1. Could you tell us about the advantages the newly opened factory will bring to Toyo Printing Inks? What kind of contributions do you expect in terms of product diversity, technology, employment, and market expansion?

The facility we inaugurated recently stands as the most tangible indicator of artience Group’s confidence in Turkey’s production capacity and regional potential, as well as a strong reflection of its commitment to sustainable and strategic growth.

Located in the Manisa Organized Industrial Zone, the facility we are currently in was built on a total area of 62,500 square meters and brought to life with an investment of $70 million. With this investment, we aim to nearly double our production capacity and begin local manufacturing of products such as lamination adhesives, which we previously imported, thereby contributing to the national economy and exports. In this context, since March, we have been continuously producing our lamination adhesives product line without interruption.

Our new factory is not only focused on increasing production capacity; it also stands out with its use of advanced technology and implementation of sustainability practices. With fully automated production lines and building automation systems in place, our facility enables us to digitally monitor and manage all processes. Our next-generation machinery and vertical production structure provide both high efficiency and energy savings. We have also implemented numerous advanced technologies that prioritize process safety and minimize solvent losses.

2. What impact do you expect it to have on your ability to compete both in the domestic and international markets?

Our new factory will serve as a strategic gateway to the European, Middle Eastern, and African markets. We aim to transform this facility into a production and export hub not only for our country, but also for neighbouring regions.

Our primary goal is to maintain and further strengthen our position in the Turkish market. In parallel, we are focusing on increasing our exports. As the regional production and export hub of the artience Group, our company serves a broad geography spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Up to now, we have participated in numerous international fairs and technical seminars abroad to boost our exports and reach our target regions, and we continue to do so. We also visit the facilities of our business partners to provide training and technical support services. With our new factory, we aim to expand the reach of our products and enhance our competitive advantage.

3. Why was Turkey chosen for this significant investment? 

Japan, as one of the world's largest economies, is highly advanced in adopting new products and services. However, for Japanese companies looking to expand into new markets, particularly in Europe, Turkey stands out due to its strategic advantages and strong cooperation potential. Although Europe is a large market, it is not easy for companies based in the Far East to establish direct manufacturing operations there. The European has its own set of standards, and complying with these standards can be time-consuming. From this perspective, Turkey stands out as an ideal starting point due to its geographical location, proximity to the EU market, and well-developed production infrastructure.

Particularly in the chemical industry, there are high expectations in Europe regarding product safety and regulatory compliance. With its technical expertise and experience in complying with international regulations, Turkey serves as a key partner that accelerates the market entry process of Japanese companies into Europe.

As for our company, artience Group did not come here solely for the Turkish market. Turkey serves as a regional production and sales hub for artience Group. Considering all these factors, I can say that Turkey’s strategic location, our exports to Europe and neighbouring countries, our R&D activities, and the historical and cultural ties between the two nations have played a significant role in artience Group’s decision to invest in Turkey.

4. Do you have any new investment or product plans? 

Turkey is a particularly strong and rapidly growing country in the packaging industry. It continues to reinforce its strength in this field day by day through the high-quality products it offers to both national and international markets. As a supplier to the packaging and printing industries, we strive to analyze the evolving needs and expectations of this growing market in order to set sustainable goals and make targeted investments.

With our new facility, we aim to significantly enhance not only our production capabilities but also our R&D capacity. The new R&D center to be established will be approximately four times the size of our current structure. Once the setup is complete, our next-generation test printing equipment will enable us to develop much more flexible, innovative, and customer-oriented solutions. This structure will become a center that delivers added value not only for Turkey but also for global markets.

Moreover, 2025 will be a pivotal year for us in advancing our strategic priorities, namely operational efficiency, digitalization, and sustainability. We will continue to expand our portfolio of recyclable and environmentally friendly products to support our customers in achieving their sustainability goals.