Habasit Holding
Habasit Holding
Habasit Holding AG, headquartered in Reinach, Switzerland, is a Swiss manufacturer of timing and conveyor belts, including fabric-based belts, plastic modular belts and power transmission belts. The Group also supplies gears and motors. Habasit has more than 30 subsidiaries, 16 production units, and around 250 service providers and representatives in more than 70 countries. In 2010, the Group employed over 3,300 people globally, and recorded consolidated Group revenues of CHF 626.1 million.
History
Founded as "Technisches Büro Habasit" (Technical Office Habasit) in 1946 in Basel by Fernand Habegger and Alice Fluck (later Mrs. Habegger), the firm started as a provider for machines, tools and technical innovations. In 1953 the firm entered the spindle- and machine tape market, and in 1959 moved to its current headquarters in Reinach, Basel-Country. The company was known as Habasit AG from 1961.
The first foreign subsidiary was set up in 1965, in England, paving the way for rapid and extensive international expansion, with further subsidiaries opened in 1967 in Canada, Spain, Austria, Sweden and the USA, 1968 in Japan, 1972 in Brazil, 1974 in Germany, 1976 in Italy, 1979 in France, and 1981 in Norway.
In 1983 the company started selling aramide power transmission belts. The very first flat belt on the market with an aramide tension member and joinable without adhesive.
In 1985 the Group had a total of 738 employees and turnover of CHF 130 million. The next year, further subsidiaries were opened in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Habasit’s founder, Fernand Habegger, passed away in 1992.
From the mid-1990s onwards, the firm’s international expansion increased through takeovers in Switzerland, Italy, the USA, the UK, East Asia and China.
Core competencies
Conveyor and processing belts
- Fabric-based conveyor and processing belts
- Folder-gluer belts
- Machine tapes
- Plastic modular belts
- Positive drive conveyor and processing belts
- Round belts
- Seamless belts
- Slat and conveyor chains
- Spiral belts
- Timing belts
Power transmission belts
- Driving belts
- Machine tapes
- Round belts
- Spindle tapes
- Tangential belts
Complementary products
- Fabrication and joining tools
- Gear reducers, gearmotors, electronic speed variation and electrical brake motors
- Profiles, guides, wearstrips
Services
- Belt selection / calculation
- Consulting and technical analyses
- Education / training / know-how transfer
- On-site assembly / installation
- Project management
- Storage of customer-specific inventory
- Technical support / testing
Products
Product brands (main)
- HabaCHAIN® Plastic Chains
- HabasitLINK® Plastic Modular Belts
- HabaSYNC® Timing Belts
- HabaTOOL® Fabrication Devices
Product group sub-brands (selection)
- Habasit Cleandrive™ Positive drive conveyor and processing belts
- Habasit Cleanline® Conveyor belts
- Habasit Flexfold® Folder-gluer belts
Industries served
Habasit serves customers worldwide across a broad range of industries. The following list indicates the major industries Habasit is most heavily involved in. Its industry capabilities are constantly expanding.
- Textile
- Printing, Paper, Postal
- Business Machines
- Packaging
- Food
- Tobacco
- Materials Handling and Airports
- Automotive and Tire
- Wood
Research & Development
Habasit dedicates more than 3% of its employees and over 8% of company turnover to R&D, with a focus on improving reliability and productivity, lowering life-cycle costs, and full compliance with all legal regulations. With the best laboratory facilities in the industry, Habasit is always developing new products and improving the existing range.
Employees
Habasit’s 3,300 employees around the world represent over 30 nationalities. Staff knowledge and skills are upgraded through classroom and web-based learning, regular in-house seminars and international conferences, and exchange assignments within the Group.
Locations
Habasit has a global network of around 300 affiliates, distributors and service partners. Each of Habasit’s over 30 fully owned affiliated companies has its own inventory, fabrication, assembly and service facilities.