Belgium-based steel cord and wire manufacturer Bekaert SA has announced details of the planned reorganization of its steel cord activities in Belgium, including the closure of the production plant in Lanklaar and the integration of production at Waregem into other plants within the Bekaert group.
The intended closure of Bekaert's Lanklaar plant, specialized in semi-finished products for the company's tire cord manufacturing platform in central Europe, is going to affect 136 employees.
As regards the plant in Waregem, Bekaert's board has decided to transfer the woven product activities to Zwevegem and to integrate the fine cord activities with the high added value production in Aalter.
As a result of the reorganization, Bekaert's plant in Aalter will specialize to an even greater extent in the production of advanced steel cord products and will continue to function as the technological platform for the group's European steel cord activities, acting in close cooperation with the technology center in Deerlijk.