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 2013, the Group employed over 3,600 people globally, and recorded consolidated Group revenues of CHF 629.6 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 of 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. This was the first flat belt on the market to have an aramide tension member and be 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, died 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. 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. 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. Environment and resource preservation is also part of continuous research. Products like the Habasit HyCLEAN CIP System already allow customers to save up to 70% water. Employees. Habasit's 3,600 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. Habasit Holding