North Dakota-based company to strengthen agricultural business

Fairlawn, Ohio – Continental AG has agreed to acquire US-based family-owned belting manufacturer WCCO Belting in a bid to strengthen its conveying solutions business in the agricultural industry.

Headquartered in Wahpeton, North Dakota, WCCO Belting was established in 1954 and currently employs more than 300 people.

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.

Two-thirds of the company's products are supplied to the farm industry, according to Conti.

“This strategic acquisition is a threefold perfect fit: portfolio, sales market and people,” said head of ContiTech Philip Nelles.

“We continue our transformation towards a holistic solutions provider in one of the growing industries, namely the off-highway industry,” he added.

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

Continental said the move to buy the US manufacturer was part of its Farm 2030 strategy, which will see the German group growing its share in the agricultural industry.

“We intend to leverage and grow our manufacturing capability to elevate Continental’s opportunity in this area,” said Jim Hill, head of the group sector’s North American business.