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Private company

Bekaert

Logo: Bekaert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Steel wire company in Belgium

N.V. Bekaert S.A. (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is a global company with headquarters in Belgium, employing 28,000 people worldwide. Its primary business is steel wire transformation and coatings. Operating in 45 countries, Bekaert generated combined sales of €5.1 billion in 2019.2 It was founded by Leo Leander Bekaert.1 Its chief executive is Jürgen Tinggren (since 2019).1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1880Founded1
  • Industryindustrial manufacturing1
  • HeadquartersWaregem1
  • Founded inZwevegem1
  • Websitewww.bekaert.com
  • Legal formPublic limited company (Belgium)1
  • LEI5493008SR6XZECH6BN713
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered addressBEKAERTSTRAAT(Z) 2, 8550 Zwevegem, Belgium3
  • Registered withFederal Public Service Economy (Ministry of Economy), 0405.388.5363

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Kantoren-van-staaldraadfabriek-Bekaert-in-Zwevegem 2023 INDUS F10778-001
Photo: Patrick Viaene, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons6

N.V. Bekaert S.A. (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is a global company with headquarters in Belgium, employing 28,000 people worldwide. Its primary business is steel wire transformation and coatings. Operating in 45 countries, Bekaert generated combined sales of €5.1 billion in 2019.2

Corporate structure

Bekaert sits at the top of its group. 11 entities, 6 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Bekaert Zwevegem, Belgium
    • Becare Designated Activity Company Subsidiary · Dublin, Ireland
    • Bekaert Bohumín Subsidiary · Czechia
    • Bekaert Corporation Subsidiary · Marietta, Georgia, United States
    • BEKAERT COÖRDINATIECENTRUM NV Subsidiary · Zwevegem, Belgium
    • BEKAERT INDUSTRIES PRIVATE LIMITED Subsidiary · Pune, India
    • Bekaert Petrovice Subsidiary · Czechia
    • 贝卡尔特沈阳精密钢制品有限公司 Subsidiary · 沈阳市, China
    • 贝卡尔特管理（上海）有限公司 Subsidiary · 浦东新区, China
    • 贝卡尔特（山东）钢帘线有限公司 Subsidiary · 威海市, China
    • 贝卡尔特（济宁）钢帘线有限公司 Subsidiary · 济宁市, China

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by Leo Leander Bekaert in 1880, in Zwevegem.1

Leadership

Who has led Bekaert, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Chief executive

  1. Bert De Graeve2014–2019
  2. Jürgen Tinggren2019–now
197019801990200020102020

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

  • Bekaert Bohumín
  • Bekaert Petrovice

From Wikidata.1

Acquisitions

In 2015, Bekaert acquired Pirelli's steel cord business and will supply steel cord to Pirelli for years to come. Steel cord provides strength to the rubber car tire. This was the largest acquisition in Bekaert's history, adding approximately 300 million euros per year to consolidated sales.

In January 2026, it was announced that Bekaert had agreed to acquire Bridgestone’s tyre reinforcement business in China and Thailand for €60 million. The transaction, which includes two manufacturing facilities, is expected to close in the first half of 2026 subject to regulatory approvals.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bekaert, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Timeline

  1. 2019New chief executive Jürgen Tinggren becomes CEO1
  2. 2014New chief executive Bert De Graeve becomes CEO1
  3. 1880Founded Founded in Zwevegem1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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