Dow Europe GmbH, the subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii, a world-leading acrylic fiber company, signed an initial agreement in order to establish a joint venture to manufacture and commercialize carbon fiber and derivatives. With the initial agreement conducted, the two companies will cooperate to search for the opportunities to establish integrated production facilities covering the whole value chain for the manufacture and world-wide marketing of advanced carbon fiber and carbon fiber-based high technologies.
DowAksa will use the business opportunities for offering a broad range of products and technical service support in the carbon-fiber composites industry. The new JV will have a particular focus on bringing solutions to market that reduce overall costs, thereby will have a wider field of application in various industrial markets. It was explained that DowAksa will emphasize on composite solutions of integrated carbon fiber for energy, transportation, and infrastructure developing globally.
Dow Chemical’s Chairman and CEO Andrew N. Liveris explained that, with the new agreement signed, both firms will focus on new technologies. Stating that they will keep offering integrated solutions for all elements of value chain, Liveris continued: “Aksa and Dow will apply knowledge, world-class manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise for innovative solutions that address pressing challenges, such as improving the performances of wind turbines, improving the fuel economy of automobiles, and extending the life of buildings and infrastructure. I hope both companies will yield the desired results with these technologies and be successful”.
In his speech, Aksa Board Chairman and Akkök Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer Mehmet Ali Berkman said he believes that with the partnership with Dow, a world-leading company in chemistry industry, their leading position in local and global market will grow stronger. Berkman said; “Aksa has always been the leading company in introducing new products and technologies and the synergy to be created by this partnership will support Aksa in this respect. I believe that, as well as our employees who are committed to work, make high level of effort and have high competency, all of our stakeholders in production chain and the government will contribute to creating awareness on this new and significant technology and meeting the demand to emerge, as we need”.
Turkey’s First Acrylic Fiber Producer; AKSA
Operating within Akkök Group of Companies, AKSA Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.Ş. produces acrylic fiber which is classified under synthetic-based fiber and provides services textiles and industrial textile sectors of more than 50 countries in 5 continents. The company performs production in the world’s largest-capacity factory under one roof, which is established in an area of 430.000 square meters and its worldwide market share in acrylic fiber sector reached up to 13,2% as of the end of 2010. In outdoor fiber production, one of the special products, Aksa’s worldwide market is around 50%. Aksa is known as the first corporation that brought acrylic fiber to Turkish textile industry. Turkish acrylic market developing with the significant contribution by the company either, stands outs as the second largest acrylic market in the world following China.
is the world’s largest producer of acrylic fiber with 308,000 tons per year capacity and more than 14,2 percent share of the worldwide market. Products include acrylic textile fibers, technical fibers, and carbon fiber. Aksa’s mission is to be the choice for acrylic-based textiles and technical fibers, to work efficiently and in harmony with the environment, to be innovative and customer focused. Aksa has around 1,000 employees working at its production site in Yalova Turkey and offices in Istanbul. Aksa’s turnover in 2011 was more than US$978 million. Aksa is a member of the AKKÖK Group of Companies which is comprised of 15 companies operating in Turkey’s chemical, energy, real estate and textile sectors. The Group has more than 3,200 employees. In 2011, the Group’s turnover was more than US$2.9 billion.
Aksa’s new business objectives include carbon fiber, defined as a strategic product used in the fields of aeration, space sector materials, industrial and sports materials, as well as building, infrastructure development, the and carbon fiber-based composite sector. With the carbon fiber investment made within the scope of new product development strategy, Aksa joined the sector as the 9th carbon fiber producing company in the world and started to carry out its business operations. Aksa’s strategic objective for 2020 is explained as increasing their market share in the carbon fiber sector up to 10%.
A Global Manufacturer: The Dow Chemical Company
Dow plays an active role in resolving many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53,7 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. In addition, the Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe.
