Why we exist
So much in modern business—and life—depends on the flow of information. As that flow grows in speed and sophistication, new challenges come into focus. From lost signals and security breaches to disparate networks and scattered data.
Beyond these missed connections lie untapped opportunities. And Belden is the bridge between them. We connect people, information and ideas to bring clarity to the chaos and unlock untold possibilities.
120
Years of innovation
8
Employees globally
18
Great Place to Work Certified countries
Our family of brands
Belden has a comprehensive portfolio of products and technologies, serving a variety of industries across the world.
Our Partners
Belden has cultivated an extended network of talent, tools and resources—relationships that grant you access to a deeper portfolio of solutions to maximize your objectives.
Explore our Partner Programs
Our History
For more than a century, Belden has been making connections. From the wire that set the standard for the first industrial revolution, to advanced network and data solutions enabling the breakthroughs of tomorrow, our work is the bridge between what is and what could be.BIRTH: 1900-1950
GROWTH: 1950-2000
TRANSFORMATION: 2000-PRESENT
The origin
In 1902 Belden Manufacturing Company was incorporated, with Joe Belden as president and Albert Beutler as plant superintendent.
A letter from Edison
In 1920, Joseph Belden received a letter from his hero, Thomas Edison, requesting enameled wire and pledging “I will not forget the favor.”
The radio revolution
The growth of the radio industry was aided greatly by Belden products like the innovative Beldentenna.
Connections for the cause
Belden wire was instrumental in WWII to transmit electrical energy to equipment and ensure the safe operation of aircraft.
Belden goes public
In January 1939, Belden became publicly traded for the first time when listed on the Midwest Stock Exchange.
Big on the small screen
The 1950s brought a boom in home TVs. By mid-decade, almost half of American homes had a TV outfitted with Belden cable.
Out of this world
Neil Armstrong’s “one small step” might not have been possible without Belden wire, which was used aboard Apollo 11.
Unequal in cable
In 1980, Belden joined Cooper Industries and became one of the leaders in wire cable with the slogan “Belden Quality: There is no equal”
A leader in ethernet
In the early 1980s, Belden became the first in the industry to market Ethernet and fiber optic cables for industrial use.
Belden in broadcast
Belden established long-term partnerships with NBC and CBS and supplied cable for the Olympics for over 20 years.
Transformation through acquisition
The 21st century brought a series of acquisitions that expanded Belden’s capabilities, including PPC, Hirschmann, and ProSoft Technology.
Infrastructure gets smart
Belden’s Smart Buildings placed their products center stage in cutting-edge entertainment arenas, universities, hospitals, and more.
Life at the speed of streaming
Belden and PPC made broadband-delivered streaming media feasible with 5G cellular and broadband networks across much of the world.
Industry becomes automated
A series of acquisitions and a growing need for network solutions placed Belden at the center of the Industry 4.0 revolution.
Complete connection solutions
Today, Belden has evolved its expansive capabilities into a unified approach—bringing integrated solutions to customer challenges.
Honoring innovation
Joseph C. Belden was an innovator. His patents and the company he founded in 1902 played a transformative role in the burgeoning telecommunications industry.
That innovative spirit still drives us today. We honor those who are writing the next chapter in that incredible legacy with the Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award.
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