Metyx Composites (Istanbul / Turkey; www.metyx.com), a manufacturer of high performance reinforcing fabrics, is doubling both production space and capacity at its main site of Manisa / Turkey, partly in response to increasing demand from the wind energy sector. The company said the expansion of floor space to 23,000 m² of land recently acquired by its parent company, technical textiles producer Telateks (Istanbul; http://en.telateks.com), will enable it to double weaving capacity for glass and carbon fibre-based multiaxial fabrics as well as adding more tooling and kitting capacity. Additional personnel is also being recruited. All in all, the company plans to double its production capacity by 2018.

The expanded premises will have new production lines for both glass- and carbon fibre-based multiaxial fabrics and new CNC machining centres for composite plug- and mould-making. Complementing similar activities in Hungary, the Manisa site offers a full kitting service. The company supplies customers with “make to order” kits for core material, glass- and carbon-fibre reinforcements and vacuum consumables for marine, automotive, and other industrial applications in addition to wind energy.

Metyx is also building additional new warehousing facilities to improve stockholding and distribution services from the main production site, which supplies both Turkish customers and export markets. The expansion is part of an ongoing five-year programme of key strategic investments in high-end production facilities for technical textiles and composites-related products made by the parent company.

“We have seen rapid growth in the wind industry in the Aegean region since 2011, and our local factory and capacity have grown to meet the needs of our customers,” said marketing and sales manager Bahattin Sendogan. He added that the company also sees new developments regionally in other key composites sectors, which will further fuel growth in the region, where it has become a key supplier.