Bekaert today inaugurated a new production line at the company’s Lipetsk plant in Russia. Bekaert adds the production of Dramix® steel fibers to serve infrastructure and construction markets in Russia and the wider CIS. Dramix® is a Bekaert designed and patented steel fiber for the reinforcement of concrete in industrial flooring and building projects, as well as in infrastructure applications such as tunnels and mine shafts.
Today’s inauguration took place in the presence of Mr. Bozhko, 1st Deputy Governor of the Lipetsk region, Mr Vladimir Lavrentiev, Head of the Industrial and Innovations department of the Regional Government, Mr Ivan Koshelev, SEZ Lipetsk General Director, HE Mr Guy Trouveroy, Ambassador of Belgium to Russia, and Mr Bert De Graeve, CEO of Bekaert.
Bekaert produces steel cord for tire reinforcement at its Lipetsk plant since the beginning of 2010. In 2011, expansion investments came into operation, making this plant a full cycle manufacturing unit equipped with the latest Bekaert proprietary equipment and technology. The plant employs more than 200 people and supplies steel cord to all international and domestic tire manufactures in the Russian Federation and the CIS countries. Bekaert announced on 3 September 2012 to extend the production activities of the plant with Dramix® steel fibers. This expansion step reflects the Bekaert strategy of always aligning its manufacturing footprint to growing demand in local markets.
Russian Version - русская версия
About Bekaert
Bekaert (www.bekaert.com) is a world market and technology leader in steel wire transformation and coatings. Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is a global company with headquarters in Belgium, employing 27 000 people worldwide. Serving customers in 120 countries, Bekaert pursues sustainable profitable growth in all its activities and generated combined sales of € 4.4 billion in 2012.
Bekaert in Russia
Bekaert Lipetsk manufactures Dramix® fibers for construction markets and steel cord products for the tire industry, serving customers in Russia and the wider CIS region. Situated about 400 kilometers south of Moscow, Lipetsk is strategically located close to Bekaert’s regional target markets, with good logistics and easy access to energy supplies and skilled labor. Bekaert also has a sales office in Moscow since 1998, serving a portfolio of customers with a wide variety of advanced steel wire products.
About Bekaert Building Products
The construction sector accounts for more than 25% of Bekaert's sales. The list of applications for which our wire, mesh and innovative fiber products are used is as long as it is diverse: in roads and bridges, tunnels and mines, in architectural and landscaping solutions, in precast applications and in industrial floors, etc. Dramix® steel fibers are a proven concept in concrete reinforcement. Every year, 5 million m³ of concrete is being reinforced with Dramix® steel fibers invented by Bekaert. More information on Dramix® and on the new Dramix® 5D-4D-3D product offering can be found on www.bekaert.com.