Henkel Continues Investments in Turkey, Lays Foundation for New Plant

Henkel lays foundation for Middle East and Africa region's largest industrial adhesives facility in Turkey

Viewing Turkey not only as a valuable market for its products but also as an important production hub, Henkel laid the foundation for its new production center in Kocaeli Gebze on 9 November 2016 in a ceremony.

The new factory, scheduled to open by the end of 2017, will utilize cutting-edge technology and is designed to obtain LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a green building certificate with high recognition and acceptance worldwide. Turkey, an important production center for Henkel

Henkel, positioned as a long-term investor contributing through its investments in Turkey, held a ceremony to lay the foundations of the new production facility. The ceremony was attended by Kocaeli Governor Hasan Basri Güzeloğlu, Henkel Turkey Chief Executive Officer Hasan Alemdar, Henkel Turkey Adhesive Technologies President İsmail Akkoçoğlu and Henkel Turkey Adhesive Technologies Operations and Projects Director Mehmet Yılmaz, as well as government officials, customers, key representatives from industry and numerous media members. Henkel Turkey Chief Executive Officer Hasan Alemdar said in his remarks that for Henkel, Turkey is not merely a market for sales but also an important production center. Hasan Alemdar stated: "As Henkel, we have always viewed Turkey as a country worthy of investment, with high growth potential and reliability. On the other hand, we are once again emphasizing that the issue of sustainability is not merely a theoretical objective for Henkel, but an area where we implement concrete actions as an integral part of our company values."

New facility will add value to many sectors

The new production facility, designed to utilize advanced technology, plans to conduct production in line with sustainability. When completed, Henkel will operate the facility to produce adhesive technologies for the Technomelt, Teroson, Loctite, Bonderite, and Aquance brands. Henkel Turkey Adhesive Technologies President İsmail Akkoçoğlu stated: "This investment will strengthen our portfolio in the field of Adhesive Technologies both through capacity increases and the products we plan to localize. In this way, it will solidify Henkel's leadership in adhesives, sealant products and functional coatings. For example; acoustic dampers applicable in spray form for the automotive sector, adhesives that facilitate and accelerate processes for the production of hygiene products such as baby diapers, water-based adhesives that consume less energy and provide fast and robust packaging for food packaging – with these technological products we will be able to serve our customers much better," he said. In this context, particularly the replacement of imported products with local production will provide significant added value to the industrial production sector.

LEED Certification targeted

Henkel is implementing its sustainability strategy in its new factory as it does in all other areas. The new production center aims to source 30 percent of its total energy requirements initially through renewable energy. The facility is being designed to collect and reuse rainwater and to generate its own energy by utilizing solar power. The production facility, with every detail considered in environmental responsibility and designed to minimize carbon footprint, is designed to obtain LEED Certification. The factory is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2017.