Benteler holds Grand Opening Ceremony for new site in Gebze, Turkey

Gebze, Paderborn, Düsseldorf, June 8, 2012. – Today, Benteler hosted a grand opening ceremony for its new Turkish plant, Benteler Gebze Tasıt Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. in Çayırova-Kocaeli. It is established as a production plant for diverse automotive parts and warehouse for steel tubes. The event celebrated the start of the Benteler Group’s engagement in the important Turkish market. Members of the Turkish government, customers, and employees attended the ceremony.

“The reason for choosing Gebze is quite obvious. The location is one of the five most important automotive industry centers in Turkey. Short distances, quick decisions and close cooperation with our business partners are in the focus of our daily work. Therefore Gebze is an ideal basis to have optimal access to our customers as well as a starting point to exploit additional market opportunities in the region,” said Hubertus Benteler, Chairman of the Executive Board of Benteler International AG.

Dr. Thomas Wünsche, CEO of Benteler Automotive worldwide, explained: “If you look at cars, most of them consist of Benteler parts. Our different departments are developing and manufacturing modules, chassis parts, structural parts as well as parts related to the engine and exhaust area. From this new site in Gebze, with a size of 8.500 m² and 83 employees, we will supply our customers Ford and Renault with hot-stamped structural parts, i.e. A- and B-pillars, rockers, crash systems and door reinforcements. However, further projects are in the pipeline.”

Anders Ivarsson, CEO of Benteler Distribution International, added:”The risen demand of local industries for high-quality steel products and the increased number of European companies made the market entry a settled decision. It is our aim to import European quality steel to Turkey and establish the same high service standards.”