USA EMAIL: SALES@WCCOBELT.COM TOLL FREE: 1.800.342.4887 PORTAL PRODUCTS INNOVATION MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE OUR STORY JOIN US NEWS CONTACT How WCCO Belting started on a shoestring WCCO founder, Ed Shorma, was the son of immigrants and a farm boy who found himself on the world stage. He had a remarkable ability to establish a vision and work tirelessly to attain it. What was more impressive, however, was his way of inspiring other men and women with his drive and ambition so deeply that they, too, dedicated their lives in support of reaching the goals he set. This loyalty, combined with Ed’s dogged work ethic, helped him expand the family business into eight separate businesses and over one-thousand employees. This earned him the title of 1982 Small Business Person of the Year, a Small Business Administration award presented to him by President Ronald Reagan. “Edward Shorma, a Korean War Veteran, mortgaged the family car and borrowed $1,500 in 1954 to buy a shoe repair shop in North Dakota. During his first year of operation, he grossed $5,400. Today, he has expanded it into a multi-million-dollar business providing jobs for hundreds of people.” President Ronald Reagan, 1982 So how did a shoe cobbler get into rubber belting? Ed had a knack for seeing a need and figuring out a way to fill it – typically using unconventional measures. (A characteristic that is still very prevalent in WCCO’s culture today.) Ed started using his sewing skills to repair farm truck seats and tarps. He’d go on to win contracts for creating canvas belting alongside burgeoning farm equipment manufacturers which set the path for Wahpeton Canvas Company (WCCO). After a cotton shortage in the 1980s, WCCO repurposed heat-sealing equipment from the kitchen cabinet industry (another of one of the eight Shorma family ventures) into a rubber vulcanization press. From then till now, WCCO continues to engineer rubber products for a growing list of domestic and international equipment manufacturers and distributors. WCCO Timeline 1954 Edward F. Shorma, a Korean War veteran eager to conquer the American Dream, opened his first business as a shoe cobbler in Wahpeton, North Dakota 1969 After using his sewing experience to repair swather canvas for local farmers, Shorma is inspired to manufacture his own and his first contract officially establishes Wahpeton Canvas Company (WCCO) 1973 WCCO earns business from a renowned Canadian equipment manufacturer when Shorma invents a new technique to rivet slats to vinyl belting Latest News WCCO Belting wins ‘Cooperate Leadership in Philanthropy Award’, Article in Wahpeton Daily News Published on 11/17/21 (Wed) Careers Our dedicated team and friendly culture consistently rank WCCO as one of the best places to work in the area, and we are always looking for great people PHONE: 701-642-8787 TOLL FREE: 1.800.342.4887 SALES@WCCOBELT.COM 1998 N. 9th St. Wahpeton, ND USA 58075 © Copyright 2017. WCCO Belting.