Semperit enlarging Polish belt factory

ERJ staff report (RPN)

Vienna, Austria – Semperit A.G.'s Sempertrans belting operation is expanding its factory in Belchatow, Poland, to extend the reach of the business, reports Mike McNulty of Rubber & Plastics News.

It will spend about $52m (€39m) to enlarge the belt manufacturing facility, a company spokeswoman said.

The business also is adding machinery as well as about 150 employees at the site, she said.

She did not disclose the size of the facility or the size of the expansion.

The plant currently produces rubber-coated heavy duty steel cord and textile belts, the spokeswoman said, and its product mix will remain the same.

Production capacity at the factory will be boosted after the project is complete, but the belt market did not provide further details about the capacity increase.

“Over the last three years we have intensified our sales activities, especially in South America and Asia, and opened up additional market segments,” according to Thomas Fahnemann, CEO of Semperit. “As a result, Sempertrans has been able to establish a foothold in completely new markets.”

He said it was necessary to expand the Belchatow plant's manufacturing capacity “in order to be prepared to continue our expansion in previously untapped markets and countries.”

By adding to the Belchatow factory, “we are expanding our strong technological position in the high-quality conveyor belt business, and creating additional industrial jobs in Europe.”

The need for more conveyor belts is being driven by growth within the mining industry, Semperit said, adding that the increased demand for energy and raw materials required a corresponding investment on the part of the company.

In addition to mining, Sempertrans' belts are used in the steel, cement, power plant and transport industries.

Earlier this year, Sempertrans released an energy saving belt, using a new rubber compound.

The firm claims the new product saves up to 25 percent of energy required during its operation compared to conventional belts.

The product has helped expand the company's sales in Asia and South America, according to the company.