Architecture and technology are inextricably intertwined these days. Both areas mutually influence each other in the planning and construction of modern buildings. One of the buzzwords here is lightweight construction: up-to-date structures should be as light as possible. This is one of the areas in which KFM GmbH is active, among other things in technical feasibility and implementation. 11 kg/m3 is all the suspended ceiling of the Olympic swimming stadium in Munich \ weighs. Made of white PVC and measuring 8,800 m2 it is one of the largest single-surface structures of its kind. Further examples of showpiece projects that KFM GmbH (Konfektion für Membranen), Edersleben/ Germany, has been responsible for are the Allianz Arena near Munich/Germany, the single-layer, transparent PTFE roof of the AWD Arena in Hanover/Germany, the courtyard of the Ecole Versailles in France (three-layer EFTE cushions with various degrees of shading) and the futuristic looking roofing made from Gore Tenara at the bus station in Norwich/UK. KFM, as a membrane manufacturer and producer of pneumatic structures as well as a processor of textile materials for marquees, sails and awnings, also has experience acquired in processing both PTFE glass, PVC and PET, as well as ETFE films. According to KFM, all materials that can be subjected to tensile loading and are stretchable would qualify for use as a structural membrane. The company uses the latest machinery coupled with innovative technologies. Patially, there is also the development of demanddriven machinery and equipment for truly tricky requirements such as the welding of extremely small radii. For joining processes, KFM boasts a well assorted selection of sewing machines, welding machines for PTFE and ETFE films as well as high-frequency induction welding machines. The company builds on flexibility: when the firm was faced with realizing the Allianz- Arena project in 2002, automated cutting became indispensable. The required production of 2,760 PTFE cushions with differing dimensions excluded manual work from the outset. The most important criteria for the computer- aided cutter was high-precision single-ply cutting. But also in view of the required nest lengths of up to 200 m and required performance of the nesting software the DCS 3500, a conveyorized single-ply cutter by Gerber Technology, Tolland, CT/USA was chosen. Here the high performance of the CutWorks software was also decisive for obtaining optimal material yield, especially in viwe of the high-priced high-tech materials. The Tool-path module integrated in the Cut-Works software also optimizes cutting cycle time by sorting parts and even-up parts in the most efficient cutting sequence. Joint parting lines between parts to be cut are automatically eliminated in order to achieve zero-buffer cutting. Engineering and structural design of the lightweight structures built by KFM comes care of Covertex GmbH, Obing/Germany which are also acts as distributor.