Bridon-Bekaert Gelsenkirchen Plant Closure and U.K. Focus
Bridon-Bekaert The Ropes Group sharpens its European strategy with theย Bridon-Bekaert Gelsenkirchen plant closureย and a shift toward higherโvalue rope markets.
Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group (BBRG) will close its manufacturing plant in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, as part of a broader restructuring of its European rope activities. The group plans to consolidate rope manufacturing in the U.K. and phase out production in Gelsenkirchen by the end of 2023.
BBRG will also exit lowerโmargin market segments. Instead, it will focus on rope applications with stronger growth prospects and higher value creation to build a more sustainable European portfolio.
Impact on Employees and Production Consolidation
The Gelsenkirchen site has faced rising competitive pressure, and current business levels no longer support sustainable performance. As a result, the closure will affect 77 employees.
The company will centralize all European steel rope manufacturing at its Doncaster and Newcastle plants in the U.K. By concentrating production at these locations, BBRG expects to improve efficiency, leverage scale, and strengthen longโterm competitiveness. Management says it regrets the personal impact and will look for ways to ease the transition for affected staff.
Global Footprint and Long-Term Strategy
Bridon-Bekaert The Ropes Group formed in 2016 when Bekaert combined its steel ropes and advanced cords businesses with Bridon Group. Today, the company operates 16 manufacturing locations worldwide, with strong positions in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, Canada, and Australia.
By streamlining its European footprint and focusing on higherโvalue segments, BBRG aims to reinforce its status as a global steel rope leader and support longโterm goals around profitability, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
