VIENNA—Falling prices in markets such as copper ore, iron ore and coal have blocked decisions about new mining installations, causing a noticeable decline in the conveyor belting segment.
Despite this challenging market environment, Semperit A.G.'s conveyor belting business unit Sempertrans was able to record a positive volume development in the first three quarters of 2015.
This outcome, according to Sempertrans General Manager Boris Illetschko, was possible by convincing new customers about the value of the company's conveyor belt “solutions”.
Sempertrans had a growth spurt in 2015, with the expansion of its European production plant in Belchatow, Poland.
Sempertrans expects the Belchatow plant to be Europe's largest and most modern conveyor belt production site. Illetschko the firm is investing about $44.8 million to double the production capacity there. The first expansion step was completed in 2015 and the second phase is scheduled to be finished in 2017.
The company increased its sales and distribution network in the Americas, while also advancing in the Australian market by signing an exclusive distribution agreement with ConvaTech—a large New South Wales-based independent conveyor maintenance service provider.
In North America, Sempertrans and Shaw Almex, an established name in the vulcanizers and presses segment, have agreed on co-operating in conveyor belt sales across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.