Bekaert

Bekaert is a Belgian industrial company focused on steel wire transformation and coating technologies. Founded in 1880 and headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, the company has developed from a national wire producer into an international supplier serving industrial customers across automotive, construction, energy, infrastructure, consumer, and specialized manufacturing markets. Its products are generally embedded in other companies’ systems rather than sold directly to consumers, making Bekaert primarily a business-to-business materials and component brand. The company’s principal activities include the manufacture and processing of steel wire, steel cord, wire rope, coated wire, fencing and reinforcement products, and filtration-related materials. Steel cord is used to reinforce rubber tires, while other wire products support applications such as concrete reinforcement, elevator and crane systems, industrial filtration, agricultural fencing, cable systems, and energy infrastructure. Bekaert’s value proposition is based on combining metallurgical expertise, forming and drawing processes, surface treatment, coating technology, and application engineering. Bekaert operates internationally, with activities in numerous countries and production and commercial facilities serving regional and global customers. The company’s geographic reach has expanded through organic development, partnerships, and acquisitions. A major strategic step came in 2015, when Bekaert acquired Pirelli’s steel cord business. The transaction was described as the largest acquisition in Bekaert’s history at the time and strengthened its position in tire reinforcement while adding substantial annual sales. Bekaert’s business is closely linked to industrial cycles. Demand can be influenced by vehicle production, replacement-tire volumes, construction activity, infrastructure investment, energy-sector capital spending, raw-material costs, and customer inventory patterns. Its steel-wire and coating operations also expose it to regional manufacturing conditions and regulatory requirements. The company therefore manages a portfolio that spans mature industrial applications and more specialized products intended to provide performance advantages such as strength, durability, corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and lower weight. Bekaert remains a publicly listed Belgian company traded on Euronext Brussels under the ticker BEKB. The company reported combined sales of approximately €5.1 billion in 2019 and was described as employing about 28,000 people worldwide at that time. These figures are historical reference points rather than current operating metrics. In January 2026, Bekaert was reported to have agreed to acquire Bridgestone’s tire-reinforcement business in China and Thailand for €60 million, subject to regulatory approvals and an expected closing in the first half of 2026. The proposed transaction would include two manufacturing facilities and extend Bekaert’s presence in Asian tire reinforcement.

Bekaert was founded in Belgium in 1880 by Leo Bekaert. The company’s historical development is rooted in steel wire transformation, a field that involves drawing, shaping, treating, coating, and assembling steel wire for use in demanding industrial environments. Over time, Bekaert expanded beyond basic wire production into engineered products and application-specific solutions, building capabilities in metallurgical processing, surface treatment, reinforcement technology, and manufacturing. The company’s growth followed the industrialization of Europe and the increasing use of wire in construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, machinery, and infrastructure. Rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing brand, Bekaert established itself as a supplier to industrial manufacturers and project-based sectors. This business model placed emphasis on quality consistency, production scale, technical support, and the ability to adapt wire characteristics to customer requirements. International expansion became central to Bekaert’s development. The company established operations and commercial relationships across multiple regions, eventually operating in approximately 45 countries according to historical reference material. Its international footprint allowed it to serve multinational customers locally while also balancing demand across automotive, construction, energy, and other industrial markets. A major turning point occurred in 2015, when Bekaert acquired Pirelli’s steel cord business. Steel cord is a high-strength reinforcement material incorporated into rubber tires to improve structural integrity and durability. The acquisition deepened Bekaert’s position in tire reinforcement and was identified as the largest acquisition in the company’s history at that time. It was also expected to contribute approximately €300 million in annual consolidated sales, making it strategically and financially significant. Bekaert’s portfolio has continued to cover several categories of wire and coating products. These include tire cord, wire rope, coated wire, concrete reinforcement, filtration materials, fencing products, and other specialized industrial components. The company’s customers use these products in applications where strength, fatigue performance, corrosion protection, dimensional control, and long service life are important. Its operations are therefore connected to the broader performance of manufacturing, mobility, construction, infrastructure, and energy markets. The company’s scale has also made it sensitive to changes in steel prices, energy costs, foreign-exchange movements, transportation expenses, customer production volumes, and regional economic conditions. As a listed industrial group, Bekaert has had to balance investment in specialized capacity with cost discipline and portfolio management. Its strategic direction has included strengthening core steel-wire activities, broadening coatings and materials capabilities, and pursuing acquisitions that add technology, customers, or geographic reach. Bekaert remains headquartered in Kortrijk and is listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol BEKB. Historical reference material describes the group as employing approximately 28,000 people worldwide and generating combined sales of €5.1 billion in 2019. Those figures should not be treated as current results. In January 2026, the company was reported to have agreed to buy Bridgestone’s tire-reinforcement business in China and Thailand for €60 million. The planned acquisition, including two manufacturing sites, would further consolidate Bekaert’s position in tire reinforcement in Asia, although completion was subject to regulatory approval and the reported expected closing was in the first half of 2026.

• 2026

  Proposed acquisition of Bridgestone tire-reinforcement operations

  [1]Bekaerten.wikipedia.org

  Bekaert agreed to acquire Bridgestone’s tire-reinforcement business in China and Thailand for €60 million, subject to regulatory approval and an expected closing in the first half of 2026.

• 2019

  Historical sales and workforce reference

  [1]Bekaerten.wikipedia.org

  Historical reference material reported combined sales of approximately €5.1 billion and a global workforce of about 28,000 people.

• 2015

  Acquisition of Pirelli’s steel cord business

  [1]Bekaerten.wikipedia.org

  Bekaert acquired Pirelli’s steel cord activities, a landmark transaction that expanded its tire-reinforcement business and was described as the largest acquisition in its history at the time.

• 1880

  Bekaert was founded in Belgium

  [1]Bekaerten.wikipedia.org

  Leo Bekaert founded the company, establishing the industrial base from which its steel-wire and wire-products business developed.

A high-performance steel-wire and coating solutions provider for global industrial applications.

• Industrial materials

  Steel wire

  Bekaert produces and processes steel wire for industrial customers requiring controlled dimensions, high tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and application-specific performance. Steel wire serves as a base material for reinforcement, cables, wire rope, fencing, construction products, and other engineered components.

• Tire reinforcement

  Steel cord

  Steel cord is a high-strength reinforcement material used inside rubber tires. It helps tires withstand mechanical loads and maintain structural stability. Bekaert’s steel-cord activities form one of its most strategically important businesses and were expanded substantially through the 2015 acquisition of Pirelli’s steel cord operations.

• Industrial lifting and cable systems

  Wire rope and cable products

  Bekaert supplies wire-rope and cable-related products for applications in lifting, transport, infrastructure, machinery, and other industrial systems. These products are engineered to provide load-bearing capability, durability, and dependable performance under repeated mechanical stress.

• Surface-treated wire

  Coated wire

  Coated-wire products combine a steel substrate with a protective or functional surface treatment. Coatings can support corrosion resistance, service life, bonding, or other application requirements. This activity reflects Bekaert’s broader focus on combining wire transformation with coating technology.

• Filtration

  Industrial filtration materials

  Bekaert’s filtration-related products use specialized wire and materials technologies for industrial filtration applications. They are intended for demanding operating environments in which mechanical stability, controlled porosity, durability, and resistance to heat or corrosion can be important.

• Construction materials

  Concrete reinforcement products

  Bekaert supplies wire-based reinforcement solutions for concrete and construction applications. These products are designed to improve structural performance and help construction customers manage reinforcement requirements across infrastructure, building, and civil-engineering projects.

• 2026

  Acquire Bridgestone’s tire-reinforcement business in China and ThailandM&A

  Background

  Bekaert pursued additional tire-reinforcement capacity and market presence in Asia through a proposed acquisition from Bridgestone.

  Action taken

  Bekaert agreed to acquire the business for €60 million, including two manufacturing facilities in China and Thailand.

  Aftermath

  The transaction was expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. The supplied reference material does not confirm final completion.

  Purchase price. €60 million (Announced January 2026)

  Source

• 2015

  Acquire Pirelli’s steel cord businessM&A

  Background

  Bekaert sought to strengthen its position in tire reinforcement and expand its steel-cord activities through a major acquisition.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Pirelli’s steel cord business and continued supplying steel cord to Pirelli under the resulting commercial relationship.

  Aftermath

  The transaction became the largest acquisition in Bekaert’s history at the time and was expected to add approximately €300 million per year to consolidated sales.

  Expected annual addition to consolidated sales. Approximately €300 million (Following the 2015 acquisition)

  Source

• 2026

  Bekaert agreed to acquire Bridgestone’s tire-reinforcement business in China and Thailand[1]Bekaerten.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Bekaert was reported to have agreed to acquire Bridgestone’s tire-reinforcement business in China and Thailand for €60 million. The proposed transaction includes two manufacturing facilities and was expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

• 2015

  Bekaert acquired Pirelli’s steel cord business[1]Bekaerten.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Bekaert completed an acquisition of Pirelli’s steel cord business, strengthening its tire-reinforcement activities. The transaction was described as the largest acquisition in Bekaert’s history and was expected to add roughly €300 million per year to consolidated sales.

1. 1Bekaerten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bekaert official websitebekaert.com