From Driving Ranges to Supermarket Checkouts: How Teesside-Made Conveyor Belts Keep The World Moving

A family firm which has kept products moving across the globe for almost 40 years has revealed how a popular support programme has bolstered its growth.

GB Belting employs 13 people from its Teesside Industrial Estate base, in Thornaby, and makes almost every conveyor belt imaginable for a huge range of industries.

The company has reaped benefits from the Tees Valley Supply Chain Programme – building more contacts with businesses, attending workshops and building a plan to target the recycling sector.

Founded in 1986, GB Belting is the UK’s largest independent producer of process and conveyor belts – making everything from treadmill belts, to belts for the automotive sector and belts for the food industry.

The end of 2024 saw the Teesside company ship to its 100^th country on the planet – and Director Jeremy Byrne explained how both the programme and wider business support had been more than worthwhile.

“It’s about getting out there and putting your face in front of people,” he said.

“Although we’ve been going almost 40 years, I’m sure there are lots of companies out there who don’t know what we can offer them. We like to think we can offer something a little bit different.

“Certainly, our experiences with some major blue-chip companies show we do indeed offer something different. It’s more engineering support we offer and utilising our great depth of experience. We can cure a lot of problems and help peoples’ plants run much more efficiently.

“Yes, we make a living by supplying conveyor belts but, more importantly, I like to think of it more as a partnership between ourselves and our customers in the North-East of England so we continue to exist and grow in the region.”

GB Belting was founded by Jeremy’s father, Gerry, after he decided to take on the lightweight belting market following a spell working for Goodyear.

Jeremy took on the torch from his father and has worked at GB Belting for more than 30 years.

“It’s not just the family calling, it’s quite an interesting industry,” he said.

“Our conveyor belts basically touch 99% of all manufactured products. They’re used in such a wide breadth of industries that there’s always something new or different.

“We can make belts to go into the automotive industry – be it a Nissan, a Jaguar or their supporting industries.

“We can be pressing out components to the pharmaceutical industry, or the food industry. There’s such a wide range. Every order we get is almost always different. It’s really craft production.

“We’re not a bulk manufacturer – it’s smaller and niche.

“It never gets boring, it’s always different and it’s very satisfactory knowing you come to work and produce something that’s gone out the door which has helped continue their business.”

Jeremy’s son-in-law and fellow Director, Alistair Aitken, is now gearing up to lead the firm.

“We’re proud of being based on here,” said Alistair.

“The whole workforce is based within three miles of the factory so we’re really proud of that local status.

“Over the years, the capabilities we’ve got as a company have continuously improved which makes us stand out as a leader in the UK.”

Grant support has helped the company bring in new cutting-edge machinery to expand its reach globally.

And GB Belting has also looked to bring on the next generation of skilled workers – with three apprentices going on to secure jobs with the firm.

“They’re now fully employed as fabricators,” added Alistair.

“As a small company, we looked at business sustainability and bringing younger people into the company.

“It needs a unique skillset. It’s a very niche craft skill – so creating that apprenticeship working with Middlesbrough College and Northern Skills Group has helped us bring younger people into the workforce.”

On one given day, the company was working on belts for a golf driving range, treadmills, belt for the deshelling and packaging of crustaceans, and a belt for the mattress industry.

GB Belting joined the Supply Chain Programme to boost its visibility in our region but also bolster its marketing capabilities.

As a result of the support, the firm is launching a new range of conveyor belting targeted at recycling industries.

The Supply Chain programme carried out market research into the recycling sector for the firm, which was used to put a business and marketing plan together to help it push into these new markets.

“We’ve been going a long time as a company, but times change,” said Alistair.

“There is much more demand for online presence now as part of a marketing campaign – not only to get new customers, but to remain with existing suppliers.

“You constantly need to have that online presence to show yourself as a player in the market. You can’t just rely on your longstanding relationships – you’ve always got to be pushing.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: “Companies in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have global reach and GB Belting is a great example of a firm making its mark on the world stage.

“It’s great they’ve been able to benefit from our programmes and grants – but it’s also a brilliant opportunity for other companies to tap into the decades of expertise, experience and contacts GB Belting have.

“Teesside steel built the world, and conveyor belts made on Teesside keep the world moving.”

GB Belting has received support via the Tees Valley Supply Chain Programme.

Tees Valley Supply Chain is delivered by RTC North on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board.

This funding comes via the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Due to high demand, the Tees Valley Supply Chain is currently closed to new applications.

However, if you would like to be kept up to date about future opportunities, please complete an expression of interest form here. 

You can also speak to our team about the extensive range of business support we have available by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 01325 792600.