting out to develop new domains for sealing profiles and launches the slogan “GfA – the custom tailoring for sealing profiles”.

By now the production hall becomes too tight and a further extension of production facility becomes necessary.

The storage areas of production and disposal are being compacted. Latest double floor units and roller bearing shelves are being procured for the more efficient use of space.

The first horizontal injection molding machine for the production of form angles is purchased. An extensive investment program in machinery and production technology for the forthcoming years is concluded. The financing is mainly settled by own capital resources.

In the course of the expansion of the local industrial park the adjoining property is being purchased.

GfA revolutionizes the market for refurbishment seals by the introduction of a coreless cord…

Meanwhile the range comprises more than 5.000 different sealing profiles for all construction and non-construction applications. GfA stands for the “custom tailoring of sealing profiles”.

A further extension of the premises is added. The production facility becomes broader once again.

GfA-Dichtungen is introducing a new corporate design. The new and modern image of the GfA group keeps up with the times.

More productivity, more quality. In addition, from now on, new "colleagues" strengthen the technical team: 3D printers in metal and plastic allow the construction of special tools and thus the realization of unusual geometries in a significantly shorter time! With its own combined heat and power plant, photovoltaic and water recycling systems, GfA lives up to its responsibility for tomorrow.

Four decades of experience and an eventful company history full of innovative strength: This is celebrated! For the 40th anniversary, GfA is completely redone. After the machine park has already been brought up to date, production and administration are now following suit with new buildings. The production site in Marxen is fit for the future - and with GfA-Seal Systems West B.V. we are now also on duty as sealing professionals in the Benelux and Northern France !

The new subsidiary GfA-SiliTech GmbH is launched. In focus: the material silicone rubber. With an enormous range of thermal applications and excellent weather and aging resistance, silicone rubber has proven itself for decades. More flexibility, more productivity - the GfA family is growing!