How it all began.
Thirty years ago, the company the founders named Beltimport was born. However, the business idea centered around transmission belts had emerged three years earlier.
Two friends, Oleksii Besiedin and Serhii Laievskyi, having received an engineering education at a technical university, became the first to supply high-quality Western European belts to Ukraine.
At first, the business focused primarily on belts for passenger cars, trucks, and buses. Soon afterward, belts for agricultural machinery were added. But between these milestones, an event took place that would define the future of the two young entrepreneurs.
In 1994, Oleksii was offered the opportunity to attend a one-week training program in Denmark at a manufacturing plant producing both power transmission belts and rubber conveyor belts. The two friends invested virtually all the money they had at the time to make the trip. It was, quite literally, an all-in decision—and it paid off.
Returning from Denmark, they had seen innovation firsthand—not only in manufacturing, but also in everyday life, business culture, and communication. Inspired by this experience, they made a commitment to bring these values to Ukraine, a country that was then just beginning to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet Union.
"It was as if I had stepped into the future for a week," recalls Oleksiy Besedin. "The contrast I witnessed there kept the fire in our eyes burning for many years. It was our motivation to "chip away at the rock" and drove us forward on that challenging path. Explaining to Ukrainian businesses the difference between today's price and the long-term total cost of ownership became our mission. At a time when budgets were extremely limited, it was no easy task. That is how Beltimport was born."
Challenges along the way.
Beltimport began operating simultaneously in three areas: automotive, agricultural, and industrial belts. Foreign cars and Western combine harvesters were already starting to appear in the country. It is worth remembering that at the time, there was no internet, mobile connectivity, or CRM software. Ukrainian factories and manufacturing plants lagged significantly in their readiness to purchase high-performance components—a direct consequence of long-standing state ownership.
The first major success was a contract to supply belts for the assembly of the experimental Ukrainian "LAN" combine harvester (Oleksandria). This was preceded by painstaking work with engineers in both Ukraine and Germany, where belts of specialized designs were manufactured.
The next step.
Subsequently, the management made a strategic decision to focus the company's future specifically on the industrial sector and to become Ukraine's leading supplier of effective solutions from global brands.
Year after year, clients from various industries signaled that they wanted related innovative products and components for equipment modernization. One solution naturally led to the next.
As a result, Beltimport’s portfolio came to include drive and conveyor chains, gear motors, conveyor belts, modular systems, vacuum equipment, and other industrial components.
The company did not aim to become a "multi-brand supermarket." Its primary goal was to select segment leaders capable of providing comprehensive customer support, so partners were chosen deliberately.
However, securing the right to represent an international brand was no easy task. Beltimport had to prove its reliability, invest in the training of its specialists, help develop the market, and deliver the level of service expected by global manufacturers. Step by step, this is how a unique partnership ecosystem was built.
To truly take responsibility for the result, it was necessary to learn not only how to supply products but also how to manufacture, refine, and adapt them. This led to the creation of an in-house production infrastructure—comprising thousands of square meters of warehouse space, a modern technological base, and specialized units:
- manufacturing and professional processing of polymer conveyor belts;
- assembly of modular plastic conveyor belts, as well as the production of Beltimport's own brand of covered belts;
- large-scale assembly of Bonfiglioli gearmotors as Ukraine's only certified BEST Distributor and licensed assembly partner of the manufacturer;
- manufacturing and processing of rubber elevator and conveyor belts, including hot vulcanization and precision perforation;
- implementation of Schmalz vacuum handling systems for the automation of loading, unloading, and internal material handling processes.
Service that comes to the customer.
In the industrial sector, simply supplying a high-quality product is not enough. It must also be correctly selected, professionally installed, and supported to ensure reliable, uninterrupted operation. After all every hour of downtime can result in significant losses for a manufacturing business. That is why service has become an integral part of Beltimport's development.
Today, the company’s mobile service teams operate 24/7 at facilities across Ukraine, performing installation, repair, and belt splicing—whether at night, on weekends, or between shifts—whenever the production line can be stopped without financial losses.
Service also includes technical consultations, staff training, and assistance in identifying the reasons of premature equipment wear to prevent recurring issues.
The company has successfully transitioned from a supplier of power transmission and conveyor components into a provider of comprehensive engineering solutions.
A Commitment to high standards.
Today, Beltimport’s standing is confirmed not only by client trust but also by international certifications, partnership statuses, and state recognition:
- Certification of all business processes according to ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental) standards.
- Ranked among the top 100 Ukrainian companies holding Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status.
- Official recognition as a conscientious taxpayer within the "White Business" club.
- Included in Forbes Ukraine's 2024 list of the Top 250 Future Companies of Ukraine.
- Beltimport becomes a member of the European Power Transmission Distributors Association (EPTDA).
What was the most challenging part?
Beltimport did not have influential officials or oil magnates among its founders, so the entire journey was undertaken without a safety net. There were no thick manuals of ready-made instructions or algorithms, such as those found in massive international corporations. We learned the hard way through our own experience, but our achievements were also entirely our own. The company carved out a business niche based on its unique expertise combined with the best global technologies.
What made this success possible?
Playing the long game. From its earliest days, the company prioritized quality over quick profits. A significant share of earnings was consistently reinvested in development, while its reputation remained one of its most valuable assets. As Oleksii Besiedin puts it: "Reputation takes years to build and only one day to lose."
Turning crises into opportunities for growth. Over the past three decades, the company has weathered bank failures, the financial crises of 1998 and 2008, the devaluation of the hryvnia, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a full-scale war. In every crisis, Beltimport sought not only challenges but also opportunities for development. The continuous cycle of "diagnosis — analysis — decision — implementation of changes" became a key principle ensuring the company's resilience.
People. A company is not built on charts and figures—it is built on people. We have been fortunate to have people who shared dreams, engaged in spirited debate, and drove the business forward together. Many specialists have been with us for 10, 15, 20, or even more years, while "new blood" is now successfully building upon that experience.
The challenges Beltimport has navigated over the past 30 years have tempered the company, made it more agile, and strengthened client trust. Today, our clients include leading Ukrainian enterprises that support and grow the nation's economy. It is a great honor to know that our team’s daily efforts have played a part in their success.
If we had to sum up the past 30 years in a single word, that word would be TRUST. It is the trust of the clients who choose Beltimport to ensure the smooth operation of their equipment, and the trust of the partners with whom we build a shared future every day. Beltimport sincerely thanks everyone who has been and remains with us on this journey: colleagues, clients, partners, and competitors.
