Customers in more than 120 countries and in the most diverse sectors choose to work with Bekaert for the wide range of high-tech advanced products, systems and services it provides. Bekaert's workforce of over 18 500 is committed to meeting their needs, day in and day out.

The main raw material for most of Bekaert's products is wire rod. This is steel wire of about the thickness of a finger, made in a wide range of compositions and grades. Various wire products are made by drawing wire rod through dies of diminishing size, subjecting it to heat treatments of various kinds and, depending on the application, possibly applying a specific coating. These processes impart a range of properties in such areas as tensile strength, hardness, frictional resistance, corrosion resistance and adhesion. Bekaert is able to apply its many coating technologies to various materials.

Although its main focus is on intermediate products, Bekaert keeps in close touch with end-users so that it can anticipate their needs and offer its industrial customers the solutions that give them a competitive edge in their markets. Bekaert builds win-win relationships with its customers, based on equal partnerships characterized by mutual trust and understanding. Bekaert adds value for customers and end-users all over the world.

In pursuit of its strategic objective of sustainable profitable growth, Bekaert aims for market and technological leadership and is a major player in its markets worldwide.

Customers in many sectors – from the automotive, construction, offshore and telecom industries to the textile industry and environment-friendly burner manufacturers – choose to work with Bekaert.

The automotive sector is the most important, accounting for a third of combined sales. The vast majority of Bekaert's products are destined for the replacement market and only a minority for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) market. Bekaert supplies steel cord products for radial tire reinforcement to virtually all the world's major tire manufacturers. The company also supplies customers in the automotive sector with many specialized wire products which meet the highest quality requirements and standards. These include spring wires, fine cable wires, welding wires, cables for side-window systems and wire for windshield wiper arms and blades. Bekaert diamond-like coatings on engine components reduce friction, increase service life and improve performance, while solar-control window film enhances driver and passenger comfort by improving temperature control, reducing glare and providing protection against harmful UV rays. An average car may contain up to 30 kg of Bekaert products.

The company is active in practically all the other economic sectors. Some Bekaert products are clearly visible, but most are hidden. The company is a major global player in the construction sector, for example, with Dramix® steel fibers for concrete reinforcement, strands for prestressed concrete elements, plastering mesh, corner beads and fine steel cord for reinforcing elevator lifting belts. Bekaert also supplies cables and cable wire for construction equipment and the company is a leading player in window film for buildings and sputter products for the glass industry. In the latter industry, Bekaert supplies customers with sputter hardware on a project basis and rotatable targets for their production processes.

In the textile sector, Bekaert produces cards, carding wires and temperature-resistant textiles. Customers in the engineering sector rely on Bekaert products in the manufacture of high-pressure hoses, polyurethane transmission belts and conveyor belts. Customers in the agricultural sector come to Bekaert for fencing and the wine industry buys vineyard wire on which to train vines and metal-fiber burners to scorch excess foliage and thus maximize the harvest. Bekaert is market leader in champagne cork wire. The chemical industry works closely with Bekaert on the development of filter media and filter systems based on metal fibers. The company is a major supplier to the offshore sector of anchor cables for drilling platforms and profiled wire for reinforcing flexible pipes. The printing industry uses colored Bekaert bookbinding wire and the telecommunication sector is a large user of communication cables. Bekaert wire is also used to reinforce power transmission cables.

Bekaert's global presence in practically all sectors is a significant advantage, because diversity makes it less dependent on the trend in any particular market. With its extensive network of contacts, Bekaert is able to take a broad view, respond swiftly to opportunities and – utilizing its core competences – develop innovative solutions in close partnership with its customers.