Continental acquires belt maker WCCO to strengthen its agri business

Continental acquires belt maker WCCO to strengthen its agri business

German technology firm Continental has acquired family-owned belting manufacturer WCCO Belting headquartered in Wahpeton, North Dakota, US. With this acquisition, the technology company says it complements its conveyor belting customer portfolio and strengthens its Conveying Solutions business in the agricultural industry. Additionally, equipment manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and farmers will benefit from a combined product and service portfolio generating a full multi-tier offering that will enable better support and service.

“This strategic acquisition is a threefold perfect fit: portfolio, sales market and people. Moreover, we continue our transformation towards a holistic solutions provider in one of the growing industries, namely the off-highway industry”, says Philip Nelles, member of Continental’s Executive Board and head of the ContiTech Group Sector.

Both parties have agreed not to disclose the terms of the transaction.

Fuelled by the mega-trend in global population growth, protein demand, and climate-change-induced crop pressure, Continental expects that global demand for food and feed will continue to rise and change in the coming decades. World Business Council for Sustainable Development, FReSH insight report and the Boston Consulting Group estimate that the trend is also based on global rapid population growth in the global middle class: With nearly 5 billion people in 2030, their share will have increased almost fivefold over the past three decades. With a much larger global population, rising living standards, and a change in attitudes to nutrition, transparency, and sustainability, dietary habits are becoming more diverse and demanding worldwide.

That’s why Continental’s ContiTech Group Sector continues to focus on growing their share in the agricultural industry. With three-fourths of WCCO’s business in the agricultural industry the acquisition underlines the company’s commitment. WCCO’s product portfolio has a strong market position, serves a complementary customer base, and enjoys a favourable global reputation. Additionally, combining both product portfolios generate a full multi-tier offering that enables better support to manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and farmers.

“We intend to leverage and grow our manufacturing capability to elevate Continental’s opportunity in this area and to offer complete technical solutions to manufacturers and distributors with the goal to improve profitability and speed to market with new innovations and products”, explains Jim Hill, Head of the Group Sector’s North American business.

Song Qi, Head of ContiTech’s Conveying Solutions Business Area adds that Continental will boost sales of high value specialty belts in the global marketplace as well as make use of Continentals global sales team to further expand WCCO Belting’s business outside of the Americas.

Established in 1954, WCCO Belting has more than 300 employees. It manufactures and distributes farm machinery applications such as draper belts, baler belts, pickup belts, tube conveyor belts, merger belts, as well as industrial belt applications for material and package handling, recycling, forestry, and aggregates. The company distributes to more than 20 countries.