In 1899 in Germany in the city of Bad-Kannstadt entrepreneur Adolf Knecht set up  small metallurgical factory Wurttembergische Metallmanufactur ADOLF KNECHT (WUMAK). Afterwards KNECHT Company was founded on the basis of this enterprise. From 1929 the company was engaged in development and production of air, oil and fuel filters. In 1955 the company was the first in Europe to use filter paper in filters for engines.

In 1977 concern MAHLE GmbH obtained control packet of shares of KNECHT and in 1999 the company was given its new modern name -- MAHLE Filtersysteme GmbH.