On August 31, Turkish manufacturer of custom structural steel fabrications and hot forged steel products, Yapı-Tek Celik Sanayi A.S. (Yapı-Tek Steel), announced that it has completed the expansion project on its operations to meet demand for its structural steel fabrication services with three new facilities.
As per the statement released by Yapı-Tek Steel, the company's expansion has required considerable investment in new machinery, staff and facilities. Accordingly, the development has included a 3,200 square meter enlargement of enclosed production space at the headquarters in Kocaeli as well as the establishment of a 6,000 square meter plant in Bursa and a 1,000 square meter plant in Ankara, both focusing exclusively on structural steel fabrication.
Stating that its strategic decision to enter structural steel fabrication is based on sound economic indicators, Yapı-Tek Steel said, "Prior to the global economic crisis, there was a growing demand for Turkish structural steel year-on-year, from both the domestic and foreign markets. Experts agree that as the recession eases the successful completion of new construction projects in the Middle East, Europe and North Africa will be heavily reliant on Turkish steel supplies. These markets either have no local steel manufacturing facilities, or simply cannot compete with Turkish prices."
Commenting on the expansion project, Yapı-Tek Steel's president Günay Köse stated, "This was the right time to create a structural steel fabrication division within Yapı-Tek Steel.
"Our company enjoys a great reputation in the global steel industry thanks to its history as the first and largest forging facility in Turkey. We will leverage this reputation to gain a customer base in the structural steel fabrication sector during the rebound from the current economic recession," added Mr Köse.
Yapı-Tek Steel has already secured large-scale structural steel projects, despite being new to the area. Yapı-Tek Steel has confirmed orders for structural steel for international airport terminals, a marina, mines, hydroelectric power plants, a factory building and bridges up to this point.
Established in 1959, Yapı-Tek Steel was the first privately-held steel forging factory in Turkey. Prior to its 2005 acquisition by the Yapı-Tek Group, the company operated under the name Çelik Sanayi. The acquisition of Çelik Sanayi strengthened the facility's position through multiple technological and staffing upgrades. With over 20,000 mt of annual capacity, Yapı-Tek Steel boasts the largest capacity of any forging facility in Turkey. As of 2009, Yapı-Tek Steel also offers structural steel fabrication services. Operating as an independent business unit, all structural steel fabrication production lines were added after the acquisition.