Although you hear about Turkey a lot these days, the news is almost always bad: terrorism, civil wars in neighboring countries, migrant crises… the list goes on and on.
Overlooked in all this is Turkey’s burgeoning plastic injection molding industry, which is doing quite well, thank you. Exhibit A: plastics processor and mold maker MTN Kalip Sanayi Ltd. Sirketi In fact, the company is building a second factory to expand its injection molding business, focusing on exports to Europe.
Due to open early next year with 16 injection molding machines, the new plant will serve its existing automotive and appliance customers, according to company officials.
The small company builds molds and manufactures plastic parts for global car brands like Volkswagen and Fiat. In the appliance sector, the plastic injection molder produces parts for Whirlpool, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, Turkey’s Arçelik A.Ş. among, others.
The Instanbul-based company began as a mold manufacturing company 20 years ago. In 2011 it launched its injection molding business, where it sees ample room for growth. Eventually the new facility will grow to 45 injection molding machines but no time frame has been specified.
Currently, its plastics parts business — served by 12 injection molding machines — is focused solely on Turkey’s domestic market. But it would like to grow its parts exports to mirror that of its mold making unit, which exports 60 percent of molds it produces.
In addition, the company wants to take business away from competitors around the world who produce injection molded parts for domestic Turkish companies.
While the country’s economy has been indeed been hurt by the wars in neighboring Iraq and Syria and subsequent refugee crisis, Turkey’s plastics industry continues to expand.
Many observers believe Turkey has a lot of advantages vis’-a-vis Europe, including proximity, an educated workforce and a long history of trading with European countries. While wars and terrorism may impact growth and stability from time to time, the overall trend is positive for continued industrial expansion, they say.