VitrA invests in AI, sustainable growth and equal opportunities at its flagship factory in Turkey

Building on 65 years of experience in ceramic production, this opening highlights VitrA's commitment to joining innovation and sustainability. Its recent investment of €76,5 million supports best practices, with a focus on sustainability, the integration of AI in manufacturing and a strong commitment to equal opportunities.

For Bülent Eczacıbaşı, President of Eczacıbaşı Holding: “With an investment of €76,5 million, our new facilities leverage advanced AI technology, ensuring end-to-end automation. Sustainability is embedded in our business model. Our recent integration of a solar power plant at our VitrA production site and the transition to I-REC certified green electricity illustrate our commitment to zero carbon emissions. »

Significant capacity expansion to meet increased customer demand

With a substantial investment of 76,5 million euros in the production campus
VitrA in Bilecik, Bozüyük, EBP is poised for remarkable growth. This
strategic initiative aims not only to meet the growing demand and
to expand the market reach, but also to improve operational efficiency and
give priority to renewable energies. At the same time, the annual production
of VitrA ceramic sanitary ware increased to 6,7 million units, with a
production of built-in flushing tanks reaching 2 million units. This expansion resulted in a 50% increase in the size of the Bozüyük campus, which now spans 469.000 square meters and houses a workforce of 3 professionals.

Gender equality a priority in new facilities

EBP continues to set the benchmark for industry commitment to
gender equality, continually seeking to achieve a balanced workforce, aiming for an equitable 50-50 gender split. To this end, EBP has deployed
several initiatives aimed at creating a favorable working environment for its female staff. These have ergonomic workspaces specifically adapted for female employees and the launch of a women's literacy campaign in association with local education authorities. The entire approach is perfectly supported by full automation, which reinforces the company's commitment to technological advancement while fostering an inclusive environment.

For Özgen Özkan, CEO of Eczacıbaşı Building Products: “Our unchanging goal of aligning technology with human talent while safeguarding the future of our planet has laid the foundation for our continued growth. As we stand ready to meet Europe's growing demand, our current production of 6,7 million units positions us among Europe's leading manufacturers. The future looks bright with a planned 50% increase in faucet production by the end of 2024. We are ready for further growth in demand in Europe”

Just four years after introducing the second phase of its 4th CSW plant in
Bozüyük in 2019, EBP is ready to commission our 5th facility. This progression reflects a consistent approach to reinvesting profits to fuel growth. Anticipating the changing dynamics of European markets, EBP has positioned itself to effectively respond to growing demand.

Speaking about CSW's current projects, Özkan mentioned the decision to move the production of flush-mounted flush tanks to the new facility. He said: “Our annual production now stands at 2 million units. Additionally, with continued improvements to our faucet factory, we expect our faucet production to increase by 50% by the end of 2024.”