Şişecam Group to invest 100 million Euros for setting up a new glass fiber plant in Turkey

Noting that the glass fiber is the main component of many leading industries and primarily automotive and textile industries in Turkey, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman, Vice Chairman and CEO of Şişecam Group, said that the investment is a strategic decision to support the growth strategy and that the Group will continue to grow through new investments, new partnerships and acquisitions.

Şişecam Group, a global actor in all main areas of glass production such as flat glass, glassware, glass packaging and glass fiber, as well as soda and chromium compounds, continues its investments also in the New Year at full speed. Şişecam Group will be investing approximately 100 million Euros to build a glass fiber plant with a capacity of 70 thousand tons/year.

Şişecam has a growing global presence with more than 21,000 employees. Globally it operates in 13 countries and its sales operations expands to 150 countries, Prof. Ahmet Kırman, Vice Chairman and CEO of Şişecam Group, stated  "We are the world's third largest manufacturer of glassware and the fifth largest manufacturer in glass-packaging and flat glass fields. Besides, we are No. 1 in Europe in the field of flat glass. In addition to being the world leader in chromium chemicals, we rank among the top 10 soda producers of the world."

"We now have a strong global position"

Stating that the Group moves towards its goal of ranking among the world's top three manufacturers in its fields of activity, Prof. Kırman said:

" Founded in 1935 with the mission of starting and developing the glass industry in the country, our Group has gained a strong global position in its business fields in more than 80 years. The investment is a strategic decision to support the growth strategy and the Group will continue to grow through new investments, new partnerships and acquisitions. "

Stating that they have made a strategic investment decision in the field of glass fiber, the main component of Turkey's leading industries which mainly include the automotive and textile industries, Prof. Ahmet Kırman continued: " Kaolinite and boron are among Turkey’s main raw materials and  this investment will help turning domestic resources into value added products".

“Şişecam has assumed a leading position in the development of the composite industry”

Stating that Şişecam Group has been operating in the field of glass fiber, one of the main inputs of the composite industry, since 1974, Ahmet Kırman continued, "Şişecam has a leading position in starting and developing the Turkish composite industry, which has now reached a volume of 1.2 billion Euros.

It has recently gained further importance for the wind power, electronics, aviation, space and defense industries in addition to the leading industries of our country. The new plant, which is to be commissioned in the second half of 2018, will have an initial annual production capacity of 70,000 tons and will reinforce our glass solutions and services with further value added products for all the industries we serve.”