Research and Development

The Technology Center in Deerlijk (Belgium) plays a key part in Bekaert’s research and development efforts and directs the research performed by the Bekaert Asia R&D Center in Jiangyin (Jiangsu province, China) and the regional development centers worldwide.

All over the world our highly qualified scientists and engineers work closely together with lead customers and with colleagues from different business platforms across the regions.

“How can we delight customers?”, is the question we ask. Sometimes it is by small improvements, but often these can offer a great added value. 

By maximizing the synergy between our two core competences for the benefit of our customers, we can make a real difference. For example, we apply advanced coatings to impart specific properties to our steel wire products and find new applications for existing Bekaert products in other market segments.

Discover our core technological competences

Did you know ?

  • Bekaert’s daily production of steel cord for tire reinforcement equals, in length, the distance from the earth to the moon and back …
  • Every year, 10 million m³ of concrete is being reinforced with Dramix® steel fibers …
  • Worldwide one out of two PU timing belts are reinforced with Bekaert fine steel cords …
  • We can transform a 4 meter piece of wire rod to a fiber that spans all around the world 

Open innovation and corporate venturing

We do not pursue collaboration and cross-fertilization internally only, but also externally. We strive for ‘open innovation’ with customers and suppliers, as well as with research centers and universities. Bekaert has established strategic R&D partnerships with research institutes and universities around the world.

We also consider corporate venturing by investing in companies and venture capital funds worldwide. Our related investments are minority interests in young start-up companies with innovative technologies that can support the sustainable profitable growth strategy of Bekaert.