Şişecam Brings New Automotive Glass Line Online

Şişecam announced the commissioning of an automotive glass line in Lüleburgaz in which it has invested approximately TRY 4 billion (approximately USD 190 million). Responding to rising global competition and increasing demand for automotive glass, Şişecam will operate the new automotive glass line with a capacity of 200,000 tonnes and will create an additional 114 jobs. Will Deliver High Production Efficiency Şişecam Chairman of the Board and Member Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman provided remarks on this first investment undertaken by Şişecam specifically for automotive raw glass. Kırman stated: "In response to rising global competition and the continuing growth in automotive glass demand in Turkey, which has reached the scale of a float line requirement, we announced in 2021 the investment decision for a flat glass line in Lüleburgaz. We now have the satisfaction of having brought this investment to fruition. The new line, which stands out with its unusual width featuring a net 4.88-metre width, will deliver high levels of production efficiency through this characteristic. With this investment, Şişecam's existing float lines currently producing automotive glass will be able to have their capacities and efficiencies increased and be fully redirected to architectural glass production." Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman also noted that nearly all of Şişecam's automotive glass production facilities' need for thin and very thin colourless and variously coloured raw glass will be met by the new float line. Total Float Production Capacity Will Increase by 30 Percent and Reach 2.6 Million Tonnes Kırman stated: "In addition to this investment, Şişecam continues work on the construction of the TR9 float line in Tarsus, which is one of five flat glass investments with the highest capacity on a global scale, and on cold maintenance and capacity increase work for the TR1 float line in Lüleburgaz. Upon completion of these two investments, Şişecam's total float production capacity in Turkey will increase by 30 percent to reach a volume of 2.6 million tonnes." Şişecam's first facility producing with modern float technology in the Eastern Europe, Balkans, Middle East and North Africa axis commenced production in Lüleburgaz in 1981. Today, the facility, which operates with 2 furnaces, produces flat glass, mirror and automotive glass. Şişecam continues its production activities in the automotive glass field in Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Bulgaria and Romania in addition to Turkey.