Şişecam to Invest in New Glass Packaging Furnace in Eskişehir

Şişecam to Invest in New Glass Container Furnace in Eskişehir Şişecam Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman: - "We continue to deliver investment announcements that add value to our country. Today, in the glass container sector where we are announcing our new investment plan, we currently operate with a total of 10 production facilities in 4 countries" - "Having announced two new float investments worth TRY 4 billion in the automotive and flat glass sectors in Turkey in September, Şişecam has now increased the value of new investments announced for Turkey to TRY 5 billion with its latest investment move in the glass container sector" he said. ISTANBUL (AA) - Şişecam, which announced two new investments worth TRY 4 billion in the flat and automotive glass sectors in Turkey in September, has decided to make a new glass container furnace investment of approximately TRY 1 billion (EUR 84 million) in Eskişehir. According to the company announcement, Şişecam continues its uninterrupted investments that add value to Turkey. The new furnace investment with an annual production capacity of 155,000 tonnes, which Şişecam will implement in Eskişehir where it currently operates with four furnaces for glass container production, is targeted to be completed and operational by the beginning of 2023. The investment, which aims to increase the company's global glass container production capacity to 3.2 million tonnes, will supply inputs to many sectors by producing colourless and green glass containers. Şişecam Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman stated that Şişecam, which continues its investments with the goal of becoming one of the world's three largest producers in its main areas of activity, is a leading player that shapes world glass industry in all basic glass sectors such as flat glass, household glassware, glass containers, glass fibres and automotive glass, as well as in soda and chromium compounds. Kırman noted that they continue to deliver investment announcements that add value to Turkey: "Today, we operate in 22 countries across four continents with 22,000 employees, and we bring our innovative products to customers in more than 150 countries. We are the second largest producer of household glassware in the world, and the fifth largest in glass containers and flat glass. In addition, we are the world's eighth largest soda producer and we are the global leader in chromium chemicals. Today, in the glass container sector where we are announcing our new investment plan, we currently operate with a total of 10 production facilities in 4 countries. Having announced two new float investments worth TRY 4 billion in the automotive and flat glass sectors in Turkey in September, Şişecam has now increased the value of new investments announced for Turkey to TRY 5 billion with this latest investment move in the glass container sector." he said. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman emphasized that Şişecam is in a very strong position with its annual glass container production capacity reaching 2.6 million tonnes currently conducted in Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia. Recalling that in June they decided to implement a new green-field facility investment with an annual production capacity of 330,000 tonnes in Hungary, which will be an important step to strengthen their presence in the European market in the glass container sector, Kırman noted, "With this investment, we have added the glass container sector to our production footprint in Europe. Our new facility investment, which we target to begin operations in 2023 and reach full capacity by 2025, will increase our global glass container production capacity to exceed 3 million tonnes, and with our latest investment decision to be implemented in Eskişehir, it will reach 3.2 million tonnes." he said. Kırman stated that the increased capacities will enable them to respond to the rising demand for glass containers, which has accelerated in line with the increased health and hygiene awareness that has become even more pronounced during the global pandemic period. Emphasizing that Şişecam continues to grow in line with its high-performance-based investment policy with the goal of becoming one of the world's three largest producers in its main areas of activity, Kırman said, "The Turkish glass container market has high potential with high growth rates compared to the global average and per capita glass container consumption that has not yet reached saturation. While per capita glass consumption in Western Europe reaches 45 kilograms, this consumption remains at 18 kilograms in Turkey. This is an important indicator that demonstrates the growth potential of the Turkish glass container market." he stated.

"We See High Growth Potential in the Glass Container Sector"

Şişecam Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman stated that the Turkish glass container market, which largely preserved its existing volume in 2020 despite the pandemic impact, followed a positive course in the second half of 2021 with the relaxation of measures related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the large-scale opening of the hotel, restaurant and cafe (HORECA) channel and the positive impact of tourism. Stating that the market is expected to show rapid growth in 2021, Kırman said: "The expectation that the effectiveness of Chinese producers in the US market will decrease, that the European market will continue to grow, and that Şişecam is one of the preferred suppliers in Europe, points to even higher export potential. With the fifth furnace investment, the increased production capacity and its advanced technology infrastructure will strengthen Eskişehir's status as a glass container production hub. In addition to being a strategically important glass container production hub, Eskişehir stood out as the right location for our new investment in terms of market access potential. Our new investment, which will enable us to respond quickly to domestic market demand, will also offer advantages in evaluating additional sales demand that may arise abroad. We plan for the new furnace, which is scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2023, to supply inputs to many sectors, particularly beverage and food packaging, both in the domestic and export markets." he said.