Şişecam Continues Investments in Turkey

Alongside its glass industry operations, Şişecam, a global player in chemicals encompassing soda and chromium compounds, is continuing its investments in Turkey without slowing down. To address the need to increase production capacity in line with domestic market demand, Şişecam commissioned a new furnace with an annual capacity of 240,000 tons at an investment level of approximately TRY 1 billion at its flat glass production facility in Polatlı, Ankara, which was fired and put into operation on 2 October 2020. Şişecam Vice Chairman of the Board and General Manager Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman, in a statement regarding the new investment, stated that despite the uncertainty created by the global pandemic, they continue to create value for Turkey, saying, "Over the 85 years since our establishment, we have taken justified pride in always contributing to our country's economy and employment. With the commissioning of our new flat glass furnace, equipped with advanced technology in accordance with Industry 4.0, we have made another significant investment. With our new investment, our facility in Polatlı has reached an annual production capacity of 540,000 tons, making it one of Europe's largest flat glass production centers. Our total flat glass production capacity has reached 3.4 million tons annually, further strengthening our leadership in flat glass production in Europe. We will continue to contribute to our country's economy and create value for all our stakeholders through our investments in line with our sustainable growth objectives."

Şişecam, a global player in all basic areas of glass such as flat glass, household glassware, glass packaging and glass fibre as well as in soda and chromium compounds, is continuing its investments in Turkey without slowing down.

Şişecam, particularly to address the need to increase production capacity in line with domestic market demand, added another investment to its operations in Turkey with a second furnace having an annual production capacity of 240,000 tons at its flat glass production facility in Polatlı, Ankara. Şişecam's new furnace, on which the company invested approximately TRY 1 billion (approximately USD 130 million), was fired and put into operation on 2 October 2020. Şişecam Vice Chairman of the Board and General Manager Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman, in a statement regarding the new investment, drew attention to the importance of this investment for Turkey's flat glass market, stating as follows: "In line with the prioritization made to meet the demand created by the acceleration in our economy, particularly from the end of July, we are putting into operation our line with a capacity of 750 tons per day, completed with an investment of approximately TRY 1 billion. In response to unforeseen demand increases in the context of the global pandemic, we have proceeded to supply glass from other geographies where Şişecam produces to meet market needs, and despite increases in exchange rates, we have not changed product prices during the pandemic period to ensure that our operations are not strained, and we have eased payment terms. Starting from this period, we continue to fully utilize our monthly flat glass shipment capacity of 100,000 tons. Therefore, in line with our strategic investment plans, we have put into operation at our Polatlı facility an important additional capacity focused on the domestic market."

Kırman, expressing that despite the uncertainty created by the global pandemic they continue their investments without interruption and continue to create value for the country's economy, emphasized that the new furnace investment at Polatlı is an indicator of confidence in Turkey's future.

Pointing to Şişecam's production activities spanning four continents and sales to over 150 countries, making it a global company, Kırman said, "Today we rank among the top three manufacturers of household glassware and among the top five manufacturers of glass packaging and flat glass in the world. In addition to being the world's eighth largest soda producer, we are a leader globally in chromium chemicals. Over the 85 years since our establishment, we have taken justified pride in always contributing to our country's economy and employment. Through our investments in line with our sustainable growth objectives, we will continue to contribute to our country's economy and create value for all our stakeholders."

"We have further strengthened our leadership in flat glass production in Europe"

Kırman, drawing attention to the fact that Şişecam, like in all areas of operation, has pioneered many firsts in the flat glass field and has led the development of the flat glass sector in Turkey and the region, continued as follows: "Today we conduct our flat glass operations under three different categories: architectural glass, energy glass and white goods glass; we supply inputs to important sectors such as construction, furniture, energy and white goods. In our country, we continue our flat glass operations through a total of four production facilities in Bursa Yenişehir, Kırklareli, Mersin and Ankara Polatlı. With our new investment, our facility in Polatlı has reached an annual production capacity of 540,000 tons, making it one of Europe's largest flat glass production centers. The number of flat glass furnaces we operate in our country has increased to eight. Our total flat glass production capacity has reached 3.4 million tons annually, and we have further strengthened our leadership in flat glass production in Europe."

"Şişecam's total investment in Polatlı has exceeded TRY 2 billion"

Kırman, noting that Şişecam's flat glass production facility in Polatlı, established in 2014, had an annual capacity of 300,000 tons, making it Turkey and the region's largest flat glass furnace, said, "We established our flat glass production facility in Polatlı with an investment of over TRY 1 billion (USD 138 million). With our investment of approximately TRY 1 billion (approximately USD 130 million) for the second furnace at the facility, our total investment has exceeded TRY 2 billion (USD 268 million)."

"Employment at Polatlı will increase by 30 percent"

Kırman, expressing that Şişecam ranks among Turkey's leading industrial enterprises in terms of employment creation, said, "With the second furnace investment, which provides an opportunity for significant capacity increase, we will also increase employment at our Polatlı facility. Total employment at the facility will reach approximately 300 people with a 30 percent increase."

"We will seize opportunities in new areas that we believe will add value to Şişecam"

Emphasizing that they continue to produce and invest even in 2020, marked by the global pandemic, Kırman said, "During the pandemic period, we continue to work without interrupting our production and services for society's basic needs, and we fully perform all our duties regarding the health and safety of our employees, business partners and customers. Through our superior research and technological development capabilities and our production strength, we are also contributing to the fight against the global pandemic. In the coming period, in addition to strategic moves that will increase our effectiveness in our current business areas, we will also seize opportunities in new business areas that we believe will add value to Şişecam."

"We are making necessary preparations to achieve our ambitious targets in the new world order"

Kırman, drawing attention to the fact that 2020 is an exceptional year and also a historic turning point for Şişecam, noted: "2020 is a very important year in which we have made necessary planning and preparations for Şişecam to achieve its ambitious targets in the new world order after the global pandemic, where economically and socially nothing will be the same as before. In line with our long-term strategies, we are excited about the completion of the process we initiated at the beginning of the year to consolidate all our activities under one roof in order to strengthen our position in global competition. The registration procedures related to the merger were completed as of 30 September 2020. As of 5 October 2020, Türkiye Şişe ve Cam Fabrikaları A.Ş., our single company listed on Borsa Istanbul, will be the entity consolidating our main subsidiaries."