Aksa Akrilik Announces Investment Budget for Mithra Production Facility

Aksa Akrilik has announced an investment budget of USD 20 million for the first unit of the Mithra production facility to be commissioned from 2025 onwards. Through the Mithra investment, the company will produce for the defence industry and maritime sector. Aksa Akrilik made an investment decision regarding the "Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fibre" (Mithra) product for use in various sectors including the defence industry. The Mithra product, being manufactured for the first time in Turkey, is produced by only a few countries worldwide. Aksa Akrilik Board Member and Chief Executive Officer Cengiz Taş, commenting on the investment decision for the product developed as a result of next-generation R&D work, stated: "We have begun investing in a new facility to produce high-technology value-added technical textiles under the Mithra brand, starting with a capacity of 350 tons/year and increasing gradually. According to feasibility studies, we are planning an investment budget of USD 20 million for the first unit of our production facility, which we will commission from 2025 onwards."

UHMWPE Fibre listed as defence industry subject requiring "prioritisation"

UHMWPE Fibre has drawn attention by being included among defence industry subjects that need to be nationalised and prioritised in "Composite Roadmap" studies conducted by the Turkish Defence Industry Presidency, and products that should be incorporated into national technologies in the short term. Chief Executive Officer Cengiz Taş, noting that the Mithra investment emerged from technology developed in-house as a result of approximately five years of work, continued: "With Mithra, we are targeting soft ballistic and hard ballistic products in the defence industry, and in the maritime sector, ship ropes, sail ropes and chains, as well as fishing nets, crane ropes, and heavy industry performance ropes."

15 times stronger than steel of the same weight, 40 percent stronger than aramid of the same weight

Mithra stands out as being 15 times stronger than steel of the same weight, 40 percent stronger than aramid of the same weight, and the thermoplastic product with the highest impact resistance. In soft ballistic products (bulletproof vests, etc.), it provides weight reduction of up to 35 percent without compromising performance compared to products made with similar raw materials, while in hard ballistic products (tank protection, helmet protection, etc.), this rate increases to 75 percent. In helmets produced using Mithra, weight reduction of 25 percent is achieved compared to equivalents.