Şişecam Invests in Its Largest-Capacity Glass Packaging Furnace

  Şişecam Group to raise glass packaging capacity in Turkey to 1.2 million tonnes through TRY 240 million investment. Şişecam Group is adding another investment to its Turkish operations through a new furnace at the Eskişehir Glass Packaging Plant. The new furnace at Şişecam Glass Packaging, operating within the Group, is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2018 with an investment of approximately TRY 240 million. Making significant contributions to Turkey's economy and employment, Şişecam Group will equip the new furnace with state-of-the-art technology in line with Industry 4.0 standards. With the new furnace's annual production capacity of 150,000 tonnes, Turkey's annual glass packaging production capacity will reach approximately 1.2 million tonnes. Ahmet Kırman, Deputy Chair and General Manager of Şişecam Group's Board of Management, stressed their commitment to creating value for Turkey, saying: "Over more than 81 years since our establishment, our Group has reinvested its gains in our country and established a leading position in its field globally. As Şişecam Group, we pursue our activities with the goal of sustainable growth. With this investment, we will put into operation our largest glass packaging furnace in Turkey." Şişecam Group is adding yet another investment to its Turkish operations through the fourth furnace at the Eskişehir Glass Packaging Plant. The new furnace of Şişecam Glass Packaging, operating within the Group, is planned to commence operations in the second half of 2018 with an investment of approximately TRY 240 million. Şişecam Glass Packaging, the world's fifth largest glass packaging producer with a total production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes per year across four countries including Turkey, will reach annual production capacity of approximately 1.2 million tonnes in Turkey with this latest furnace investment at the Eskişehir Plant. Şişecam Glass Packaging, Turkey's largest glass packaging producer with three plants in Bursa, Eskişehir and Mersin, had raised its Turkish capacity to 1 million tonnes through a TRY 120 million investment completed in June. In his statement regarding the investment, Ahmet Kırman, Deputy Chair and General Manager of Şişecam Group's Board of Management, noted that they are currently the world's third largest producer in glass tableware, and fifth largest in glass packaging and flat glass, stating: "In addition to being among the world's top 10 soda producers, we are the global leader in chromium chemicals. Our Group, which continues production operations in 13 countries, reinforces its capacity scale and technological strength through qualities such as innovation, creativity, expertise and skilled workforce, and faces the future with confidence through product and service quality adapted to changing market conditions." "We have added another contribution to both the country's economy and production." Stressing their continued commitment to creating value for Turkey, Kırman stated: "Over more than 81 years since our establishment, our Group has reinvested its gains in our country and established a leading position in its field globally. As Şişecam Group, we pursue our activities with the goal of sustainable growth. With this investment, we will open our largest glass packaging furnace in Turkey and add another contribution to our impact on the country's economy." Recalling that the Eskişehir Glass Packaging Plant was established in 2013, Kırman said: "With our fourth furnace investment at this plant, we are pleased to add another contribution to both the country's economy and production during the four years we have been conducting our production activities in Eskişehir." Highlighting that Şişecam Group continuously updates its existing facilities in line with technological developments, Kırman stated: "With the fourth furnace we will bring into operation at Eskişehir Glass Packaging Plant, we will continue to produce with cutting-edge technology. We will equip this furnace in line with the Industry 4.0 strategy."