Bekaert Opens India Technical Centre

On March 24 Bekaert held an opening ceremony for its new technical centre in India. Located near Pune in the state of Maharashtra, the centre is intended to provide the company’s customers in India with enhanced technical services in the form of product quality testing, technical assessments and related dedicated assistance.

“The progressive growth of our activities in India is a good illustration of the potential the country has to offer,” commented Baron Paul Buysse, chairman of Bekaert’s Board of Directors, during the opening ceremony. “With the creation of the technical centre and the planned expansions of our current capacity, our Indian operations will play an increasingly important role within the global manufacturing platform of Bekaert.”

According to Geert Roelens, executive vice president Steelcord, “Bekaert is responding to an increased demand for steel cord reinforcement solutions in India as tyre manufacturing companies want to capitalise on the move towards radial tyres. By providing technological support and a state of the art testing facility tailored to local needs, we are ideally positioned to set up joint development programmes with our customers.”

The centre’s official inauguration took place in the presence of HRH Prince Philippe of Belgium and His Excellency Steven Vanackere, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Institutional Reform. The two were visiting India as part of a Belgian economic mission to India, which took place between March 20 and 27.